How to Dominate 1v1s as a Defender

As a defender, dominating 1v1s is one of your most important responsibilities. The ability to consistently prevent attacking players from getting clear chances on goal is table stakes for a high-level defender. It shows that you understand the correct way to approach 1v1s, making it as difficult as possible to score.

This begins with clarifying exactly what you’re trying to do in 1v1s, as well as the last things you should do in this common scenario.

Keep the Striker on the Outside

The number one priority for a defender in a 1v1 is keeping the opponent on the outside, away from the goal. Younger players have a tendency to dive in to win the ball, but staying in front of goalside is the name of the game.  

When you stay goalside, you slow down the attack and give your teammates a chance to get into position to help. You also give your keeper more time to get set and make the goal smaller.

Be Patient, Not Aggressive

Defenders should approach 1v1s with patience. Just stay goalside and don’t let them past you. When attackers win 1v1s, it often happens because the defender gets too aggressive trying to match the striker’s quick movements. When defenders dominate 1v1s, they capitalize on the attacker’s need to get a shot off before the rest of the defense has a chance to catch up.

So, the real objective is to make the attacker take a shot they don’t want to take. As long as you give them a less-than-ideal shot, you have won the 1v1.

Have you ever seen a defender handle a 1v1 with this much patience? As two former pros, we learned very early in our careers that it’s much easier to learn a new technique when you’ve seen it in action, time and time again. That’s why we created BGTV, a massive library of professional footage organized by position with analysis from professional players.

Each clip features a high-level player executing essential techniques - like keeping a striker on the outside - with breakdowns explaining how the player knew what to do in this situation. It’s the ultimate cheat code towards building your soccer IQ.

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