Football (soccer) drill library: 1 vs 1
1 vs 1 exercises are an excellent way to develop players' individual skills and competitive spirit.
Drills: 1 vs 1
1v1 to Four Gate Goals
The drill can be done from both the attacker's and defender's perspective, in which case the coaching points change. The coach passes the ball to a player in one of the lines, making that player the attacker, while the first player in the other line becomes the defender. The attacker tries to score by dribbling through one of the two gate goals on the other side. If the defender manages to steal the ball, they become the attacker aiming for the gate goals on the opposite side.
1v1 with two pairs
There are two 1v1 games happening simultaneously in the area. One pair plays to gate goals (dark grey and red in the image, with two gate goals at each end that can be used), and the other pair plays to small goals (blue and yellow in the image). When the defender steals the ball, the direction of play changes normally, and the situation is played out. After each situation, players switch to the queue at the other end, changing roles for the next round. At the coach's instruction, those who played to gate goals switch to playing to small goals, and vice versa.
1v1 to side gate goals
Coach passes the ball to one of the sides, making the player with the ball the attacker and the player from the opposite side the defender. Play 1v1 where either gate goal can be used. If the defender steals the ball, roles switch and the situation is played out.
1v1 + joker + goalkeepers
The goal is to score in a 1v1 game and utilize the options offered by the joker player. The joker is always on the side of the player with the ball and can also score. After a goal, play restarts with the ball from the goalkeeper of the scoring player. When the defender wins the ball, they must pass once to their own player before scoring. Joker positions: 1. In the area: The joker moves within the area and supports the player with the ball, helping with the attack. 2. Outside the area: The joker is outside the field and waits to be passed back into the field. 3. Entry pass: The joker starts outside the area and enters the field to provide passing options.
1v1 to four goals
The drill starts with the red player passing to the blue player, after which the blue player attacks towards the goals at the red player's end. The red player defends their end's goals and when winning the ball tries to score in the goals at the blue end. After the performance, players change lines.
1v1 to gate goals (continuous)
Each gate has one player with a ball, and there is one defender in the center of the area. The players challenge the defender in turns and try to dribble the ball through the opposite gate. If the defender wins the ball, they try to score in the small goal, and the player who lost possession becomes the new defender. When an attacker successfully dribbles through the gate, the next player from that gate immediately starts a new 1v1 challenge against the defender.
1v1 with back to goal
In this drill, the pass is made from the line to the attacker who has their back to the goal. The objective is to turn, get past the opponent and score a goal. After winning the ball, the defender tries to score in the small goals. The defender applies high pressure. Rotation: from the line to attacker, from attacker to defender, and from defender back to the line.
1v1 side by side and towards goal
Players are in two lines, and the first ones start moving when they see the ball. The player who gets the ball first tries to score in the big goal. After winning the ball, the other player scores in the side goals. The starting position can be standing, sitting, kneeling, lying on stomach..
1v1 + goalkeeper with agility ladders
The situation starts with attackers dribbling through cones and the defender running through agility ladders. The attacker tries to score after dribbling through the cones, and correspondingly after the agility ladders, the defender tries to prevent scoring. Alternate different styles of dribbling and running through agility ladders.
1v1+supporting players+goalkeepers
In this drill, short games are played 1v1+supporting players+goalkeepers. Supporting players always stay on the side of the team in possession and outside the playing area. The purpose is to progress toward scoring a goal. Possible modifications: 1. supporting players limited to one touch 2. only one supporting player
Goalkeeper War
Two goals are set up 10-20 meters apart. Only goalkeepers are on the field, competing against each other by trying to save shots from the opposing side. When a goalkeeper makes a save, they get to attempt to shoot into the opponent's net. Shots are taken within a few meters of their own goal. Six balls are used in the game, and a player who scores gets to grab the ball from their own goal. The winner is the one whose own goal is emptied first.
Role Switch 1v1
The drill has two goals and two lines. The game starts with a blue player dribbling the ball at speed towards the goal and shooting. After the shot, the blue player becomes a defender and quickly moves to the other goal to defend. At the same time as the blue player shoots, a red player starts moving and tries to score at the other end of the field. After the red player's shot, they move to defend against the blue player's 1v1 attack at the other goal. This is how the game progresses alternately: after shooting, players change roles and move to defense, where they compete against each other in 1v1 situations.
1v1 bypass gate
1v1 drill with two gates. The situation begins with a pass from the queue to the attacker. The defender chooses which gate to press through. The attacker's task is to observe the defender's choice, bypass them through the opposite gate and finish quickly. Players rotate from the queue to attacker, attacker to defender, and defender returns to the queue with the ball. If the defender wins the ball from the attacker, the defender's target is either of the gates.
1v1 with support players
Players are divided into two teams. In the middle of the area, one player from each team plays a 1v1 situation, while other team members act as support players on the edges of the area. Objective: The team should maintain possession of the ball for as long as possible by utilizing the support players. Rules: The player in the middle can pass the ball to a support player from their own team. When a support player receives a pass, they move to the middle into the 1v1 situation. The player who made the pass moves to the edge as a support player. The opponent tries to win the ball and gain possession for their own team.
Dribble the ball to your own base
1v1 drill, where the coach puts the ball into play. Players are divided into two teams, with one player at a time going to retrieve the ball against a player from the other team. The goal is to dribble the ball to your own base and prevent the opponent from doing the same.
1v1 to four goals with team elimination
In this drill, players are divided into two teams and there are four goals on the field. There are scoring zones at the ends of the field from which players can shoot at the goal. Goals scored from the middle area are not accepted. The game always starts with a challenge ball from the coach in a 1v1 situation. If a red player scores a goal, the black player is eliminated from the game and goes to the side. Then a new black player enters the field. The red player continues to play until they are eliminated from the game themselves. The winning team is the one that manages to eliminate all players from the opposing team.
1v1 in the penalty area
1v1+goalkeeper in the penalty area. One player tries to prevent a goal and the other attacks. Outside the penalty area, there are players with balls. The attacker's purpose is to make themselves available so that the outside players can pass to them. After receiving the pass, quick finishing. If the defending player wins the ball, they try to score in a small goal. Roles are switched when the balls run out.
1v1 to two goals
Two goals are placed in the area where the attacker (black) tries to score after a pass from the defender (red). After giving the pass, the red player tries to prevent the goal. If the defender wins the ball, they try to score in the lone goal. Can also be played with gate goals.
Break away from the opponent
The drill features a 1v1 situation, where one player is a defender and the other is an attacker. At the end of the field, there is a player from both teams, who passes the ball to the attacker. In the image, the red player has moved to defend in front of the goal at the beginning of the drill. The situation begins when the black player starts to move without the ball and tries to move into a scoring position in front of the goal. The red player aims to prevent the goal. If the defender wins the ball, they try to score at the opposite end.
1v1 with teams
In the middle of the area there is a smaller area where balls are collected (e.g. 12 balls). The drill can also have fewer than four goals. The drill starts with each blue attacker taking a ball and starting to attack towards a goal of their choice, however, only one player attacks the same goal at a time. After the ball goes out or the defender wins it, the blue player takes a new ball from the middle and attacks towards the next goal (rotation e.g. clockwise). When there are no more balls in the middle, count the goals scored and switch roles. The team that scored more goals wins.
Reaction Game 1v1
Players are positioned at two cones. The goalkeeper controls the drill by calling out a number that determines which line the attacker starts from. The attacker from the designated line tries to beat the defender and score a goal. The defender's task is to react quickly and prevent the goal in the 1v1 situation. If the attacker scores a goal, the defender continues defending in the next situation as well. If the defender prevents the goal, the roles switch quickly, and the attacker becomes the new defender.
1v1 with end zones
1v1, where the player starting from the end zone aims to dribble the ball over the opposite end zone. After a successful attempt, a player from the other side starts trying to cross the area. The player in the middle tries to win the ball. The defender continues in the middle until they have successfully won the ball.
1v1 with turning
A cone in the middle of the area, with players on both sides. Queues of players at the ends. Two goals at the ends. 1. The drill starts simultaneously with passes from both ends to the players in the middle. 2. The player in the middle takes the first touch and turns with the ball toward the goal that was previously behind their back. The player who passed from the end moves to defend the 1v1 situation. 3. The player with the ball tries to beat the defender and score a goal. If possession is lost, the player who won the ball tries to score in the small goal on the side. After the action, players rotate positions.
1v1 with teams and gates
A 1v1 drill is played with two teams. Gates belonging to the same team are placed at opposite ends of the area. The goal of the drill is to play the ball through your team's gate to your own player, who in turn moves to the middle to beat the opponent's player. If the player in possession beats their opponent and manages to play the ball through the gate, they move to the gate to wait for a pass from their teammate. The same gate cannot be used twice in a row. When the defending player (red) wins the ball, they play the ball through their own team's gate to their teammate.
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