Is It Worth It to Teach 1v1 Moves?

[AABestor]

hello all, I would like some opinions on spending practice sessions learning moves. I.e step over croyff. ? anyone have any everperience with this doing something like this? by concern is that It will not pay off and that teaching them moves will waste time simply because they will never use them.

they are 12-15 year olds.

[ranova]

Even the national teams devote practice time to 1v1. If your players are that old, they should already have been taught these "moves" and more. What you will be doing is review. Not everyone "names" moves, so they may not know them by name or even think of them out of context as "moves." (We were doing stepovers on the grade school playground in the 1950's but it was just part of dribbling to us. Nobody taught or showed us how to play.)

I am not a believer in teaching dribbling skills as "moves," but I do teach moves as part of dribbling skills. Vince Lombardi's concept (50 years ago) was to break down football moves into individual pieces and teach the pieces. That is similar to the Coever system which has been "the" system for teaching ball skills for a long time. You practice the pieces and then let the kids put the pieces together in small sided games. Having said that, I am not against demonstrating a complete move or having them watch a great dribbler in action. Teaching by example is great.

[Crimson Ace]

I am not a believer in teaching dribbling skills as "moves," but I do teach moves as part of dribbling skills. Vince Lombardi's concept (50 years ago) was to break down football moves into individual pieces and teach the pieces. That is similar to the Coever system which has been "the" system for teaching ball skills for a long time. You practice the pieces and then let the kids put the pieces together in small sided games. Having said that, I am not against demonstrating a complete move or having them watch a great dribbler in action. Teaching by example is great.
The above is great advice.

One thing about the Dutch system that is also nice... once the skill has been learned, the player is immediately called upon to use said skill in live action. At the end of every training session, whatever skills were taught that day were expected to be seen in game play. One assistant is usually called upon to "score" the players based on their willingness to try their new skill - and/or any previous skills taught by that coaching staff. Fun stuff.

[Val1]

In sentences of one word: Yes.

I am late to this, but I finally started teaching my U10 and U11 girls 1v1 play. The biggest challenge in teaching kids to play soccer is to make them feel comfortable on the ball. Americans tend to emphasize team possession at the risk of player possession as evidenced by all the U10 coaches out there who scream about passing and spreading out. I want my players to look to dribble first and then pass, because dribbling at players and beating them is usually the best way to create space. I used to deride Coerver-teams who's kids can do endless stepovers when they are in open space, but I see less of them these days and now I do much more with Coerver's ball control mastery sequences.

[Twenty26Six]

In sentences of one word: Yes.

I am late to this, but I finally started teaching my U10 and U11 girls 1v1 play. The biggest challenge in teaching kids to play soccer is to make them feel comfortable on the ball. Americans tend to emphasize team possession at the risk of player possession as evidenced by all the U10 coaches out there who scream about passing and spreading out. I want my players to look to dribble first and then pass, because dribbling at players and beating them is usually the best way to create space. I used to deride Coerver-teams who's kids can do endless stepovers when they are in open space, but I see less of them these days and now I do much more with Coerver's ball control mastery sequences.

Very true, about the 1v1 stuff. I just think he means 1v1 "moves"., in particular.

Dribble first, dribble first, dribble first. :)

[Untroubled by Reason]

I think it's worth it to teach 1v1 moves, because you're really coaching fluency with the ball, and that's nothing but a good thing. That said, teaching moves is good; putting those moves to use in the context of game play is better. If you want to build a training session (or sessions) around 1v1 moves, then you and do something like the 1,000 touch drill for a warm-up, move to a 1v1 game in a small space; then move to a 4v4 game w/ the restriction that your team can score once they've taken on/beaten an opponent off the dribble; then full sided.

The technique you're looking for is: is there a change of speed/change of direction? is the player comfortable taking on an opponent? are the risks players are taking appropriate/tactical for where they're at on the field (attacking 1/3, middle 1/3, defending 1/3)?

[KevTheGooner]

Also, if you believe what Dorrance says in his book about girl/women soccer players, 1v1 might be even more important than with boys since girls are naturally more "team" oriented and generallly less competetive.

As a way to learn moves (not to mention whether or not to teach moves) 1 v 1 is great, but not the only method, of course.

[Twenty26Six]

Also, if you believe what Dorrance says in his book about girl/women soccer players, 1v1 might be even more important than with boys since girls are naturally more "team" oriented and generallly less competetive.

As a way to learn moves (not to mention whether or not to teach moves) 1 v 1 is great, but not the only method, of course.

I coach with a player from N. Carolina, and she swears by Dorrance's 1v1, ultra-competitive environment.

[chookgoo86]

I've only been coaching youth soccer for 2 years (4 seasons), so my experience is very limited. When I was a player I attended a few Coerver camps, so I am familiar with that coaching style. But one think that I have come to notice with young players is that alot of them are taught moves poorly. They will go through the motions, but with no emphasis on the purpose of doing the move itself. They really don't exaggerate the move and it becomes pointless to do. It doesn't fool any defender at all. I would run 1 on 1 drills and they would be dribbling and stepping over the ball but too slowly, at a too close/far distance from the defender, or just doing the move right into the defender. It's hard to illustrate in words, but I'm sure you've seen a child do a move without really putting their full body into the motion and it makes no difference than if they just dribbled right into the defender with no moves at all. If you're wanting to use 1v1 in attempt to teach moves, I think it is a great drill, but I would first make sure they understand that it's juking the defender that is more important than using poorly executed stepover and scissor maneuvers.

[Twenty26Six]

Well, too many coaches teach 1v1 moves, and then don't put them in good 1v1 situations. :rolleyes:

[Untroubled by Reason]

Well, too many coaches teach 1v1 moves, and then don't put them in good 1v1 situations. :rolleyes:
Yes, exactly. To teach this, put players in a small sided game with the condition that they must beat an opponent on the dribble before their team can score. The ones who "go through the motions" will fail, and coaches can correct that. The players will also learn to gauge the right moment to put on a move, instead of too early/too late.

[Twenty26Six]

Yes, exactly. To teach this, put players in a small sided game with the condition that they must beat an opponent on the dribble before their team can score. The ones who "go through the motions" will fail, and coaches can correct that. The players will also learn to gauge the right moment to put on a move, instead of too early/too late.

In fact, some of the stuff I have done with older, more novice players involves approaching a defender with speed and using certain "elements" to beat them.

We talk about needing "speed", "space", "surprise". Of course, this is all about teaching them to be aggressive and learning to change direction and pace. Once they've mastered this idea, we can move on to advanced maneuvers like scissors, stepovers, drags and flicks, etc.

[ranova]

...It's hard to illustrate in words, but I'm sure you've seen a child do a move without really putting their full body into the motion and it makes no difference than if they just dribbled right into the defender with no moves at all...

That's why the game is the best teacher. Balls skills are one thing. Tactics another. They need to learn by doing. Dribbling around cones will develop skills, but not tactics. 1v1 is the way to teach the tactics. Here is how I explain it.

To beat a defender one-v-one you want to "wrong-foot" the defender: that is get the defender moving in one direction and then cut and accelerate in a different direction. He doesn't even have to be actually moving, just leaning so his weight has shifted.

The player first needs enough skill so that he can watch the defender's lower body while dribbling before he can effectively learn tactics in 1v1.

[socfan60]

Well, too many coaches teach 1v1 moves, and then don't put them in good 1v1 situations. :rolleyes:

Or worse- yell at them for using them in a game. If I hear another coach/parent yell "pass" everytime a kid touches the ball ...

[Twenty26Six]

Or worse- yell at them for using them in a game. If I hear another coach/parent yell "pass" everytime a kid touches the ball...

...I'll become a tennis coach.

Just finishing your sentence.

[FloridaSoccerCoach]

The above is great advice.

One thing about the Dutch system that is also nice... once the skill has been learned, the player is immediately called upon to use said skill in live action. At the end of every training session, whatever skills were taught that day were expected to be seen in game play. One assistant is usually called upon to "score" the players based on their willingness to try their new skill - and/or any previous skills taught by that coaching staff. Fun stuff.
You guys are right on the money. However, being born and raised in Holland we indeed did play street soccer every day and learned our skills and moves from observing others, and then try to copy them. Obviously nowadays and living in the States that will most likely happen to the kids we coach so we indeed need to demonstrate and properly teach them the moves and let them pick the ones that come natural to them. And as you guys pointed out, putting them in the right situation is key. Try this activity: mark off a 20 x 10 yard grid or so, with an end zone on each side about 2 feet wide. Have half your group start at the 'center line' on one side and the other half on the other side, so they are facing each other. One group starts with the ball and passes it to his/her opponent which after receiving the ball will try to score a point by controlling the ball in either end zone. Here's the trick to making them use moves; the restriction you put on them is that they need to have two changes of direction before they can score. After a little while switch the players out and have the other team start with the ball. The kids will love this game and want to play it forever. They will get very creative with their moves and just as important, with their fakes and feints. Enjoy!

[bbtandthebrain]

AAbestor,
Dribbling and moves is very important to all players of every age. However I believe what might help you is to write down 4-6 things that you want your team to become better at during the season (dribbling, passing with the inside of the foot, shooting/finishing, heading, 1v1 defending, 2v2 defending. etc..) Then you put together on a spread sheet all of the practice sessions that you will have. Next your implement those 4-6 topics into your year of practices. I have my players 3-4 days a week so it was easy for me to do 4 sessions of passing with the inside of the foot, 4 sessions of dribbling/moves (important to add 1v1 games), 1 v 1 Defending, and possesion games. Then I went to 2 sessions of each and now I am on 1 session of each. The reality is if you do this you have just put together your yearly lesson plan like a teacher does. Obviously you have to get different sessions for each rather than do the same session. But even if you get 4 different sessions for each topic your players will seem to be always doing something different and loving your practices. Also you must always finish your practice in 30-15 minutes of a real game to 2 goals. But within that game you can have restricions (1 touch, 2 touch, man to man marking, must score in your half, etc...) also you can practice your freekicks and throwins in this part. I know that is long winded and I could go on for ever. I hope this helps.

[JML11]

1 v 1 moves should be taught as early as possible. In fact 12-15 is very late to first be taught such moves. CrimsonAce's sugguestion to award points to players who successfully execute the moves from the training session in a match at the end is excellent. Rinus Michels (The dutch authority on coaching, Fifa coach of the century and inventor of total football) in his book Teambuilding (which everyone should read) mentions the importance of teaching these moves and encouraging children to use them in match situations is vital and even more important without a "street education."

[yarbles]

...importance of teaching these moves and encouraging children to use them in match situations is vital and even more important without a "street education."

Amen brotha. Coaches need to be very clear with their kids that that's always OK to attempt these learned moves even in real games with out fear of being yelled at or punished should the move not work. If the kids feels safe in giving it a go, then they'll be more inclined to try it. If they feel pressure that they could be benched or yelled at should the move not work in a real game, then they won't try it and they'll take the safe route. So coaches, lighten up and let them try some stuff. You'll be amazed. I can't tell you how many times I've heard coaches say 'stop playing with the ball and clear it/pass'. I just chuckle. Heck, I encourage my backs to control the ball and try moves out of the back in an effort to create a numbers up situation on transition in the opposite direction. Sure we've given up a lot of goals because of it but my backs are getting more confident as time goes on and they like the fact that I'm not barking out instructions like 'hey, clear it!'. I'm more likely to say, 'hey relax, dribble it out!'.

[KevTheGooner]

Try this activity: mark off a 20 x 10 yard grid or so, with an end zone on each side about 2 feet wide. Have half your group start at the 'center line' on one side and the other half on the other side, so they are facing each other. One group starts with the ball and passes it to his/her opponent which after receiving the ball will try to score a point by controlling the ball in either end zone. Here's the trick to making them use moves; the restriction you put on them is that they need to have two changes of direction before they can score. After a little while switch the players out and have the other team start with the ball.

Sorry to be dense but I don't understand this activity. I do a lot of change of direction activities but this one confuses me. Can you clarify it? Txs....