Football: 1 v 1 with Target Players

Improve confidence on the ball and get your players running at the opposition with this dribbling skills refresher plan

Position 2 teams of 6 players in opposite corners of the same end line and number players on each team from 1 to 6.

Place a gate (2 cones, 3 yards apart) at the opposite end of the area to the goal. Position the coach as a goalkeeper in the goal.

The coach calls out a number from 1 to 6. The respective players from each team run with the ball following the directional arrow as shown in the diagram, to the gate at the end of the grid.

The first ball to cross through the gate is the ball that is used (the other one can be discarded).

The players then compete in a 1 vs 1 to get a shot on goal.

1. The drills starts with one player from group 1 (reds) running with a ball to the opposing goal, trying to score.
   
   
2. As soon as they have a shot at goal, a player from group 2 (yellows) runs with a ball to the other goal to try and score. The player that had the first shot has to try and defend against the player from group 2.
   
   
3. When this player scores or loses the ball to the defender, the next player starts from group 1 and the player that had the shot becomes the new defender.

The player that had the first shot and then defended, goes to the back of there queue. (Players should always finish up in the same queue and attack the same goal).

Set up as shown.

Player 1 starts with the ball in the middle of the field and plays a 1-2 pass with player 2 before passing out wide to player 3.

At this point, players 1 and 2 run towards the penalty area, ready to receive a cross, while one of the defenders goes out wide to put pressure on the crosser.

Player 3 will cross the ball into the box where players 1 and 2 will try to beat the defender to it and score.

Encouraging 1st time shooting by using the correct technique to take the shot early and finish from close range.

Get your knee over the ball and use the pace of the ball to generate the power. By trying to strike the ball too hard, the likelihoood is the accuracy will be poor.

Blue 1 plays ball into area and clue 2 moves in to shoot 1st time. Blue 2 goes to replace blue 1 and blue 1 runs around working area to take blue 2s place.