2v1 Pass or Dribble Channel
Two attackers take on one defender in a 15 × 20 m channel and score by stopping the ball in the end zone. The ball carrier decides: keep going or pass.
- Age
- U9–U14
- Players
- 6–12
- Duration
- 12 min
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Intensity
- High
- Area
- 20 × 15 m
- Type
- Tactical
- Approach
- Global
- Format
- Waves
- Objectives
- Technical: 1v1 attacking, Passing
- Tactical: Decision making
- Concepts worked on
- Technical:Dribbling past an opponentPassingRunning with the ball
- Tactical:Numerical superiority
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Dribble
- Ball
- Cone
The simplest overload in football. The ball carrier attacks the defender to fix them, and the pass is made only when the defender commits. If the defender marks the supporting player, the carrier keeps dribbling. Run it in waves so every pair gets many repetitions.
Objective
Beat one defender with two attackers by fixing the defender with the dribble and passing at the right moment.
Organisation
- Mark a 15 × 20 m channel. The last 3 m form the end zone.
- The defender starts in the middle of the channel; attackers queue in pairs at the start line with a ball.
- Run two channels side by side with more than 8 players.
How it works
- The first pair dribbles in and tries to stop the ball in the end zone.
- The defender can win the ball and score by dribbling over the start line.
- After each attack, the attacker who finished becomes the next defender; the defender joins the queue.
- Rounds of 6–8 attacks per pair.
Coaching points
- Run at the defender, not at the space beside them: make them choose.
- Pass when the defender's weight goes towards you, not before.
- Supporting player: stay wide and slightly behind the ball so the pass can go forward.
- Defender: stand side-on and show the carrier towards the supporting player's side to delay.
Progressions
- Score only by passing into the end zone to a teammate who runs onto it.
- The defender starts closer to the attackers.
Regressions
- Make the channel wider (20 m).
- The defender may only block, not tackle.
Variations
- Add a mini-goal at the end instead of the end zone.
Key principles
- Fix, then release.
- A pass too early lets the defender cover both attackers.
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