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Faisal’s Coaching Corner, Defending on 1v1’s

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By Faisal Amir Khan, AFC C Licence Coach

Defending on 1 on 1 situations can save a team a game or cost a team the same, so it is vital to be able to do this well when the need arises. 1v1 is not just when you are a last man, there are many 1v1 situations in a game, if you as a defender can win most of them you have done well for the day and your team is likely to have a solid defence. If you end up losing these situations you’ll heap pressure on your team mates.

Here are some points that can help you defend well in these situations, they need to be understood well and practised during sessions and applied in the games.

I would love if young players would discuss every point in the comments if not clear.

1)      Never stand parallel footed i.e stand side footed so that the ball does not pass between ur legs.

2)      Stand on your toes.

3)      Your weight should be on stronger foot.

4)      Knees should be bent.

5)      Lower ur body a little bit so that your centre of gravity lowers and your balance is stronger and powerful.

6)      Keep eyes on ball and not on opponents body so that you don’t get body dodged.

7)      Open up your arms and elbows to make yourself big.

8)      Try to take the opponent  to the sideline rather than inside i.e show him one side where you want him to go.

9)      Do not tackle unless you are sure that the ball is in your grasp and you will take it off the attacker.

10)   Don’t give the opponent much space because he might accelerate and beat you.

11)   Be very agile and if the defender is coming from the side of goal post then he should make an approaching angle and show the opponent a little more of one side.

Before starting this exercise make sure ur players are totally warmed up and they have sprinted 30-40 yards 5 times at least so that there is less chance of injury. In future I will certainly tell you basic of tackling of all types.

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10 Comments

  3. Good one.. I need header tricks Faisal bahe.. Come some day or tell me where we can meet and discuss how we can get each header with out any foul and making other nervous from your pressure and without getting any injury..:)
    btw i liked it :D

  4. 1) a exercise called ” good morning ” is used to get ur back strong, spine and neck muscles too.

    u can use a 20 kg bar for this exercise. 25 repititions in four sets, bar on back of shoulders.

    2) use the same weight for moving the toes up and down too so that calf muscles get stronger too so that u jump higher.

    3) stronger neck and high jump is useless if u can not judge the speed of ball. that is its the mind which decides when to jump
    but scientifically ” mitochondria ” the power house of the cell their numbers need to be increased with wieght training.
    100% concentration and good vision is also very necessary.

    4) lean back to gain maximum momentum so that more power is generated.

    5) keep ur eyes on the ball

    6) open up ur arms for protection and rythm
    7) always jump on ur stronger foot

    local coaches sometimes say to jump on both feet but to jump higher u use one foot. try which ever u are comfortable with.
    there are drills for heading
    e.g
    sitting headers, headers under pressure while standing and jumping and real game like situations like n crossing.

  5. hi..Can u suggest some tips for strikers. Also some exercises which can help me increase my sprint speed and also ball control..thanx

  7. Dear Goofie,
    1) speed can be increased with the help of weight training of lower body but be careful not to put more fat on legs. there should be balance in weight of lower and upper body.
    2) when practicing for sprints remember to wake up atleast 4-6 hours before that training so that ur body is wholly consious.
    3) do proper warm up that is dynamis and static before sprinting.
    4) 15 sprints of 25 meters daily is what i recommend u do daily for 2 weeks and then ask some one to check ur 50 meter time and see if u improve.
    5) remember that lower body weight training should be done twice a week. it can be iso tonic, iso kinetic etc
    6) eat plenty of white meat e.g fish and chicken

    Ball control
    Juggling of 500 headers and 1000 tips on feet is what i recommend u to do daily.
    do some dynamic ball control exercises so that ur turning with ball improves.

    strikers techniques will be published in detail

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