The Importance of 1v1 skills in Youth Football/Soccer
How to handle 1v1 situations is one of the 4 key football/soccer skills that players need to master to become a well rounded footballer. It’s all about making sure they can beat their opponent directly in front of them, which is a big part of the game. The ‘fake and take’ technique is a great example. It’s where a player tricks their opponent into thinking they’re taking the ball one way (Fakes), then quickly moves the ball in the other direction (Takes).
This skill is not about being tricky; it’s about manipulating our body language to deceive the defender of our intentions. When players get better at 1v1s, they can make a real difference in games, helping their team by creating more chances to score or by getting out of tough spots. Think about some of the most famous players in the game, they all dominate in 1v1 situations. So focusing on these skills is a smart move for any youth football coach.
Why Failing to Develop 1v1 Skills Holds Players Back
Limited Offensive Options: Players who struggle in 1v1 situations often find themselves unable to create scoring opportunities or effectively advance the ball into more advantageous positions, limiting their team’s offensive capabilities.
Predictability: Without the ability to outmanoeuvre opponents individually, players become more predictable. Defenders can easily anticipate and neutralize their moves, making it harder to maintain possession or make impactful contributions.
Reduced Confidence: Struggling in 1v1 battles can significantly dent a player’s confidence. This lack of confidence can lead to hesitation, less aggressive play, and a reluctance to take on defenders, affecting overall individual and team performance on the field.
Advantages of the Fake and Take in 1v1 situations.
Unpredictability and Deception: The ‘fake and take’ method significantly boosts a player’s unpredictability on the field. By feigning a move in one direction before swiftly taking the ball in another, attackers can deceive defenders, making it difficult for them to anticipate and react to the actual play. This unpredictability is key to breaking through defensive lines.
Creates Space and Opportunities: Successfully executing a ‘fake and take’ can compel the defender to commit to the feigned direction, effectively “standing them up” or causing them to pause and lose their balance. This creates valuable space for the attacker to exploit, opening up chances for shots, crosses, or passes that can lead to scoring opportunities.
Enhances Individual Confidence: Mastering the ‘fake and take’ boosts a player’s confidence in their ability to face opponents 1v1. This confidence translates into more assertive and dynamic play, encouraging players to take on defenders more frequently and with greater success, thereby enhancing their overall impact on the game.
Training Session: 1v1 Fake and Take
60-90 minutes
This session uses the Game-Train-Game framework to work on 1v1 with the ball. The aim is to encourage players to deceive the defender by faking one direction, and then taking the ball in the other direction to beat the defender.
Format
- Warmup: 10 mins
- Icebreaker: 10 mins
- Game 1: 15 mins
- Train 1: 10 mins
- Train 2: 15 mins
- Game 2: 20mins
Icebreaker: 10 mins
Aim
- Team that scores the most goals wins
Rules
- Teams line up opposite each other outside the play area.
- Team members link arms or hold hands to create a defensive chain.
- Players are given a number from 1 to N.
- Coach pays a ball into the playing area and calls a number.
- The player from each team with that number enters the playing area to win the ball and try to score in the opposite goals.
- Attackers must stay in the playing area, defending chains must stay outside the playing area and can move side to side together to protect the goals.
- Once the ball is out of play, attackers return to their chain and a new round starts.
Notes
- Try to have balanced teams with well matched numbers. A good tip is to get the players to pair up with someone who they feel is of similar ability. Or do this yourself. Then give them the same number but on opposite teams.
- Attackers in the playing area are engaged in a 1v1 battle. Encourage the defensive chains to communicate and work together as a team to defend their goals.
- Make sure every number gets at least 2 attempts.
- Have fun with it. Don’t try to coach any technique at this point. This is part of discovery learning.
Game 1: 15 mins
Aim
- Small sided games to get the players playing football early in the session
Rules
- Start the game as soon as possible, with all standard football rules.
- Every few minutes add a new rule:
- Minimum 3 touches
- If you receive the ball in the attacking half, try and beat a defender.
- 2 goals for scoring, 3 goals if you beat a defender and score, 1 goal for dribbling in control anywhere across the goal line.
Notes
- Introduce rules 1 at a time to give the players time to process and understand how they work.
- Don’t stop the game to change the rules, explain the rules while the game is flowing.
- Try not to coach, the games are used for self discovery. Use your custom rules to create an environment for them to find the answer.
Train 1: 10 mins
Aim
- Focused repetitions of 1v1 faking and taking. Stage 1 is a mannequin to beat and shoot. Stage 2 is a passive real defender for added PDE.
Rules
- Player runs with the ball to the mannequin.
- Player uses their body to fake one way, and take the ball the other way.
- After taking the ball, they have 1 more touch to set themselves up for a finish.
- Player tries to score in mini goal.
- Player collects their ball and joins the end of the opposite line.
- Stage 2 replaces the mannequin with a passive defender who slowly closes the attacker down, but does not win the ball.
Notes
- Demonstrate in slow motion dropping your shoulder, knees, and head to one side, before taking the ball in the other direction.
- Encourage players to start slow, and build up to game speed.
- Don’t pay any attention to poor goal finishes, focus primarily on the faking technique.
- For more advanced players, you can explore other fake and take methods:
- Drop the shoulder
- Step over
- Drag and cut
- Finish the exercise with the players trying something they may have seen the pros do.
- Remember training is a safe place to fail and learn.
- Encourage creativity.
Train 2: 15 mins
Aim
- Focused repetitions of 1v1 faking and taking. Stage 1 is a mannequin to beat and shoot. Stage 2 is a passive real defender for added PDE.
Rules
- Player runs with the ball to the mannequin.
- Player uses their body to fake one way, and take the ball the other way.
- After taking the ball, they have 1 more touch to set themselves up for a finish.
- Player tries to score in mini goal.
- Player collects their ball and joins the end of the opposite line.
- Stage 2 replaces the mannequin with a passive defender who slowly closes the attacker down, but does not win the ball.
Notes
- Demonstrate in slow motion dropping your shoulder, knees, and head to one side, before taking the ball in the other direction.
- Encourage players to start slow, and build up to game speed.
- Don’t pay any attention to poor goal finishes, focus primarily on the faking technique.
- For more advanced players, you can explore other fake and take methods:
- Drop the shoulder
- Step over
- Drag and cut
- Finish the exercise with the players trying something they may have seen the pros do.
- Remember training is a safe place to fail and learn.
- Encourage creativity.
GAME 2: 20 MINS
Aim
- A game of football to finish the session.
Rules
- Keep all the rules normal, must look and play like a normal game.
- Adjust the field size to suit numbers.
Notes
- Avoid the temptation to coach, let the kids just play.
- Give praise when you see a player take on an opponent 1v1, even if they fail.
- Even with reduced numbers, you can still create formations that mimic 11v11 formations.
- In this diagram, there is a regulation back 4, and midfield 3, and a striker. It is played like a 4-3-3 but without wingers or goalkeepers.
- In lieu of goalkeepers, use poles or markers in the corners of the goals.
- Try to keep teams balanced.
