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TOUCHLINELAB

Dribbling drill

1v1 Gates Duel

An attacker tries to dribble through one of two gates while a defender protects them. Simple, competitive and packed with repetitions for both attacking and defending 1v1s.

  • 8–16 players
  • 12 minutes
  • 20 × 15 m
  • Beginner · U7–U9
1v1 Gates Duel drill diagram11

Objective

Attackers commit the defender, then accelerate into the space on the other side.

Coaching points

  • Attack the defender at speed, then slow down to make them stop
  • Use feints with the body before changing direction
  • Defender: stay side-on, be patient and show onto the weaker foot
  • Explode out of the move — the first two steps win the duel

Progressions

  • Defender starts closer to the attacker
  • Attacker must score in the gate chosen by the coach's call
  • Add a recovering second defender after 3 seconds

Regressions

  • Wider gates
  • Defender starts from behind the attacker

Equipment

6 cones, balls, bibs

Tactical relevance

Builds the confidence wide players need to beat a full-back.

Technical focus

Dribbling, Changes of direction, 1v1 defending

Tactical focus

Exploiting space