midfield

Midfield refers to either the central area of a field or the players who operate in that zone. In many team sports, midfield serves as the transition link between defense and offense, responsible for ball retention, distribution, and spatial control. The term is most common in association football (soccer), but it appears in other field sports as well.

In association football, midfielders occupy a band between defenders and attackers. Roles vary by formation: defensive or holding midfielders focus on breaking up opposition play and starting attacks from deep; central or box-to-box midfielders balance defense and creativity; attacking midfielders support the forwards and create chances; wide midfielders or wingers stretch play along the flanks and deliver crosses. Formations such as 4-4-2, 4-3-3, and 3-5-2 rely on a midfield core to control tempo and space.

In field hockey, lacrosse, and related sports, midfield players operate across the middle of the field, often covering the most ground. They link defensive transitions to offensive moves, win possession, and support both ends of the pitch.

The concept of midfield also influences tactical design and player development, with emphasis on endurance, vision, passing accuracy, and positioning. The term can also denote the central region of a field in non-sport contexts.