Soccer Drills - 1 on 1
A team made of great individual players
Let's face it. Your team can be highly motivated and show great communication skills. However, if your players lack individual skills and cannot win their 1-on-1 situations on gameday, you will most likely not end up winning any match-ups. Simply put, the success of your team also depends on the individual abilities of your players. Great tackling, dribbling and ball control will help your players beat the man or woman in front of them. By winning 1v1s and duels, those fantastic individualists have the ability to create majority situations out of nowhere. Who wouldn't want to have such highly skilled players on their team?
We, at planet.training, got you covered if you want to improve those skills. We have thousands of soccer drills for any skill! You can directly start coaching with these four exercises or try hundreds of Premium Exercises and public drills in our soccer database.
1 vs 1 – On pole goal
Set Up:
For this exercise you need to set up two pole goals (Width 10m) on a 20m x 15m field. Divide the group into groups of two (1 versus 1) – a maximum of 5 groups per field is advised. One player of each group will be assigned to the first team (Orange) and the other player to the second team (Blue). Each pair of players needs a ball.
Execution:
Each pair is playig an open field “1 on 1”. The oppsoing goal can be attacked over the entire width – the ball has to be dribbled across the goal line. However there is a time limit of 20 seconds to a single attack. After scoring a goal, losing the ball or expiration of the time, the attack is over. The defensive players will turn into offensive, as soon as all 5 attacking players are done. Several pairs can play at the same time, which will improve players orientation on the pitch. Playing Time: Start a team competition! – Which team is leading after 5 rounds, orange or blue?
Defense: Double team in a 3 vs 2
Set Up:
Set up a field of approx. 15m x 20m. Put two cone goals (3m width) at each of the two goal lines. Have offensive players (blue) line up in 2 rows on one goalline - Balls to the left attacking player. Defenders line up in 3 rows on the other side of the field. The field is divided into two halves.
Execution:
Two attacking players try to get the ball across one of the two cone goals in a 2 v 3 situation. Offensive players can't leave their respective half. The three defenders try to intercept the ball by efficiently double teaming and pressuring the ball possessing player. If defenders can gain possession of the ball, they can run a counter attack on the other cone goals. Attacking players remain attacking players, Defenders stay defenders - Switch roles after 8-12 min, Use breaks to coach players.
1 vs 1 - Opponent & Goal in the back
Set Up:
Set up a field of 10m x 20m with two small goals each side. At least 3 attacking and 2 defensive players for each field. (Set up several fields, if you have a lot of players.) Give a ball to each offensive player.
Execution:
The first attacking player is on the field, with his back facing the opponent & goal – Face is turned to the second offensive player on the baseline. The defender lines up inside of the “Attack Zone”. Offensive player starts the exercise by getting a good release and receiving /controlling the pass from the baseline. After controlling the ball, he tries to get himself in a good position to win the “1 on 1”. The defender first waits on the edge of the “Attack Zone” before he challenges the attacking player – later in the exercise he can challenge the ball reception as well.
If the attacking player can win his 1 on 1 he’ll try to score from inside the zone. If the defender gains possession, he can start the counter attack and score a goal on the opposite side of the field. Players count their points – Defender gets 2 points for getting the ball and scoring a goal.
1 vs 2 - Attack and Counter
Set Up:
Set up two goals with poles (width 3m) opposite of the big goal. Two defending zones (Size: 20m x 5m) are set up with each four cones. Distance between the zones is 5m. Determine two defenders and a goalkeeper, the other players line up behind a cone that is set up between the two pole goals. Each player at the cone should get a ball.
Execution:
The coach signals first player at the cone to start dribbling towards the two defenders waiting in their zone. Attacking player needs to dribble past both defenders, which are not allowed to leave their individual zones. If offensive player gets passed both defenders, he tries to score the goal against the goalkeeper. In case one of the defenders is able to intercept the ball, both defensive players will run a counter attack in a "2 on 1" against the previously attacking player.
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Register nowWithout passing and dribbling there is no scoring
Scoring and winning is the ultimate goal of any football game. Whether a volley shot, bicycle kick, header or instep drive. Any technique can be improved by practicing it during your soccer training sessions. However, without an effective passing game or a perfect dribbling, there would not even be a chance to score. Therefore, coaches should always combine several skills in their session plans. Shots on the goal are perfect for engaging in small-field games or passing drills. To make sure that your next session plan is created even faster, there are a lot of other drill examples and variations on our other exercise pages.
