Baller AIHow to stop getting beaten one on one
Getting beaten repeatedly is almost never a pace problem. It is a standing problem. Most young defenders square up to the attacker, plant their feet, and commit early, which are the three things that make you easy to beat. Fix your body position and your timing and you will beat players who are quicker than you.
Body position
How you stand decides the duel before it starts. Side on, never square, so you can turn and run without a wasted step.
Stay on your toes with small steps rather than large ones. Show the attacker the touchline, so their best option is the direction with the least danger. Keep about an arm's length away, close enough to pressure and far enough to react. And never cross your feet, because that is the moment you cannot change direction.
- Side on, never square
- On your toes, small steps
- Show them the touchline
- Stay an arm's length away
- Never cross your feet
When to actually go
Committing to a tackle is a decision with a real cost, so the timing matters more than the technique.
Go when their head is down, because they cannot see your movement. Go on their second touch rather than their first, when the ball is furthest from control. Go when the ball is away from their body. And never go when they are facing you square with the ball under control, because that is exactly the situation they have practised.
- When their head is down
- On their second touch, not their first
- When the ball is away from their body
- Never when they are facing you square
The habit to build
Delay is a legitimate outcome. A defender who slows an attacker down until support arrives has done their job as well as one who wins the ball cleanly.
Most goals conceded in one on one situations come from a defender diving in early, not from being outpaced.
Get this built into your week
Baller AI turns drills like these into a training plan around your position and the days you can actually train.