Wing 1v1: Beat the Full-Back to Cross or Shoot
A winger takes on a full-back in a wide channel: beat them on the outside to cross for a striker, or cut inside to shoot. Dribbling with a purpose for older players.
- Age
- U13–Senior
- Players
- 5–12
- Duration
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Intensity
- High
- Area
- 35 × 30 m
- Type
- Technical
- Approach
- Global
- Format
- Waves
- Objectives
- Technical: 1v1 attacking, Dribbling, Crossing
- Concepts worked on
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Goalkeeper
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Dribble
- Shot
- Ball
- Cone
- Goal
Wingers are judged on their 1v1s, and a 1v1 is only useful if it ends in a cross or a shot. Here the winger faces a full-back in a 12 m channel and must read them: if the full-back shows the outside, go down the line and cross for the striker; if they close the line, cut inside and shoot. Full-backs get the matching practice of defending 1v1 wide.
Objective
Beat a full-back 1v1 on the wing, choosing between going outside to cross and cutting inside to shoot.
Organisation
- 35 × 30 m area with a goal and goalkeeper. A 12 m channel along one touchline.
- Wingers queue at the bottom of the channel with the balls; full-backs queue 9 m in front of them.
- A striker waits in the middle (rotate strikers every few actions). Change sides every 5 minutes.
How it works
- The winger dribbles at the full-back, who leaves the queue as the winger's first touch is taken.
- The winger may leave the channel only after beating the full-back: outside to cross, or inside to shoot.
- A goal after a cross counts 2, a goal from a cut inside counts 1.
- If the full-back wins the ball, they score by dribbling over the bottom line. 3 rounds of 4 minutes.
Coaching points
- Run at the full-back at speed: a defender moving backwards is easier to beat.
- Slow down just before the duel, then change pace when they commit.
- Read the defender: if they show you the line, go outside; if they close it, come inside onto your stronger foot.
- After beating them, cross or shoot quickly — do not give them time to recover.
- Striker: time the run so you arrive as the winger looks up to cross.
Progressions
- Add a centre-back who marks the striker.
- The full-back starts closer (6 m).
- A covering midfielder can help the full-back after 3 seconds.
Regressions
- The full-back defends passively for the first two metres.
- Widen the channel to 15 m.
- No striker: the winger always finishes.
Variations
- Add an overlapping full-back as a second attacker (2v1 on the wing).
Key principles
- Attack the defender at speed.
- Read the defender's position.
- Every 1v1 ends in a cross or a shot.
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