Training Library › Attack
1v1 + 1 Floater — Wall Pass or Dribble to Beat the Defender
Choosing between the wall pass (one-two) and the dribble to beat a defender (regate)
Players: 1+1+1 floaterArea: about 15×20 mAge: U-8 and upTime: 15 minPhase: Attack
Setup & rules
- The red defender starts by dribbling from line A and passes to the blue player.
- The blue attacker beats the defender with a wall pass using the yellow floater, or with a dribble.
- Crossing the line ahead counts as success.
- If the red defender wins the ball, they aim to dribble across line B ahead.
RULE
- The floater plays one touch (first time).
* If the floater holds on to the ball, it will probably turn into a mess.
* Adjust the area size according to how often the situation you want actually happens.
Key factors
- Add a feint: pretend to pass and dribble, or pretend to dribble and pass
- Draw the defender in before you act
- Change speed (from slow to fast)
- Pick the moment when the defender is leaning forward
- Don't try to go past the defender on the side where your supporting player is
- The return pass of the wall pass is played into space
KEY FACTORS SPECIFIC TO YOUNGER PLAYERS
- When going for the wall pass, don't run towards the side you passed to → run behind the defender's back
- When passing, don't give in to the pressure; keep your balance and run quickly
Progressions
- You can increase the numbers: the minimum unit is a group of three, but you can play it with four or five (this also solves problems such as numbers that don't divide by three)
- You can add shooting: set up a goal and it becomes easier to picture everything through to the shot after breaking through. With mini goals players can picture the whole sequence, and with a big goal and a GK it doubles as a breaking-through-and-shooting practice
Kazu's notes FROM THE COACH
- For players around 7–8 years old (Japanese grade 2) and up; difficulty low
- It's easy for the floater to learn support: they play the supporting role continuously for a set time, so pointing things out → adjusting is repeated and it's easy to focus on support. You can also spend time with players who find support difficult
- If players can't kick the ball at all, it won't work in the first place. If it doesn't go well at all, I recommend doing more basic technique training
- If players can't get around the defender with a dribble and bump into them, it's also better to do more basic technique practice
Use this drill in your own session
Download it and open it in TRAINING DESIGNER — a free drill designer and session planner in your browser. Edit the diagram, change the numbers, add it to a session, and export as PDF, GIF or video.
In the app: menu → “Import external data” → choose the downloaded file. No sign-up needed. The original Japanese article: junior-soccer.college.One idea a week from Japanese youth football
A free weekly essay on how kids actually learn the game — complexity, the ecological approach, and what 30 years on Japanese grassroots pitches taught me.
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I'm Kazu — a youth football coach in Japan since 1995. These are sessions I actually use, shared from the Japanese coaching site I have run for years (Junior Soccer College). I also write a free weekly newsletter on how children learn the game.