Defending
1v1 Defending
Delay and control an attacker one against one
Defending
Tackling
Transition
Premium
1v1 Defending is a 15-minute defending drill for 6-16 players, suitable for Under 5 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, mini goals. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.
Back to drill libraryDefending
Tackling
Transition
Skill Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Foundation Phase
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Duration
15 min
Players
6-16
Pitch size
15 x 12 yards
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
1v1 Defending — 1v1 channel — beat your player and cross the line · 15 x 12 yards
Step 1 of 4Attacker attempts to score in the mini goal within 12 seconds.
- 1. Attacker attempts to score in the mini goal within 12 seconds.
- 2. Defender presses, delays and forces play wide.
- 3. Swap roles each turn; keep individual scores.
- 4. Rotation: Swap roles each turn; keep individual scores.
- Cones mark the area
- Dashed lines = scoring lines
- Ball
- Dotted arrow = rotation between repetitions
- Blue = attacker, dark = defender, queues outside the channel
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Delay and control an attacker one against one
- -Adopt a strong side-on defensive stance
- -Choose the right moment to tackle
Setup
- 1Channel with a mini goal at the defender's end.
- 2Attacker starts 15 yards out with a ball.
- 3Two queues either side.
Coaching instructions
- 1Attacker attempts to score in the mini goal within 12 seconds.
- 2Defender presses, delays and forces play wide.
- 3Swap roles each turn; keep individual scores.
Coaching points
- -Close the space quickly, then slow down
- -Side-on stance, low centre of gravity
- -Force the attacker onto their weaker foot
- -Tackle when the ball leaves the attacker's foot
Common mistakes
- -Sprinting all the way in and getting spun
- -Standing square, easy to beat either side
- -Diving in on the first touch