Training idea - 2v1 back to goal exercise Did this drill in a session last week since we often end up in situations where opponents go tight on us and we need to solve those situations. Very simple design working on 4 things: 1. Back pass 2. Protect and... pass 3. Turn 4. Flick onshow more

The defender is full on and can step in front to take the ball so we work on the relation between passer and receiver as well. If the defender wins it they can score in the big goal. The attacker can do anything he feels is appropriate but the four things listed are some options

I heard somewhere that 1v1 with your back to goal is the most common 1v1 situation in a game so this feels like a very important thing to work on. Obviously, it happens in any training game too. How do other coaches work on this aspect? Intrigued to know.

1v1 back-to-goal is one of the small-sided situations we (methodology department) introduced to the stage 1 curriculum at my club. At times it's useful to introduce touch MINIMUMS for the player receiving the ball so he learns to effectively create separation from the defender.

Top stuff, and I agree, we had that as one progression that they needed to take one touch to protect/turn the defender before using the supporting player. Love that idea!

@MPauleCarres Good stuff. In the exercise, you could increase the distance of the pass, then add recovering defender. More ball-travelling time = more chance for defender to intercept. Then I'd add weight of passing coaching. Sometimes drilled, sometimes underhit to tempt defender.

@MPauleCarres Yes, good suggestions. My focus was just on protecting that first ball rather than thinking too much about the defenders (only did this for 5 mins) but I like those ideas

Seems to not be much of a fair fight for the defenders. Did you progress it at all to allow better competition? Maybe just 1 goal to score in, for example, or progress to a 2v2.

That is correct, to make it ‘fair’ we could have used one goal, but we use three to encourage them to use the flick into a goal too. Our focus was on protecting that first ball rather than making it a competitive game which is fair, but I like that idea too

@kylerich86 Billy

An idea to progess could be to add a second defender to be live and press IF the attacker choose option 1,2. Then you get pressure from the back and sometimes also from the front and a bit more complexity when 2v2.

Do you worry about what the lone defender is taking out of an exercise like this?

Not really, no. Working against the attacker is a chance to win the ball, and then to deal with a 1v2. Then, we switch the players so they work on the main focus, which is attacking, more than they are defending

As always, really appreciate the response, @DaveSelini .

No worries! I think you can get something from almost everything you do in training, hence why I think the defender can benefit here too. And of course, this is just a five-to-eight minute activity as part of the warm up but still

Can the Defender go anywhere? Attack the passen?

Very educative

Loads of great coaching points in this exercise. :Strikers body shape : Receiving the ball at furthest point from defender :Use of arms/Hips by striker : Angle of support from passer

This is very good, but possible to extend too? Big goal with goalkeeper instead of 3 small goals and also make pitch bigger for a 3 on 2 in the next attack immediately after 2 on 1 is done.

@danooconnor85

Can you add a few progressions, to eventually a game?