Practice: Duels in the crown

WHY USE IT

This practice helps create confident decision-makers going to goal and develops confidence wanting to go 1v1 and execute finishes. It also creates confident defenders in 1v1s.

Set-up

Mark out an area relative to the age and ability of your players, with a goal at each end. Divide players into two teams, each with a goalkeeper. Teams start by lining up either side of their own goal.

HOW it works

The first player from one team dribbles out to take on the first player from the other. Once they shoot - whether they miss or score - the next player dribbles out to take on the original attacker in a 1v1 in the other direction.
If the goalkeeper makes the save, they play to the next player on the new attacking team. If the defender wins possession, they can counter-attack 1v1. The practice continues like this. Play first team to 10. To progress the game, teams play 2v2 rather than 1v1.

COACHING POINTS

• Confidence in the box to want those 1v1 moments. Create an opening to shoot and execute.  

• Defending in the box is an attitude so you have to be confident. Move your feet and find a way to push attackers to a bad shot.  

• Do you combine in the 2v2 or take them on 1v1? Same cues as we looked for in the warm-up.  

• Defending and communicating as a pair. Force attackers to play wide of the goal and take shots from bad angles.  

• Goalkeeper: communication, tracking, always hunting the ball to be able to attack it.