1-to-1 Defending Technique

Objectives

• -Individual defending shape and footwork
• -Time the tackle rather than dive in
• -Learn to show an attacker away from danger

How to set it up

1. 1Mark out the working area at 15 x 10 yards. Put a cone on each corner so the boundary is obvious to the players.
2. 2Channel with a gate at each end.
3. 3Coach or partner attacks with the ball.
4. 4Cones mark the side the defender should show towards.
5. 5Kit for this practice: Balls, Cones. Keep a supply of spare balls beside the coach so a lost ball never stops the practice.
6. 6Work one-to-one: the coach or a partner serves while the working player takes every repetition.
7. 7Set the area up before the players arrive, then walk them through the shape once at a jog before the first live repetition.

How to run it, step by step

1. 1Get the players into position and walk the first repetition through slowly so everybody knows where they start and where they go.
2. 2Defender presses, sets, and shows the attacker towards the marked side.
3. 3Six repetitions, resetting after each one.
4. 4Score a point for every ball won or forced out.
5. 5The working player recovers back to the start position between repetitions while the server collects the ball.
6. 6The repetition ends when the ball reaches the final target or leaves the area. The next player starts straight away.
7. 7Freeze the practice once or twice per round, make one coaching point to the whole group, then restart immediately.

What each player does

Working player

Takes the repetition: receives, executes the defending action and finishes the sequence at match pace.

Server

Delivers a consistent, firm ball on the coach's call, then collects a spare ball ready for the next repetition.

Defender

Starts passive and builds to full pressure, staying side on and forcing the working player into their weaker side.

Waiting players

Stand behind the start cone with a ball ready, watch the repetition in front of them and step in the moment it finishes.

Coach

Stands where the whole picture is visible, serves or calls the start, and makes one clear point per freeze.

Timings and organisation

• -Run 4 rounds of roughly 4 minutes inside the 14 minute slot.
• -Give 45-60 seconds of rest between rounds so the quality of the work stays high, and use that gap for your coaching point.
• -Rotate roles at the end of every round so each player works, serves and defends across the practice.
• -If the practice is too easy, move to a progression rather than adding more repetitions. If players are struggling, drop to a regression for one round and then build back up.

Common mistakes

• -Square-on and easy to beat either side
• -Diving in on the first touch
• -Backing off all the way to the goal
• -Standing still and watching instead of moving into the next position