Training sessions by topic

1v1 duel training: 2 ready-made sessions

1v1 with an opponent behind and side-on: complete sessions for youth and adult teams.

Duel with an Opponent Behind

5 drills

This session focuses on the first touch and taking the ball in stride, as well as the direct 1 vs 1 and 2 vs 1 with an opponent behind.

Drill 1

Warm-Up One-Two

10 min15 metres total length, distance between flat markers 5 metres
  • On a call from the middle player, the first player passes to that player.
  • The middle player moves towards the ball and lays it back in a one-two.
  • That player then turns quickly and runs to the other flat marker.
  • There the pass from the second player is received and played straight back.
  • The sequence is repeated for about 45 seconds.
  • The players then swap positions. Each player has three turns.

Note: Drill idea by Eddie Plickat.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Set up 4 flat markers in a row, with a distance of 5 metres between each of the flat markers.

Equipment: 4 flat markers, 2 balls.

Players: There is one player with a ball at the first and at the last flat marker. A player without a ball stands between the two middle flat markers.

Coaching points
  • Demand firm passes.
  • The players should move between the flat markers at a full sprint.
  • Have spare balls ready in case a pass goes astray.
  • Pay attention to the standing leg when passing; it points in the direction of the receiver of the pass.
  • Pull the toes of the passing foot up in order to stabilise the ankle and play the pass firmly.
Drill 2

First Touch and Carrying the Ball to the Colour

10 min10 metres passing distance, target cones 5 metres away in each case
  • The bottom player passes the ball to the partner and calls out one of the three colours, that is yellow, blue or green.
  • The partner takes the ball in the direction of the corresponding flat marker.
  • The partner runs past the flat marker at the side, or around the flat marker at the back, and plays the ball back.
  • Then that player returns quickly to the starting flat marker and receives the next pass.

Note: Drill idea by Eddie Plickat.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Set up two flat markers about 10 metres apart. About 5 metres to the side of and behind the top flat marker, one target cone in its own colour is placed in each case: from the passer's point of view a yellow one on the left, a blue one on the right and a green flat marker behind the top flat marker.

Equipment: 2 flat markers, 3 target cones in yellow, blue and green, 1 ball.

Players: The two starting flat markers are each occupied by one player, and the bottom player has the ball.

Coaching points
  • Take the ball with the foot nearer the flat marker, so with the right foot towards the yellow cone and with the left foot towards the blue cone.
  • Aim to be at the flat marker with 2 touches.
  • Pull the toes up both when passing and when carrying the ball, in order to stabilise the joint.
  • Start slowly and increase the tempo steadily.
Drill 3

1 vs 1 with Opponent Behind

20 min10 metres between the flat markers
  • The team-mate without the ball gives a signal and moves 1 to 2 metres towards the passer.
  • As soon as this player sets off, the opponent may follow.
  • The player with the ball passes to the team-mate after the signal.
  • The receiver now tries, with the opponent behind, to turn and to score in one of the two goals.
  • If the opponent wins the ball, that player tries to take it to the flat marker further from the goals and receives one point for doing so.

Note: Drill idea by Eddie Plickat.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Set up two flat markers 10 metres apart. Behind one of the flat markers stand two mini goals side by side, alternatively dribbling goals, 5 metres apart.

Equipment: 2 flat markers, 2 mini goals, balls.

Players: At the flat marker further from the goals stands a player with a ball. At the flat marker nearer the goals stands a team-mate, with an opponent about one metre behind.

Coaching points
  • The receiver should gain an advantage with body feints and skill moves.
  • The passer should support the team-mate with clear communication.
  • The opponent should keep an arm's length behind the attacker in order to stay able to react.
Drill 4

2 vs 1 with Opponent Behind

20 min10 metres between the flat markers
  • The team-mate without the ball gives a signal and moves 1 to 2 metres towards the passer.
  • As soon as this player sets off, the opponent may follow.
  • The player with the ball passes to the team-mate after the signal.
  • As the ball is played, the passer also pushes up into the area, so that a 2 vs 1 against the third player is created.
  • The team with the extra player finishes on one of the two goals.
  • The players then swap roles.

Scoring: A goal by the team with the extra player earns one point, winning the ball earns the opponent two points.

Note: Drill idea by Eddie Plickat.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Set up two flat markers 10 metres apart. Behind one of the flat markers stand two mini goals side by side, alternatively dribbling goals, 5 metres apart.

Equipment: 2 flat markers, 2 mini goals, balls.

Players: At the flat marker further from the goals stands a player with a ball. At the flat marker nearer the goals stands a team-mate, with an opponent about one metre behind.

Coaching points
  • The team with the extra player should make the game wide as quickly as possible in order to gain an advantage in space.
  • When closing down the player on the ball, the opponent should make sure to keep the free player in the cover shadow.
Drill 5

Small-Sided Game Opponent Behind

30 minDepending on age and number of players, example U14 with 10 outfield players and 2 goalkeepers
  • A free game is played with special rules for the goal kick.
  • At the goal kick the ball may only be played to a team-mate who is in the opposition half at the moment the ball is played.
  • However, the ball must not cross the halfway line before a team-mate has touched it in their own half.
  • The receiver must therefore come out of the opposition half and take the ball in their own half.
  • The opposing team may only cross the halfway line after the ball has been played.

Note: Drill idea by Eddie Plickat.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Play takes place in one half of the pitch from the goal line to the halfway line, the four corners are marked with cones. The full-size goal stands on the goal line, a smaller goal on the halfway line. Roughly in the middle, two flat markers on the touchlines divide the pitch into two halves. The pitch size is adapted to age and number of players, the pitch described is designed for a U14 with 10 outfield players and 2 goalkeepers.

Equipment: 4 cones, 2 flat markers, bibs, balls, 2 goals.

Players: Two teams, each with a goalkeeper, alternatively without goalkeepers on mini goals or dribbling goals. With an odd number of players, one neutral player is nominated who plays only for the team in possession.

Coaching points
  • At the goal kick the receiver should communicate clearly with the goalkeeper and then react quickly.
  • The defence should set up on the halfway line and switch into pressing as the ball is played.

Lateral 1 vs 1

4 drills

In this session, the 1 vs 1 against a defender coming from the side is to be practised. The players are to be shown what options they have in a match when, on their own, they come up against defenders charging in from the side.

Drill 1

Warm-Up Lateral 1 vs 1

15 min20 x 15 metres
  • The first player with the ball starts the round, dribbles into the playing area and tries to reach the end zone.
  • Whenever the cones of a zone are passed, the outside player assigned to that colour may come into the playing area and try to win the ball.
  • After a few minutes the roles are changed.

Note: Drill idea by Eddie Plickat.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Set up an area of 20 x 15 metres and divide it with rows of flat markers into several zones of equal depth, each row in its own colour. The last zone at the end of the area is the end zone.

Equipment: Markers in several colours, 1 ball per player, bibs in the same colours.

Players: One player stands outside the playing area by each zone, alternately on the left and on the right, with a bib colour matching the colour of that zone marking. The remaining players stand with a ball on the starting line.

Coaching points
  • The player on the ball should run a slalom at speed in order to create the greatest possible distance from the defenders.
  • Close ball control helps to manage the changes of direction.
Drill 2

Lateral 1 vs 1

20 min20 x 15 metres
  • The player with the ball plays a firm pass to the player opposite and then sets off into the playing area to defend.
  • The receiver tries to get through one of the dribbling goals and then to score through a mini goal.
  • The defender tries to prevent this and, on winning the ball, may finish on the opposite mini goal.

Variations:

  • Play lofted balls instead of firm passes.

Note: Drill idea by Eddie Plickat.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Set up 2 mini goals 20 metres apart facing each other. About 5 metres in front of each goal two flat markers form a lateral dribbling goal. Halfway along, 2 starting flat markers stand 15 metres apart facing each other.

Equipment: 2 starting flat markers, 4 flat markers for the dribbling goals, 2 mini goals, bibs in two colours, balls.

Players: Both starting flat markers are occupied by one player each; one of them has the ball.

Coaching points
  • Accurate firm passes are produced by pulling the toes of the passing foot up and swinging the leg through as the pass is played.
  • The standing foot points towards the passing option. The ball can be rolled forward half a metre beforehand; this creates closeness to the game and makes aiming easier.
  • The attacker should come towards the ball and gain an advantage with feints and a subsequent change of direction. Pace is decisive.
Drill 3

Lateral 1 vs 1 II

20 min20 x 15 metres
  • The coach calls up one of the two waiting teams.
  • The first player of the team between the mini goals sets off into the playing area with the ball and tries to score in the opposite goals.
  • The first player of the team called up also sets off into the playing area, tries to prevent the goal and, on winning the ball, to score in the opposite goals.
  • Finishes may only be taken from the end zone.

Note: Drill idea by Eddie Plickat.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Mark out an area of 20 x 15 metres with cones. On the shorter sides there are 2 mini goals each, with an end zone marked 5 metres in front of them from which finishes may be taken.

Equipment: Cones, 4 mini goals, bibs in three colours, balls.

Players: Three teams in their own bib colours. One team waits outside the playing area level with the middle on the left, one team on the right. The third team stands with balls between the two mini goals on one side. The coach stands next to the playing area.

Coaching points
  • The defender should close the distance at speed and force the player on the ball out towards the side.
  • The attacker goes into the playing area at speed and has to watch the direction from which the opponent approaches.
  • The attacker either looks for the direct 1 vs 1 with a feint or uses the space and avoids the duel through speed.
Drill 4

Lateral 1 vs 1 Small-Sided Game

35 min20 x 15 metres
  • The two teams play against each other.
  • Goals may only be scored from the end zones.
  • After a goal all players of the successful team apart from the goalscorer have to run around the opposition goals and come back into the playing area through the middle zone.
  • The other team may carry on playing as normal in the meantime.

Variations:

  • Limit the number of touches.
  • Allow only first-time goals.
  • Allow the end zone to be entered only without the ball.

Note: Drill idea by Eddie Plickat.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Mark out an area of 20 x 15 metres with cones. On the shorter sides there are 2 mini goals each, with an end zone marked 5 metres in front of them.

Equipment: Cones, 4 mini goals, bibs in two colours, balls.

Players: Two teams.

Coaching points
  • In attack create width and depth, keep the players without the ball moving and show for the ball in the free spaces.
  • In defence tighten the play around the player on the ball and put the opponents in the cover shadow.
  • After conceding a goal switch quickly and take advantage of the temporary numerical advantage.
  • The team that has to run back should hurry in order to be able to get involved from the side again in the middle zone.

More topics

2 ready-made sessionsIndoor trainingSessions for the sports hall – under-8s to under-11s.2 ready-made sessionsIndoor training for under-7sBall familiarisation and games for the youngest players.2 ready-made sessionsShooting trainingFinishing from every angle – youth and adults.2 ready-made sessionsWing playAttacking down the wings, crosses and overlaps.2 ready-made sessionsBack fourDefending as a back four and in rest defence.2 ready-made sessionsOverloadsPossession with a numerical advantage and transitions.1 ready-made sessionSet piecesCorners, free kicks and throw-ins.
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