Annual training plan · U9–U13

Week 7: 1 vs 1 – Beating an Opponent

3 complete training sessions with 12 drills – created by licensed coaches. Open every drill in the easy2coach web app with one click.

This week’s focus

The last week before the start of the season is about the head-on, attacking 1 vs 1.

Because pre-season included work on both receiving the ball and dribbling, the technical foundations for the 1 vs 1 are already in place.

The week before last was already about 1 vs 1 situations in which the main aim was to keep the ball. Now the focus is on beating the opponent.

In small-sided football in particular, the 1 vs 1 can be given a lot of weight, because children's perception and field of vision are not yet fully developed.

For this reason, complex group and team tactical content does not produce the desired progress at this age either. The focus in small-sided football should therefore be on individual tactics and, towards the end, on very simple group tactical content.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

There is a wide range of feints that can be used to win a 1 vs 1. There are simple feints, such as the step-over or the lunge, but also very complicated feints. However, when feinting – regardless of whether the feints are easy or hard to learn – one decisive aspect is often neglected. Namely the use of the upper body.

Make sure that the players clearly shift their centre of gravity when feinting, to make the skill move appear as authentic as possible.

Coaching points for this session
  • Go past the opponent with a change of pace
  • Use different feints
  • Start feints in good time
  • After breaking through, give the defender no 2nd chance to make a challenge
  • After breaking through, cross the running path of the defender
Drill 1

Taking the Ball in Stride and Dribbling

20 min
  • The coach plays the ball in.
  • The player takes the ball in their stride towards the course that has been called and dribbles through it.
  • Then comes a pass into the mini goal.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Three cone courses, each in a different colour and shape, stand in front of two mini goals.

Equipment: 2 mini goals, cones in three colours and several balls.

Players: The players start one after the other; the coach plays the ball in.

Coaching points
  • Keep the ball close.
  • Take the first touch straight towards the course that has been called.
Drill 2

1 vs 1 Champions League

25 minDepending on age and ability
  • The player with the ball tries to beat the opponent and to dribble over the opposing end line; that scores a point.
  • If the defender wins the ball, the defender can also dribble over the opposing end line and score a point.
  • Every player is a defender three times and an attacker three times.
  • The winner moves up one division, the loser moves down one division.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark several areas next to each other; each area is assigned a division.

Equipment: Cones and several balls.

Players: Pairs of one attacker and one defender each.

Coaching points
  • Act at top speed.
  • Force the opponent towards the outside.
Drill 3

1 vs 1 on 2 Goals at a Right Angle

20 min
  • The coach or a player plays a pass into the middle of the area.
  • As soon as the ball has been touched for the pass, the first two players next to the goals may set off towards the ball.
  • Whoever gets to the ball first becomes the striker; the other becomes the defender.
  • This starts a 1 vs 1 with the aim of finishing at one of the two goals.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two goals stand at a right angle to each other; the coach stands with the balls between the two goals.

Equipment: 2 goals and several balls.

Players: Two groups, one next to each goal; plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • The defender keeps an eye on both goals; direct pressing is suitable for this.
  • The striker can finish directly into one of the two goals with a turn.
Drill 4

4 vs 4 on Small Goals

25 min20 x 25 metres
  • The game is played as 4 vs 4.
  • The goalkeeper changes after every action.
  • In the combination play only ground passes are allowed.
  • If the ball goes out over the touchline, play continues by dribbling it back in.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark out the playing area; there are two small goals at the ends.

Equipment: 2 small goals, 4 cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of four players each.

Coaching points
  • The defenders work in a high press.
  • Demand a high tempo and short rounds.
The complete session as a ready-made training plan – with animated drills in the web app. Go to the web app

Session 2

4 drills

Speed also plays a decisive role in the 1 vs 1.

However, top speed should not yet be reached when dribbling at the defender. On the one hand to keep the ball under control, and on the other to still have scope for a change of pace.

But once the 1 vs 1 has been won and the way is clear, it is possible to switch to dribbling at top speed. This leaves the defender no second chance to win the ball.

If the defender does catch up, the defender's running line can be cut across in order to slow the defender down or to draw a foul.

Coaching points for this session
  • Go past the opponent with a change of pace
  • Use different feints
  • Start feints in good time
  • After breaking through, give the defender no 2nd chance to make a challenge
  • After breaking through, cut across the defender's path
Drill 1

Technique-Coordination-Running

20 min20 x 12 metres
  • Player A runs through the agility ladder and receives a pass from Player B.
  • Player A dribbles around the cones towards Player B's starting position.
  • After the pass, Player B runs to the poles — backwards as far as the second pole, forwards from there on.
  • Player B goes through the following poles with side steps.
  • Player B then continues to Player A's starting position.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: An agility ladder at the start, behind it a cone course; on the opposite side there are poles and flags for the running route.

Equipment: 5 tall cones, 5 cones, 3 flags, 6 poles, 1 agility ladder and several balls.

Players: Players A and B stand opposite each other.

Coaching points
  • Increase the pace step by step.
  • Perform the exercises at a high quality.
Drill 2

Duel | 1 vs 1

20 min20 x 20 metres
  • The coach plays a ball to the player standing further away, who controls it and takes it in the stride.
  • The player standing opposite moves into the playing area and becomes the defender.
  • The attacker tries to finish on the opposing goal.
  • If the defender wins the ball, the defender finishes on the defender's goal.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Poles or cones mark out the playing area; two mini goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 mini goals, poles or cones and several balls with the coach.

Players: Two players face each other.

Coaching points
  • Dribble past the defender with a feint and an explosive change of pace.
  • Start the feint in good time.
  • When feinting, shift the centre of gravity sufficiently.
Drill 3

From 1 vs 1 to 2 vs 2

25 minDouble penalty area
  • The coach calls out a number or a colour.
  • The first players at that position set off into the area with a ball.
  • The players opposite set off into the area without a ball.
  • This creates two 1 vs 1 situations.
  • If the ball goes out of play or into the goal, play continues as 2 vs 2.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark the starting positions — one red and one yellow on each side. The cones on each side are given the numbers 1 and 2; numbers and colours must be identical diagonally opposite each other. There are two goals at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, 4 cones and one ball per player.

Players: The team is divided into two groups and spread across the four cones; every player has a ball at their feet. Plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Start the drill explosively in order to get into the dribble quickly.
  • The defenders apply pressure immediately.
  • Demand a quick reaction to losing possession and to the transition into the 2 vs 2.
Drill 4

3 vs 3 Tournament on Dribbling Goals

25 minAs shown in the graphic
  • In each of the areas the game is played as 3 vs 3.
  • The dribbling goals have to be dribbled through clearly.
  • The ball must be stopped no later than two to three metres behind the goal.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two or more areas are set up. There is a row of cones along both long sides of each area; the gaps between them are the dribbling goals. They are two metres wide and stand one metre away from the corner cones.

Equipment: Cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of three players each per area, in their own bib colour.

Coaching points
  • Keep the ball close when crossing the dribbling line.
  • Lift the head to spot a better finishing option.
  • Show for the ball and form triangles while doing so.

Session 3

4 drills

In the first two drills of the training session, the players are ideally prepared for the 1 vs 1 situations that follow.

In Exercise 1 the work is on feinting without an opponent, and in Exercise 2 without a ball but with an opponent.

In Exercise 1 the focus should be on the correct execution of the feints and the change of pace that follows.

In Exercise 2 make sure that the players use their upper body to wrong-foot the opponent.

After that, Exercise 3 moves on to the real 1 vs 1, with ball and opponent.

The training session and the training week end with a small-sided game – from 1 vs 1 to 4 vs 4.

Coaching points for this session
  • Go past the opponent with a change of pace
  • Use different feints
  • Start feints in good time
  • After breaking through, give the defender no 2nd chance to challenge
  • After breaking through, cut across the defender's path
Drill 1

Dribbling and Feints

20 min10 to 15 metres between each of the starting cones
  • All three groups start at the same time.
  • The players dribble towards the pole.
  • They perform a feint.
  • They then cut to the left and dribble to the next group.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Three starting cones form a triangle with 10 to 15 metres between each; a pole stands in the middle as a further marker.

Equipment: 3 cones, 1 pole and several balls.

Players: At least two players stand at each starting position.

Coaching points
  • Pay attention to clean execution of the feints.
  • Keep the ball close.
  • Increase the tempo after the feint.
  • Make a clear change of direction.
  • Shift the body as well so that the feint works.
Drill 2

Feint Run: Hare and Hunter

20 min10 x 15 metres
  • In a 1 vs 1, the hare tries to run through one of the two cone goals with running feints without being tagged by the hunter beforehand.
  • If this succeeds, the hare gets a point.
  • If the hunter tags the hare first, the hunter gets a point.
  • After that the hare becomes the hunter and the hunter becomes the hare.

Variations: Carry out the drill with a ball. For this the goals are made larger; the hunter then has the task of winning the ball.

Note: Make sure that the players face different opponents again and again.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones — two mark the starting positions, two on the left and two on the right form the cone goals.

Equipment: 6 cones; balls in addition for the variation.

Players: Two groups — hares and hunters.

Coaching points
  • The drill can also be carried out with a ball. For this the goals have to be made larger and the hunter's task is now to win the ball
  • Make sure that the players get different opponents again and again
Drill 3

1 vs 1 After a Shot at Goal

25 min20 x 10 metres
  • Player A starts with an explosive dribble, finishes in front of the penalty area and runs around one of the rear cones.
  • At the same time Player B starts, dribbles through the poles and then plays 1 vs 1 against the defending Player A.
  • Player A defends the goal that Player A has run around; when winning the ball, Player A can also score a goal.
  • A round ends when a goal is scored, the ball goes out of play or after 10 to 15 seconds.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: A slalom course of poles leads from one starting side to the penalty area; cones mark out the pitch, two of them on each side forming the starting positions. Two mini goals stand in the penalty area.

Equipment: Poles, cones, 2 mini goals and several balls.

Players: Two teams with the starting positions A and B; plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Perform the dribbles at high pace and with good quality.
  • The defender can wait for the striker at first, but then also attack directly.
Drill 4

1 vs 1 up to 4 vs 4

25 min30 x 20 metres
  • Every game starts with a 1 vs 1.
  • The task is to dribble through a goal on the opposite side or to pass along the ground through it.
  • After a goal or after the ball goes out over the goal line or the touchline, one more player from each team moves into the playing area — making it 2 vs 2, 3 vs 3 and finally 4 vs 4.
  • To do so, the new player of the team entitled to the ball dribbles in.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area; eight tall cones form four goals.

Equipment: 8 tall cones, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of four players each.

Coaching points
  • Look for the 1 vs 1 bravely.
  • Get past the opponent with a change of pace and a feint.
Your training. Your web app.

Get the complete training plans in the web app

  • All 52 weeks, up to three sessions per week
  • More than 3,000 drills – many of them animated
  • Build your own training plans & share them with your team
Start for free

No subscription, no credit card. Sign up in 1 minute.