1v1 Defending Drills for Football

Defending one-on-one is a skill every player needs. Here are practical 1v1 defending drills you can run at training, with the coaching points that make them work.

Why 1v1 defending matters

Matches are full of one-on-one moments, and a player who can defend theirs is worth their weight in gold. Good 1v1 defending is about patience, body position and timing — not diving in. These drills build all three.

Drill 1: Approach and jockey

Set a 10 × 8 m channel. An attacker dribbles towards a defender who must close the space quickly, then slow down and jockey. Coach the approach: fast to close the gap, then brake and get side-on.

• Close the space quickly, then slow down — don't fly in.
• Get side-on with a low, balanced stance.
• Force the attacker onto their weaker foot or towards the touchline.

Drill 2: Show them wide

Add a target goal in the middle. The defender's job is to steer the attacker away from goal and out towards the line. Reward the defender for forcing the attacker wide, even if they don't win the ball.

Drill 3: Win the ball

Progress to a full 1v1 to a small goal. The defender now looks to win the ball with a well-timed tackle or by forcing a mistake. Coach patience — the tackle comes when the attacker takes a heavy touch.

• Be patient — wait for the heavy touch or the mistake.
• Tackle through the ball, not at the player.
• If you can't win it, delay and stay goal-side.

Coaching points that make it work

Keep the reps high and the channels small so the moments come constantly. Praise good defending decisions, not just successful tackles — a defender who forces the attacker wide and delays has done their job.

For more, read our guide to coaching defending as a team.