Defending 1 v 1 and 2 v 2
Ready when: Small games and shooting (b4) done.
What you are learning
Defending without diving in: stay close and goal side (between the attacker and your goal), watch the ball not the feet, and step in to tackle only when the ball is a touch away from the attacker. Then covering a team-mate in 2 v 2.
Words on this card Goal, Inside, Bib, Shin guards, Goal side, Tackle, Switch
- Goal
- The goal is the frame with a net; the goal line is the end line it stands on; the sidelines run down the long sides.
- Inside
- The inner edge of the foot (by the big toe) and the outer edge (by the little toe).
- Bib
- A coloured vest that shows which team a player is on.
- Shin guards
- Hard pads worn under the socks to protect the shins.
- Goal side
- A defender standing between the attacker and their own goal.
- Tackle
- Taking the ball from an opponent's feet with your foot.
- Switch
- Changing at once from attacking to defending, or back, when the ball changes team.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Stand a body-length from the attacker, between them and the goal, side on, knees bent.
- Watch the ball. Move your feet to stay in front as the attacker walks.
- When the ball rolls a touch away from their foot, step in and block it with the inside of your foot.
Your part while they practise
Referee.
Step by step
- One against one: stay close and goal side.
- Watch the ball.
- Step in only when it is a touch away.
- The attacker walks first.
- Then two against two, covering space.
How much: 10 attacks each, then 2 v 2 12 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Steal the bacon
When a number is called, that player from each team runs to the ball and tries to score.
Who plays: two teams of 2 or more against each other; you call.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Each team stands on its own goal line; give every player a number
- Put the ball in the middle
- Call a number: those two players race out; whoever gets the ball attacks the other's goal, the other defends
- Call two numbers for a 2 v 2
- Fair play
- A grown-up starts each race 2 m behind the line.
- Points
- 1 goal for each score; the defender scores 1 point for each ball won without a foul.
- Fouls
- A goal to the other team
- Diving in and missing
- A tackle from behind
- Kicking the legs
- Winning
- The team with more goals and points after 10 calls.
- 2 points for 1 star
- 4 points for 2 stars
- 6 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A slow attacker.
A fast attacker.
What you will see, and what to say
- the defender dives in
Stay on your feet, wait
Wait for the loose touch. - the defender stands too close
Stay a body-length away
Room to react.
Self-check
In 1 v 1, the defender wins the ball or forces a bad shot 4 of 10 times.
Stop and get a coach when
Hard tackles.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains defending, transition.
awiseathlete.com/sports/football/football-i4