Gafferbook
1v1 ยท U9 to adult

1v1 from different starting angles

Defenders start from the side, behind or in front of the attacker in turn. Each angle teaches a different decision for both players.

U9 to adultAges
6 to 14 plus a keeperPlayers
25 x 25 m to goalArea
15 minsTime

Your assistant coach: turn this drill into a full session, plan the weeks around it and tell me how it went.

โž• Put it in tonight's session๐Ÿ—“ Build my season around itโœ๏ธ Make my own version

Set-up

  • Attacker queue 25 metres out with balls.
  • Defender queues at three starting cones: side, behind, in front.

Equipment: Goal, cones, balls

How it works

  1. Coach calls which defender cone starts.
  2. Attacker goes to goal; defender tries to stop them.
  3. Rotate through all three angles.

Coaching points

  • Attacker: read where the defender comes from and go away from them.
  • Defender: take the best line to get goal-side.
  • Finish early when you get half a yard.

Add this drill to a session plan โ†’

Make it easier

  • Defender starts further away

Make it harder

  • Attacker must beat the defender before shooting

AttackersDefendersKeeper / neutral- - โ†’ Passโ†’ Runใ€ฐโ†’ Dribble

Questions about this drill?

Free AI coaching help from Gafferbook. Ask anything about coaching your team.

More 1v1 drills

1v1 to goal

A defender passes to an attacker and steps out to defend; the attacker tries to beat them and score. Two queues keep it moving.

See the drill โ†’

1v1 channels (beat your defender)

In narrow channels, attackers try to dribble over the end line while a defender tries to stop them. Lots of 1v1 reps for both, side by side with the whole squad working.

See the drill โ†’

1v1 to four gates

A 1v1 with a gate in each corner: the attacker can score through any of them. With so many options, players learn to read the defender and change direction.

See the drill โ†’

Wide 1v1: beat the full-back and cross

A winger receives in a wide channel and goes 1v1 against a full-back to get a cross or cut-back in for a striker. Game-realistic 1v1s with an end product.

See the drill โ†’

1v1 with your back to goal

The attacker receives with a defender tight behind them and must turn or hold up the ball and shoot. The striker's toughest 1v1, made into a repeatable game.

See the drill โ†’

1v1 tournament (up and down the pitches)

Players play 60-second 1v1 games on a row of mini pitches; winners move up, losers move down. Huge numbers of 1v1s and a fun competitive ladder.

See the drill โ†’