1v1 to knock down the tall cones
1v1 duel on a 20x30 yard field with four to six tall cones on each end line as targets: the attacker must beat the defender and knock a cone over with a pass or a low shot. When every cone on one side is down, roles switch.
Step 1Salida
1 / 3
El atacante conduce hacia el defensor; el defensor sale a frenar y se pone de lado.
Objective
Beat the defender in the 1v1 and decide when to dribble and when to strike accurately at a small target.
Organisation
20x30 yard rectangle. Four to six tall (9 inch) cones spread along each end line. Two teams in bibs, each behind its own cone line. Ball supply next to the attackers' starting point.
Development
- 1An attacker dribbles out from their end line and a defender comes out from the opposite line to face them.
- 2The attacker tries to beat the defender and knock over one of the opposition cones by striking the ball (pass or low shot). A cone knocked over is one point.
- 3If the defender wins the ball, they can attack the other team's cones with the same ball; if the ball goes out, the play ends.
- 4Only a cone knocked over by the ball counts: if it is kicked over by a foot, no point and the cone is stood back up.
- 5After every play a new pair comes in. When every cone on one line is down, they are reset and the teams switch roles.
- 6Sets of 5-6 minutes; the team with more cones knocked down wins.
Coaching points4
- Small touches until the defender closes in; then change of pace or direction.
- Accuracy over power: the cone falls to a low strike with the inside of the foot.
- Head up to see which cone is not covered by the defender.
- Defender: close quickly, slow down and get side-on to delay and cover the nearest cone.
Common mistakes3
- Striking from too far and too hard; the ball goes out and nothing falls.
- Always dribbling to the same side.
- Defender diving in and getting beaten.
Variations3
- Only counts if knocked over with the weak foot.
- 10-second limit per play.
- 2v2 with the same rules.
Progressions2
- The defender also scores a point each time they win the ball and knock over an opposition cone.
- Narrower field to make the 1v1 more direct.
Regressions2
- Passive defender who may only walk.
- More cones per line and closer together.
Tips
- Space the cones at least 3 m apart so the attacker has to choose one.
- Have someone in charge of resetting fallen cones quickly.