1v1 from any start

What it trains

Beat a defender 1v1 from the three starts a match gives you: facing them, side-on, or with your back to goal. Read your start before the ball arrives, pick the first touch that fits it, then change speed to get past and score.

Set up

• A server
• A defender
• A ball
• Goal, 25 x 15 m area

How it works

1. Warm up first. Mark an area 25 m wide and 15 m long with 4 cones, with a goal (or 2 more cones 4 m apart) in the middle of one end. Use a size 5 ball.
2. The server stands on the far line with the balls. You start about 8 m out from the goal and 5 m from the server.
3. Before each pass the server calls the start: facing (the defender in front of you, goal side), side-on (the defender beside you) or back to goal (the defender close behind you).
4. Facing: touch it forward and attack them. Side-on: touch it away from them and race them. Back to goal: touch it round you, away from them, and spin. Then change speed, get past and shoot along the ground.
5. The defender tries to win the ball, always on their feet. Rotate roles (server, attacker, defender) every 4 goes.

Coaching points

1. Pick your touch early. Before it arrives, check where the defender is and how you are standing, then pick the touch that fits: forward when facing them, away from them when side-on, round you on the side away from them (and spin) with your back to goal. FIFA: first touch into space, away from the pressure.
2. Change speed to get past. Once the touch has bought you space, change speed: keep the ball close, then burst past before they can recover and finish early. England Football: recognise when and where to change speed to get away from an opponent.

Not this

A first touch towards the defender: turning back into them with your back to goal, or taking the same touch whatever your start. It gives them the ball, or the time to close you down.

Dose

• 4 rounds of 4 goes
• 90 s rest between rounds

Our target: 4 rounds of 4 goes with 90 s rest between rounds, rotating roles every 4 goes (the Football Reach target, not an FA rule).

Harder / Easier

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).
• Defenders stay on their feet: no slide tackles and no tackling through the back of the player. Keep the ball on the ground. A keeper stays on their feet too: no diving at feet.
• Only use a goal that is anchored to the ground or has a weighted back bar, and never climb or swing on it.
• Full warm-up first. Flat grass with space all round, never a road or driveway. Stop if anything hurts.

Sources

• England Football Learning - dribbling session: effective dribbling techniques (12-16) (opens in a new tab)
• FIFA Training Centre - finishing: from 1v1 to 3v3 (first touch into space) (opens in a new tab)
• England Football Learning - dribbling session: getting past opponents (opens in a new tab)
• FIFA Training Centre - technical: using a first touch to evade pressure (opens in a new tab)
• The FA - goalpost safety (opens in a new tab)
• England Football - UK concussion guidelines for grassroots sport (opens in a new tab)