Take Them On

The courage to run at a defender, and the patience to hold one up — both sides of the one-against-one.

Soccer
U10
60 min
10–16 players
1 coach
Effort 3/5
40x30m area
u10
1v1
dribbling
defending
duels

The PitchPlans coaching teamGAA Award 1 & 2 coaches

Kit: 10 footballs, 24 cones, bibs in two colours, 4 mini-goals

Warm-up8 min

Moves in the Square

Setup: A 20×20m square, a ball each, everyone inside and moving.

How it works: Dribble around and, on your call, try a move to change direction: a chop with the inside of the foot, a drag-back with the sole, then a stepover, then a fake to go one way and burst the other. After each move, accelerate into a space for two touches before the next one. Keep the heads up so nobody collides.

What to say

“Tell them: 'sell the move — a little dip of the shoulder makes the defender believe you.'”
“Say: 'slow, then explode — the change of pace beats people, not just the trick.'”
“Encourage a favourite move each — one they can do at full speed.”

Easier

Walk through each move first, then add pace when it feels natural.

Harder

Weak foot only, and add a second move immediately after the first.

Activity14 min

Beat the Defender to Goal

Setup: Channels about 10×8m, a mini-goal at one end, an attacker with a ball at the other, a defender starting on the goal line. Two or three channels running at once.

How it works: The attacker dribbles in to beat the defender and score in the mini-goal. The defender starts by passing the ball out to the attacker, then comes to defend, which gives a live, honest one-against-one. Score, then swap roles and rotate a new pair in. Count goals over a set of five attacks each.

What to say

“Say: 'run straight at the defender's front foot to make them turn.'”
“Tell them: 'when they lunge, push it past and go — full speed into the gap.'”
“Ask for an end product: a real finish, not a fancy move and a miss.”

Easier

Give the attacker a head start and make the defender start passive.

Harder

Shrink the channel so there is less room, and add a two-touch finish limit.

Activity14 min

Jockey and Delay

Setup: Same channels, now the defending is the focus. Attacker starts with the ball, two small goals side by side on the defender's line so the attacker has a choice of target.

How it works: The defender's job is to slow the attacker down and steer them towards the weaker side, not to dive in. Close the space quickly while the ball is travelling, then slow the feet and get side-on. Force the attacker one way and jockey them across, only tackling when the ball is loose. If the attacker scores it is a lesson; if the defender delays and wins it, that is the win.

What to say

“Tell them: 'close him down fast, then put the brakes on before you arrive.'”
“Say: 'side-on stance, show him the line, do not dive in.'”
“Praise the patient defender who forces the mistake over the one who lunges and gets beaten.”

Easier

Attacker must stay in a narrower channel so the defender has less to cover.

Harder

Widen the channel and let the attacker pick either goal, so the defender must truly steer them.

The rest of this session is free — along with 3 more this week.

PitchPlans coaching team

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