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Home/Training Drills/Defensive Drills/1v1 Attack vs Defend
DefensiveBeginner

1v1 Attack vs Defend

Attackers: commit the defender at pace and beat them with a change of direction and acceleration. Defenders: close down quickly, stay low and patient, and show the attacker away from goal.

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Live animationDEF
Duration
15 min
Total drill time
Players
2
Recommended
Pitch
20 × 12 m
Setup space
Level
Beginner
Skill required
Intensity
High
Physical demand
Age band
U6-U8
Any format

Setup & instructions

Mark a 20x12m channel with a mini goal at one end and a starting gate at the other. The attacker starts through the gate with the ball; the defender starts in front of the goal and closes down as soon as the attacker's first touch is taken. The attacker scores in the mini goal; the defender wins by forcing the ball out of the channel or winning it cleanly. Swap roles every two reps.

Setup time: 3 min

Tactical breakdown

The 1v1 is the duel every other drill in football is assembled from, and it is worth coaching from both sides in the same repetition rather than running separate attacking and defending sessions. The two roles are one problem seen from opposite ends, and a player who understands what beats him becomes harder to beat.

For the attacker, almost everything depends on the first touch. A touch that goes sideways or backwards lets the defender set his feet and the duel is effectively over before it starts. A positive first touch straight at the defender forces him to make a decision while moving, and a defender who is moving can be sent the wrong way. Pace at the defender is not recklessness, it is what creates the moment the feint can exploit.

For the defender, the mistake is almost always speed of arrival. Young defenders sprint the whole way and arrive with their weight going forward, which means any change of direction beats them. The correct pattern is fast while the ball is travelling, slow in the last two yards, side on and low. That is the difference between closing down and diving in.

The judgement worth teaching the defender is that he does not have to win the ball. Showing the attacker away from goal, onto his weaker foot, and delaying until support arrives is a successful defensive repetition, and scoring it that way stops players lunging. Most goals conceded from a 1v1 come from a defender who tried to win it and missed.

How to run this drill

  1. Mark a channel with a mini goal. Set a narrow channel so the duel cannot be avoided by running wide, with a mini goal or gate at the defending end for the attacker to score in.
  2. Attacker takes a positive first touch. The first touch goes forward, straight at the defender. A sideways or backwards touch lets him set his feet, and the duel is decided before it has begun.
  3. Defender closes fast, then slows. Sprint while the ball is travelling, then slow in the last two yards and get side on and low. Arriving at full speed means any change of direction beats you.
  4. Sell the feint with the whole body. Drop the shoulder and shift the weight, not just the foot. A defender reacts to your body, and a feint made only with the ball moves nobody.
  5. Explode out of the change of direction. The separation comes from the two touches after the feint, not the feint itself. Accelerate past rather than taking a settling touch and letting him recover.
  6. Score the defender on delay, not tackles. Count showing the attacker away from goal and onto his weak side as a win. Rewarding only tackles is what teaches young defenders to lunge and get beaten.

Coaching focus

FROM SESSION PLAN

Coaching points

  • Attacker: first touch positive, straight at the defender to commit them
  • Sell the feint with your whole body, then explode out of the chop
  • Defender: close the gap while the ball is travelling, slow down as you arrive
  • Stay side-on and patient: show them onto their weak side
  • Finish low and early, before the defender can recover

Common mistakes

  • Attacking too slowly, letting the defender set their feet
  • Feinting without a change of speed afterwards
  • Defender diving in while the attacker has close control

Progressions & regressions

VARIATIONS

Progressions

  • Defender starts level with the attacker and must recover first
  • Add a second gate: attacker chooses which side to attack
  • Two touches maximum once past the halfway cones

Regressions

  • Defender is passive (delay only, no tackling)
  • Widen the channel to give the attacker more room
  • Start the defender deeper for a longer run-up
Equipment
Cones×4
Goals×1
Tactical principles
1v1 drillattack vs defend1v1 attacking1v1 defendingbeat a defenderyouth 1v1 drilldribbling drilldefending drillu8 1v1duel drill
Audience
U6-U8

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