Two-phase 1v1 to goal

Description

Two-phase 1v1. Starts with the attacker’s movement. The attacker asks for the pass into a square marked out with cones (the 1st defender follows), where they aim to move the ball with their first touch to either side. Once the ball is outside the square, it is the second defender’s turn to defend. Now a traditional 1v1, where the attacker aims for finishing. Rotation of roles: attacker goes to the back of the queue, 1st defender becomes the attacker and the second defender becomes the first defender. The passer becomes the second defender.

Quality Factors

The attacker moves into the square in the direction of the pass and looks over their shoulder before the pass to see where the 1st defender is following from. The first touch takes the ball out of the square to the side where the defender is not, and the ball remains playable after the touch. The 2nd defender closes down quickly as soon as the ball is outside the square, slows down before the attacker and stays side-on on the balls of the feet. In the 1v1 situation, the touch to beat an opponent comes only when the defender is off balance, followed by a change of pace towards goal. In shooting, eyes on the goalkeeper before the shot, non-kicking foot next to the ball and contact through the middle of the ball.

Key Questions

• How do you know before the pass which side the first touch should be directed to? What happens if the first touch stays inside the square? As a defender: how do you recognise that it is now your turn to go, and how do you slow down before reaching the attacker?

Training Info

• 1+ players
• Age Group: U9+