2 v 1 Situations 

When presented with a 2 v 1 situation when attacking it is important to make these situations count, make sure young players are aware of the options available to them when in possession and the movements they should make off the ball. The tempo should be quick as these situations wont last long and players should be encouraged to get towards goal early and look for rebounds.

Warm Up

Set up and instruction: 2 V 1 to goal. The centre player starts with the ball and plays a pass to a side player of his/her choice. The player who does not receive a pass is now the defender and must react quickly to stop the 2 attackers scoring. Play 2 v 1 to goal until a goal is scored or the ball goes out of play. The defender becomes the centre player next time.

Coaching points:

• Support the player on the ball
• Ask for the ball to feet or look for runs in behind the defender and closer to goal 
• Look for rebounds
• Communication - if you are in a good position shout for the ball
• Pass and move

Progressions:

Limit the number of touches to encourage quick play.

Main Drill

Set up and Instruction: 

2 v 1 Overlap

The attacker who starts with the ball passes to his/her team mate and overlaps quickly to support. Once the central attacker passes the ball to start the drill the defender instantly rushes out to defend the 2 v 1 situation.

If the attackers score, the defender must defend again next time.

Coaching points:

• Attackers - what choices do you have in possession? Use the overlapping player as a diversion and dribble or pass and move with the supporting player
• Overlapping player - overlap quickly to support and stay wide. Call for the ball if you are in a good position to receive the ball or run onto it. 
• Defender - get out quickly to force the offside, shut down the man on the ball showing him away from the goal and his team mate.
• Communication between the 2 attackers and communication between the defender and goalkeeper 

Conditioned Game

Set up and Instruction: 

2 v 1 Continuous game 

2 teams of 4 players with 2 full time goalkeepers. Each team defends one goal. A player from each team starts on the pitch.

The red team starts with 1 player dribbling onto the pitch to create 2 v 1 to goal. Once a goal is scored or the ball leaves play, the player responsible for the goal/ball leaving play must leave the field (red player collecting the ball and joining the line again) and a blue player will dribble on and create a 2 v 1 in their favor.

@DavidBairdSC

Finishing around the area

This drill is designed to help decision MAKING around the area, movement off the ball and to encouraging players to get shots away early and look for rebounds

Set Up

Set up the players in 4 teams, red, blue, green and yellow (or 1,2,3,4 – a,b,c,d etc) On the coaches command the first player will attack the goal (red) in an attempt to score and once the shot has been released they then support the next player (green) and this sequence continues until all 4 players have attacked the goal, on the coaches command the first player of the next set of 4 players can begin.

Progression – once a player has supported they can become a defender creating 2 v 1s and 2 v 2s to goal. 

Once the red player shoots he will support the green player for a give and go towards goal

Once the green player shoots he will support the yellow player. The red player will become the defender creating a 2 v 1, meaning the yellow player has a decision to make. he can use the supporting player or he can go alone to goal.

Movement off the ball from supporting player is key, making sure he stays onside.

Once the yellow player has shot he will support the blue player, the green and red player will now become defenders creating a 2 v 2 to goal, again you are looking for good movement off the ball, effective 1 v 1 attacking and decision making, pass, dribble or shoot?

Important: Make sure you apply a rotation process so every player can play each role in the drill, for example once the play breaks down, collect your ball and join the next line

Coaching points:

• Technical points for shooting
• Look to penetrate quickly and take every opportunity to shoot
• Create space by passing and moving or dribbling with the ball
• Player off the ball must show good angles of support and be available for the pass
• Off the ball - run into space and take a defender with you to create a 1 v 1 situation for your team mate

Conditioned game

A GREAT SHOOTING DRILL, SUITABLE FOR MOST AGES AND ABILITY LEVELS, CREATING SPACE FOR AN EARLY SHOT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THIS EXERCISE SO ENCOURAGE PLAYERS TO PLAY WITH CONFIDENCE AND SPEED

Set Up

Set up an area of 30x40 with 2 goals and goalkeepers. Divide the group into 4 teams of 3 players.

3 reds will line up to play 3 blues, the other 3 reds will wait behind the red goal and the other 3 blues will wait behind the blue goal.

From here it is simply a case of winner stays on - as each team aims to score, if the red team scores then that group of 3 will stay on and the two blue teams will swap and vice-versa. If the ball goes out of play at any moment, both teams will switch. 

Important: Make sure the coach has a large supply of footballs at the side of the field in order to play a ball into the field when a goal is scored or the ball goes out of play, this is a high tempo exercise, therefor do not have players chasing the balls.

Coaching points:

• Technical points for shooting
• Look to penetrate quickly and take every opportunity to shoot
• Create space by passing and moving or dribbling with the ball
• Keep players wide to create space (diamond formation)
• Goalkeepers are also free to shoot

CONTINUOUS shooting drill

A great SHOOTING DRILL, SUITABLE FOR MOST AGES AND ABILITY LEVELS, CREATING SPACE FOR AN EARLY SHOT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THIS EXERCISE SO ENCOURAGE PLAYERS TO PLAY WITH CONFIDENCE AND SPEED

Set Up

Set up an area of 30x40 with 2 goals and goalkeepers. Divide the group into 4 teams of 3 players.

3 reds will line up to play 3 blues, the other 3 reds will wait behind the red goal and the other 3 blues will wait behind the blue goal.

From here it is simply a case of winner stays on - as each team aims to score, if the red team scores then that group of 3 will stay on and the two blue teams will swap and vice-versa. If the ball goes out of play at any moment, both teams will switch. 

Important: Make sure the coach has a large supply of footballs at the side of the field in order to play a ball into the field when a goal is scored or the ball goes out of play, this is a high tempo exercise, therefor do not have players chasing the balls.

Coaching points:

• Technical points for shooting
• Look to penetrate quickly and take every opportunity to shoot
• Create space by passing and moving or dribbling with the ball
• Keep players wide to create space (diamond formation)
• Goalkeepers are also free to shoot