1v1 defending: show them one way
Transcript
Defend a 1v1 by showing the attacker one way. Here's the game. You need a partner to attack, a ball, and a channel ten metres by fifteen, with a cone gate at your end. Watch. Close them down fast, slow down, show them one way. First, stand side-on, and show them wide, away from your gate. Then, stay close, and wait for the big touch to win it. Not this. Diving in lets them past. Stay on your feet. Our target is eight goes, then swap roles. After any knock to the head, if in doubt, sit them out. Then take the free test at footballreach.com.
What it trains
Defend a 1v1 with composure: close the attacker down, slow down, stand side-on and show them one way, away from goal, then win the ball when their touch gets too big. The FA and FIFA coach these same steps.
Set up
- A partner to attack
- A ball
- 10 x 15 m channel
- 2 m gate at your end
Kit used here:
Training football
Training footballPU-covered training football in size 4 or size 5, in a choice of designs.Trend Checkout, our own shop - opens in a new tab. Sold by Trend Checkout, our own online shop (run by Apps 365 Ltd, the company behind Football Reach). Any similar kit works just as well.
How it works
- Warm up first. Mark a channel 10 m wide and 15 m long, with a 2 m cone gate in the middle of your end line.
- You start on your gate. Your partner starts at the far end with the ball and dribbles at you.
- Close them down fast, slow down, stand side-on and show them wide. They score 1 point by dribbling through your gate.
- Win the ball on your feet and dribble it over their end line for 2 points. Play 8 goes, then swap roles.
Coaching points
- Side-on, show them wide. Sprint out while they dribble at you, then slow down with short steps, close enough to touch the ball. Stand side-on, a little to one side, and show them wide, away from your gate, ideally onto their weaker foot.
- Wait for the big touch. Stay goal-side and patient, moving with them. When their touch runs away from their feet, or their head goes down, step in and win the ball, staying on your feet.
Not this
Diving in, lunging or sliding before the ball is loose. The attacker steps past you while you are off balance or on the ground.
Dose
- 8 goes as the defender
- Then swap roles
Our target: 8 goes as the defender, then swap roles (the Football Reach target, not an FA rule).
Harder / Easier
Harder
Recovery start: begin next to your partner at their end. As they dribble off, touch their end line, then sprint back goal-side and defend (the FA's 1v1 recovery idea).
Easier
Your partner dribbles at walking pace and only tries to get past on the side you show them, until closing down and slowing down feel natural.
Safety
- If in doubt, sit them out: anyone with a suspected concussion stops straight away, does no training for at least 24 hours and plays no matches for at least 21 days (UK concussion guidelines).
- Stay on your feet: no slide tackles, no pushing or pulling, and keep the ball on the ground.
- Flat grass with space all round, never a road or driveway.
Sources
- England Football Learning - 1v1 recovery session (opens in a new tab)
- FIFA Training Centre - defending in 1v1: orientating attackers away from goal (opens in a new tab)
- England Football Learning - how to coach tackling (opens in a new tab)
- England Football Learning - Lucy Bronze: show them one way (opens in a new tab)
- England Football - UK concussion guidelines for grassroots sport (opens in a new tab)
Not sure which skill to work on first? The free Football Reach test gives you a Player Development Score and shows which of the four corners of your game to work on next, in about two minutes.
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