One Vs. One Defending

If your team doesn't have the ball, every player on the team is a defender. Each player needs to have the skills to take on an opponent one on one. Below is the typical 1v1 Defender drill that most coaches use. Why? Because it works.

Under 8 Drill - "1v1 Dribbling Gauntlet"

Emphasis:
1 v 1 - Attacking and Defending

Setup:
Divide players into groups of 2’s. Create a grid for each group, with a goal at each end. Each grid is 15 yards long x 10 yards wide. The goals should be no bigger than 2 yards in width.

Objective:
Encourage players to be creative by taking on their opponent. Each 1 v 1 dual shall last one minute with a one-minute active rest of juggling. After each 1 v 1 dual, the winners move up one grid and the losers move down one grid. The objective is to move into the “A” grid by the end of the contest.

Coaching Points:

Offensively:

• Be creative and take chances
• Work on new moves
• Be explosive after move getting in behind the defender
  

Defensively:

• Keep on the balls of your feet
• Lower your center of gravity
• Go in hard when committing to winning the ball
  

On An Island - Surviving the One-v-One Battle

From US Soccer -

What goes through a defender's mind during the moment when it becomes mano-y-mano?

Every defender has experienced it. The moment that an attacking player breaks through the midfield and is running unimpeded towards the back line. You are the last one standing between the attacker and the goal. Maybe you’ve got cover, but maybe not. It’s up to the defender to stop, slow down or otherwise block the opponent from getting the ball near the net. What goes through a defender’s mind during the moment when it becomes mano-y-mano? During a week when the USA is preparing to face some of the best dribblers in the world – the Brazilian National Team -- we asked several of the U.S. defenders, who are among the best in the world at one-v-one defending, what they are thinking during those moments…or are they are thinking at all?

In a soccer game, if an attacking team is going to create the desired chaos in the opponent’s penalty area, at some point, someone on the offense will have to put someone else behind them on the dribble. As a defender, if you get beat, this means trouble for your team and a goal scoring chance for the opponent.

“There is a little bit of a frightening aspect to one-v-one defense,” said U.S. defender Cat Whitehill when asked how it feels to be the last player standing on the backline. “As a central defender you are used to having cover so you think to yourself ‘Wait, I am the last one here,’ but you just go back and do what you know. You move your feet, get them to a place where they are more predicable and push them to a place where first, they can’t shoot and second, where you delay them so your defenders can recover and support you.”

One-v-one defense invariably adds an extra sense of pressure and responsibility for any defensive player. An additional drop of sweat rolls done the forehead when a world-class striker is steamrolling down the field, coming unopposed with plans to knock the ball into the back of the net. When Christie Rampone, who during her163 caps for the USA has played both on the flank and in the middle, is faced with such a situation, she suggests with a sort of cool confidence. Simply stay relaxed.

“I just stay calm, patient, and let the attacker give me the ball,” said Rampone.

But how does one get the attacker to make the mistake and just cough up the ball? It takes time to master the craft as effective defending, perhaps in part the product of being impatient and getting skinned on numerous occasions. Veteran WNT defenders say the biggest mistake young players make when going one-v-one is stabbing at the ball.

Skilled defensive players will delay an oncoming attacker and then, if necessary, indulge themselves in a satisfying tackle once the striker has been properly pressured into a breaking point. For a defender, immense gratification arises from imposing personal defeat on a forward. It means you have won your individual battle, for now.

Whitehill also believes that you must have the physical qualities as well to ensure a proper one-v-one shut down.

“You have to be quick, agile, and have good anticipation,” said Whitehill, who has played more than 100 times for the USA. “You must have quick recovery in case you do get beat the first time so you can get back. You need grit. You need heart. If you are stabbing at the ball a lot, you are going to get beat a lot.”

If an attacker gets within shooting range, an internal alarm goes off in all good defenders. Once at the 18-yard line, an attacker creates the added incentive for a defender to finally go in and make the tackle. The threat of a powerhouse forward hammering the ball towards your goal is enough to get any defender to reach in for a winning touch.

Rampone finds that while slowing an attacker down is a good bet when waiting for cover, it’s not the most important factor when a shooter is in scoring range.

“When I see the forwards eyes go down and she is almost losing control or ready to shoot, I’ll go in for the tackle,” she said. “If she is in shooting range you have to go in and make the tackle. You don’t have time to wait for cover.”

A communication break down on the backline can also cause havoc, and for an attacking player, a rare look at the U.S. net. Defender, India Trotter, describes the backline as being attached by a long string. The pull of one player affects another, causing them to offer cover. If that string is broken, and only one defender is left alone to obstruct an attacker’s opportunity, danger ensues. When asked about the importance of communication on the backline, all WNT defenders respond similarly, saying that communication is, well…everything. One-v-one encounters are the more likely when exhaustion hits its peak and focus and concentration waver.

“Communication plays the biggest role, especially for a zone defense,” said Rampone. “If we are getting overwhelmed and tired in the back, that is when communication tends to stop and that is just when it is the most important.”

In the end, it is much easier to destroy than create, but the sad truth about defending is that you can destroy 25 attacks in a row, but if you get beaten on that 26th dribble, and the opponent scores, it can be the difference in a game.

The U.S. players know this, they embrace this, and even thought they are often overlooked on a team of dynamic scorers, one look up at the scoreboard at the end of the game with a big “0” flashing next to the other team’s name, is all they need.

How to Defend - The 2nd Defender

As stated in earlier posts, the role of the 1st Defender is to pressure the player with the ball. The role of the 2nd Defender is to provide coverage. The 2nd Defender can cover for a pass or cover if the 1st Defender is beaten and then quickly become the new 1st Defender.

And as always remember, if your team doesn't have the ball - THEN YOU ARE ALL DEFENDERS!!!

How To Defend - The 1st Defender

The moment that your team loses control of the soccer ball, EVERYONE on your team is a DEFENDER. The closest team member to the ball is the 1st Defender. So how should this 1st Defender play? Below is a video from US Youth Soccer showing the keys of the 1st Defender role and how they can win the ball back or prevent further penetration by the other team. This is both a technical and tactical skill.

1st, 2nd, and 3rd Defender Principles and Roles

Good defending begins with an understanding of how the principles of defense are applied by both the individual player as well as collectively within the team. The moment a team loses possession of the ball, an immediate organization of winning it back begins.

• Immediate Chase - The moment possession is lost to the other team, the nearest player(s) work to regain possession or apply pressure on the ball. These players are considered the 1st Defenders, because they have the first chance to win the ball back. Players giving immediate chase can also help to delay the attack by making recovery runs that deny the opponent the opportunity to play the ball quickly forward.
• Delay - The pressuring defender(s) forces the attacking team to slow down so that the rest of the team can organize the defense. While applying pressure the defender must be careful to not over-commit. If he/she is beaten easily the time for the team to organize is shortened.
• Depth - This refers to the immediate organization of players behind the pressuring defender. While the ball is being pressured all other players should be recovering into defensive positions. The positions taken should support the pressuring defender in the event he is beaten. This is called providing defensive cover.
• Balance - As the team concentrates their defense in the area of the ball, defenders away from the ball (opposite side of field) must position themselves to cover vital spaces (central areas) in order to prevent attackers from making penetrating runs into these spaces in which to receive the ball for an attempt on goal. All players who are on the opposite side must seek positions in which to provide balance to the defense.
  
• Concentration - As players recover towards their own goal and organize their defense, the objective is to limit the time and space for the opponent by concentrating their defense in the area of the ball. Defenders also recover centrally towards their goal in order to limit the opponents ability to directly attack the goal.
  
• Control and Restraint - Players must be disciplined and play "under control" when challenging for the ball. Too often players make poorly timed or off-balanced attempts to win the ball. Players should refrain from tackling until they are confident they will win the ball.
  

It is important for players to understand their role and function within the game as well as their position. While the team is defending, a player will assume the responsibility to provide pressure, cover, balance or depth.

A. Pressure (1st Defender - the closest player to the ball)

• Apply pressure to the ball to regain possession if possible
• Deny penetration of any kind
• Select proper angle of challenge
• Select proper speed of challenge

B. Cover (2nd Defender)

• Provide cover support for the 1st defender
• Select proper angle of support
• Should be a distance that the 2nd defender can tackle or immediately close down the attacker who has beaten the 1st defender (the 2nd defender needs to be ready to become the 1st defender if the attacker beats their teammate)
• Distance of support will vary with the third of the field and the amount of pressure on the ball
• Responsible for tracking supporting attackers who make forward runs

C. Balance (3rd Defenders or Everyone Else)

• Track attackers away from the area of the ball who are making forward runs
• Squeeze space towards center of the field to "lock up" vital areas
• Preserve balance/shape

D. Compactness (Everyone's job)

• Pressure, cover, and balance together provide depth of defense
• Organization of defending between the various lines, e.g., midfield and defending line
• Proper Positioning, spacing and number of defenders in area of the ball vital to maintain depth in defense

The key idea that all players must realize is that the moment the team loses possession of the ball, the ENTIRE TEAM BECOMES DEFENDERS.

One vs. One Is the MOST Common Situation

From Sam Snow, US Youth Soccer Director of Coaching Education -

One versus one (1v1) is the most common and frequent tactical situation for players. Every 1v1 situation involves all four components of the game; fitness, attitude, technique, and tactics. Further, no matter what position a player has on the team, he/she must be able to handle a one on one both offensively and defensively. One versus one is the foundation of all tactics, individual, group, and team. If players cannot win the majority of 1v1 duels on both offense and defense then the odds of effectively combining in group and team tactics are reduced.

One versus one battles take place on all parts of the field throughout the game. Some are only for a split second and some last several seconds. Some of these duels are obvious to neophyte observers where only two players are in the immediate vicinity of the ball. In most cases though, several players are near the ball during a 1v1. Many coaches do not recognize that a 1v1 is happening even if only for a moment. For example, in a 2v1 case, the first attacker must decide if he/she will pass to the second attacker or try to dribble past the opponent solo. Even though, there are three players around the ball, a 1v1 decision must be made by the first attacker. Since these confrontations take place across the field for the entire match all players must be able to defend and attack in a 1v1 to a reasonable degree.

In a 1v1, the two players are playing one of two roles. One is the first attacker, who either penetrates via shooting, dribbling, or passing or he/she maintains possession of the ball via shielding, dribbling or passing to a teammate. The other is the first defender who tries to deny penetration via interception of passes, one touch clearances, tackling, shepherding, jockeying, containing or tracking runs. He/she may also try to regain possession of the ball from the opponent or at least dispossess the opponent.

The defensive techniques required include; how to intercept passes, one touch clearances with the head or foot, how to jockey or shepherd the opponent with the ball, speed and angle of approach onto the opponent in possession, proper body posture, the poke tackle, the block tackle, four types of slide tackles, recovery runs and tracking runs.

The offensive techniques include dribbling to keep possession of the ball, dribbling to beat an opponent and a multitude of "moves" which can be used to accomplish either type of dribbling. Also required is being able to shield the ball, eight types of passes with the foot, passes with the head, chest or thigh, heading to score, crossing the ball and shooting with a plenitude of techniques.

To execute the techniques and to have a sharp mind to make these tactical decisions requires good physical fitness. The best way to get a player fit for 1v1 duels is to put them in those situations in training as opposed to running laps, doing jumping jacks, etc.

Learning how to dribble and to take on opponents begins with the under-8 teams. The initial coaching of how to play in a 1v1 on both offense and defense starts with the under-10 teams and is then continuously refined though out the player's career. Even World Cup teams work on how to play in various 1v1 predicaments.

Over years of proper training and refinement, players should learn how to handle 1v1 situations in all three thirds of the field. While defending, they must also learn that in the defensive third they handle 1v1 battles somewhat differently on the flanks than when in the center. The same is true when on the attack in the offensive third.

All of the above concerns field players, but clearly the goalkeeper must also deal with 1v1 occurrences too. The most obvious is when defending the goal. In a breakaway 1v1 situation the keeper tries to get the ball:

1. before the attacker by intercepting passes (through balls and crosses)
2. as the attacker is dribbling and shooting
3. after the attacker shoots (catching, blocking, kick saves, parrying, and boxing)

Unless your goalkeeper is Luis Chilavert, the offensive part of 1v1 for the keeper is limited to distribution via two or three types of throws and three types of kicks.

Performing well in a 1v1 for any player on both offense and defense requires a positive attitude. The players must feel confident that they know how to handle most situations. This means the coach must put the players into a variety of 1v1 opportunities at training sessions. To keep the learning of the same topic motivational over many years requires that coaches know how to teach 1v1 in various ways.

Since 1v1 is the foundation of all tactics it must be revisited time and time again.