51: Grow Coach Newsletter
Football Coaches: Develop your Coaching Craft.
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Here is What to Expect:
Coaching Craft: Winning the 1v1 Duel
Full 60-Minute Practice: 1v1s From Various Angles
Coach Project: On-pitch duels
“The moment you stop improving is the moment you start falling behind." – Pep Guardiola
"Winning the Margins: Mastering 1v1 Duels in Football"
"Every football match is a series of battles—player vs. player, attacker vs. defender. What makes some players thrive in these moments while others fall short?"
Each 1v1 duel presents a unique challenge: outmuscling an opponent, deceiving them with clever footwork, or maybe a defender can anticipate their opponent’s next move.
For coaches, the task is to equip players with the tools to excel during both in-possession and out-of-possession moments.
The Pillars of 1v1 Success
1. Technique: The Foundation of Every Duel
In Possession:
Master close control, accurate dribbling, and sharp turns under pressure.
Use shielding techniques to protect the ball and outmanoeuvre opponents.
Deliver precise passes or shots that capitalize on gaps in the defence.
Out of Possession:
Tackle cleanly and intercept effectively to regain control.
Time challenges with precision to avoid fouls.
Block passing lanes and force opponents into less advantageous areas.
2. Physicality: Winning the Battle
In Possession:
Use strength to shield the ball and hold off challenges.
The battle effectively in shoulder-to-shoulder situations.
Sprint explosively to exploit gaps or get past defenders.
Out of Possession:
Outmuscle attackers in 50/50 challenges.
Dominate aerial duels and hold ground under pressure.
Use body positioning to close gaps and neutralise threats.
3. Deception: Outsmarting the Opponent
In Possession:
Execute feints, stepovers, and disguised passes to unbalance defenders.
Use body positioning to mislead markers, creating separation.
Draw opponents out of position to open up dangerous opportunities.
Out of Possession:
Pretend to commit to a challenge, luring attackers into predictable actions.
Feint pressing movements to cut off their options.
Channel attackers into less dangerous areas with clever positioning.
4. Timing: Acting at the Perfect Moment
In Possession:
Release passes or make dribbles at the exact moment to exploit defensive gaps.
Time your runs to break lines or receive the ball in space.
Arrive in critical areas, such as the penalty box, at the right time.
Out of Possession:
Intercept passes by reading the play and acting decisively.
Tackle or press when the attacker is off-balance.
Close down openings before the opposition can exploit them.
5. Positioning: Controlling the Space
In Possession:
Stay wide to stretch defences or drift centrally to create overloads.
Position to receive passes while shielding from defenders.
Occupy areas that force defenders into tough decisions.
Out of Possession:
Block key passing lanes and maintain goal-side positioning.
Cover teammates' gaps to create a solid defensive structure.
Be ready to adjust based on the opponent’s movement patterns.
Coach Questions to Ask Your Players
Being aware of the pillars of success coaches can and should formulate questions that encourage players to think for themselves. The self-reflective nature of each question should help players develop ideas about how they can overcome the opponents they are facing.
In Possession:
Are you using your technique effectively to maintain control under pressure?
How are you using deception to unbalance your opponent?
Are you timing your movements to exploit space at the right moment?
Out of Possession:
Are you engaging physically to disrupt your opponent without fouling?
How are you positioning yourself to block their options?
Are you reading the play to anticipate their next move?
By focusing on these questions, players can build the confidence and clarity to dominate their 1v1 duels.
The Center Midfielder's Guide to Dominating 1v1 Duels
A centre midfielder operates in the heart of the game, where battles for control, creativity, and defensive solidity are fought.
To dominate 1v1 duels, midfielders must excel during the IN Possession and OUT of Possession moments. The player needs to master their relationship with the ball, their understanding of the opponent, and the available space.
In Possession
A midfielder’s first touch is their weapon, setting up the next action with precision. Technical mastery is essential, whether it's a deft dribble to escape pressure or a perfectly weighted pass to break lines.
Be aware of your opponent's positioning. Shield the ball effectively, turn sharply to escape markers, and use deceptive body movements to unbalance your opponent.
Scan the field constantly to identify open spaces to exploit. Move into pockets of space where you can receive the ball unchallenged and dictate the tempo of play.
Out of Possession
Anticipate the opponent's next move to intercept or tackle decisively. Timing is key; overcommitting risks leaving gaps for exploitation.
Maintain pressure on your direct opponent, cutting off their options without overextending. Use physicality to disrupt their rhythm and win the ball back cleanly.
Position yourself to block passing lanes and force opponents into less threatening areas. Stay compact and ready to adjust based on the flow of play.
Key Takeaways for Central Midfielders
To thrive in 1v1 duels, centre midfielders must combine composure with agility, strength with intelligence, and creativity with discipline. They must dictate play when in possession and disrupt the opposition's plans when out of possession.
By mastering their interplay with the ball, opponent, and space, they become the engine driving their team’s success.
Final Thoughts: Coaching the Edge
As a coach, your role is to help players internalise these principles and apply them dynamically in matches. Use tailored practices, match-specific videos, and reflective feedback to sharpen their 1v1 skills.
Ask yourself:
Are my players confident in their physical and technical abilities?
Do they understand how to use deception and timing to gain an edge?
Are they reading the game to anticipate what’s coming next?
With consistent focus on these pillars, your players can turn 1v1 situations into match-winning moments. The question is: are they ready to rise to the challenge?
“ The game is simple, but the hardest thing is to play it simply." – Johan Cruyff
Full Practice: 1v1 Duels
1v1 | 360 Pressure
⚽️ Created On: @SSPlanner
Aim:
🟢s. Protect and hide the ball in 1v1 duels when pressure can come from any angle
Set-Up:
20 by 20 playing area with 2 x escape gates (red cones). Players are matched up in pairs in the middle area.
👕 Teams: ⚫️s vs 🔴s
How to Play:
⚫️s start in possession, they have to hold onto the ball for a set period (20 seconds), If they are successful, the 🔴 who was chasing them has to go after a different defender and the ⚫️ scores a point.
If the 🔴 wins the ball they must escape through a red coned gate (goal for 🔴s) and re-enter the playing area. The ⚫️ they were playing against must get a different football.
The 🔴 now in possession becomes the attacker trying to hold onto the ball and a ⚫️ must become the defender so roles are flipped.
🚧 Constraints:
🏆Reward: Goals for holding onto the ball for 20 seconds or escaping through a gate.
👨🏫 Review: How players use their bodies to hide the ball, the skills players use to escape pressure.
🚫 Restriction: If the defenders do not win the ball within a set period of time they have to go after a different attacker.
1v1 | Pressure on the Sides
⚽️ Created On: @SSPlanner
Aim:
Attacking in wide areas to cut inside or go outside of the defender.
Set-Up:
On a 30 by 20 space off set 2 mini goals from the playing area (5yards) and create a 5-yard scoring zone (Orange)
👕 Teams: ⚫️s vs 🔴s
How to Play:
🔴s start the practice by passing to ⚫️ on one side of the field and then defending the ⚫️ on the opposite side to their pass.
⚫️s play against 🔴s to a finish. ⚫️s score in the mini-goal once they enter the shaded zone and 🔴s regain possession and dribble through the central coned gate.
🚧 Constraints:
🏆Reward: Bonus goals if both ⚫️s manage to score. They lock in three points
👨🏫 Review: The slow-and-go type movements of the attacking players. Get the defender to stop then speed away from from them.
🚫 Restriction: The ⚫️s have 10 seconds to score or the 🔴s get possession of the ball ⚽️.
1v1 | Pressure From Behind
⚽️ Created On: @SSPlanner
Aim:
Escaping pressure when the defender is behind you in a 1v1 duel.
Set-Up:
On a 25 by 25-yard space. In two opposite corners of the pitch box of a 4-yard square (black dashed line) and outward face the mini goals.
Place the ⚫️s and 🔴s side by side in one corner with a ⚽️ between two and a coach 🟢 (C) opposite them.
👕 Teams: ⚫️s vs 🔴s.
How to Play:
The ⚫️ dribbles forward closely followed by the defender 🔴. The ball ⚽️ is passed to Coach 🟢 (C) who plays it back to the ⚫️ .
The ⚫️ has to wriggle free of the 🔴 to score in a mini-goal (attackers can only score once they have crossed the black dashed line).
Defenders are not allowed to cross the dashed line.
If the defenders win the ball ⚽️ they must pass to the coach 🟢 (C) before they can score a goal.
🚧 Constraints:
🏆Reward: See how many goal streaks players can get (3 in a row, 5 in a row etc.)
👨🏫 Review: They disguise and deception of the attacker to fake the defender.
🚫 Restriction: The attacker has 8 touches to finish the duel.
“ In football, the worst blindness is only seeing the ball." – Nelson Rodrigues
Coach Project: Position-Specific Duels
Task: Improving 1v1 Duel Skills for Specific Positions
Position: Central Defender
Objective: Help the player improve their ability to dominate 1v1 duels by focusing on positioning, timing, and physicality.
Setup:
Create a 1v1 channel (20x10 yards) with a small goal at one end and a scoring zone (Yellow line).
Pass a ball from the defender to the attacker (the winger or striker).
The defender starts 2-3 yards behind the attacker.
Instructions:
The attacker’s goal is to dribble past the defender and score in a small goal.
The defender’s goal is to prevent the attacker from advancing by using effective positioning and timing.
Coaches should focus on the defender’s ability to:
Anticipate the attacker’s movement.
Position themselves between the attacker and the goal.
Time their tackle or interception accurately.
Progression:
Add deception: Instruct the attacker to incorporate feints and quick changes of direction to simulate game-like scenarios.
Introduce space awareness: Widen the playing area slightly and allow attackers to exploit space with longer touches, forcing defenders to engage their physicality and covering ability.
Team interaction: Add a recovering teammate who starts further back to encourage communication and decision-making.
TASK: Can you create a similar 1v1 duel-based practice for another position on the pitch?
“ It's not about the opponent in front of you. It's about the fight within you."
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