duels U18 soccer drills

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Exploiting a Numerical Advantage with 3v2 Duels

Taken from a session with AS Roma, this drill allows you to work on the numerical advantage in a small area dynamically with 3v2 duels.

Animation: Exploiting a Numerical Advantage with 3v2 Duels
Mark out an area of 40x30m (approximately twice the size of the penalty area) and then place a second goal on the opposite side. Form 2 teams of 9 players and ask the players to position themselves around the goals (see animation).

The exercise starts with a 3v2 duel (here 3 reds against 2 blues). If the team with the numerical advantage scores (here the reds), they stay on the field and attack the opposite goal. Then 2 new blue players come in to defend.

If the team with the numerical disadvantage recovers the ball (here the blues), an additional blue player enters the field along with 2 red defenders to form a new 3v2 duel.

The objective of the exercise is to work on exploiting a numerical advantage to finish on a large goal. From a defensive point of view, you can focus your instructions on the importance of coordinating the press between the 2 players.

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Pep Guardiola: Small-sided high-intensity play from 1v1 to 5v5

Pep Guardiola: Small-sided high-intensity play from 1v1 to 5v5

20 min
10-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U17 - U16
Used during a training session at Manchester City, this high-intensity drill is ideal for working on the attacking-defensive transition and managing numerical advantage. All of this in a spirit of healthy competition....
Duel Training by V. Del Bosque in 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3

Duel Training by V. Del Bosque in 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3

30 min
18-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U19 - U18
Used by Vicente Del Bosque during a training session at Real Madrid, this drill is ideal for working on duels and the short passing game in tight spaces....
11v11 opposition with 2v1 scenarios on the wide areas

11v11 opposition with 2v1 scenarios on the wide areas

20 min
20-22 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - U19
Exercise used by the Spanish national team, it will help your players get accustomed to using width while presenting them with a specific situation: a 2v1 on the wide areas....
Exploiting a Numerical Advantage with 3v2 Duels

Exploiting a Numerical Advantage with 3v2 Duels

18 min
16-20 joueurs
Tactical
U17 - U20
Taken from a session with AS Roma, this drill allows you to work on the numerical advantage in a small area dynamically with 3v2 duels....
The arena: protecting your goal with defensive duels work

The arena: protecting your goal with defensive duels work

20 min
10-19 joueurs
Technical
U17 - U20
How to work on defensive duels? Here you will have the opportunity to tackle numerous defensive situations in 1v1 then 2v2 from different angles. A rather intense exercise!...
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The U18 category includes players aged 17-18 years.
Goalkeeper build-up into 1v2 duels with defensive recovery

Goalkeeper build-up into 1v2 duels with defensive recovery

15 min
8-20 joueurs
Technical
U17 - U18
This highly dynamic drill starts with a goalkeeper's distribution followed by a series of 1v2 duels with a defender in pursuit, potentially evolving into a 3v3....
Speed Work and 1v1 Duels

Speed Work and 1v1 Duels

15 min
10-20 joueurs
Technical
U16 - U14
This speed-agility drill with 1v1 duels and shooting on a full-size goal is ideal after a complete warm-up. You can add your personal touch to it....
Agility in 1v1 with ball and colored signals

Agility in 1v1 with ball and colored signals

15 min
8-16 joueurs
Conditioning
U14 - U15
A small agility exercise that will engage your players' cognitive abilities while keeping a significant portion of the drill with the ball....
1v1s on small goals with a defender chasing

1v1s on small goals with a defender chasing

15 min
12-24 joueurs
Technical
U20 - U15
On the agenda: 1v1 duels followed by 2v1 with a defender in pursuit. Quick decision-making will be crucial!...
3v3 with 4 supports and a central player

3v3 with 4 supports and a central player

15 min
10-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U17 - U20
This 3v3 small-sided game with 4 corner support players will help you work on combinations in tight spaces. Remember to regularly rotate the support players....
Agility and Shooting in a 2v2 Matchup

Agility and Shooting in a 2v2 Matchup

15 min
8-18 joueurs
Technical
U19 - Seniors
1v1 duels with a chasing player, 2v2 matchups, and shooting on a full-size goal are part of this varied and highly dynamic drill....
1v1 Duels then Defensive Transition in 2v1

1v1 Duels then Defensive Transition in 2v1

15 min
12-24 joueurs
Technical
Seniors - U20
1v1 duels from different perspectives: first a 1v1, then a defensive transition to quickly move into a 2v1 on the large goal....
Tracking back in 1v1 situations with variations by Jurgen Klopp

Tracking back in 1v1 situations with variations by Jurgen Klopp

20 min
6-20 joueurs
Technical
Seniors - U19
Used in Dortmund, this drill, which allows for numerous variations, will require your players to work on defensive recovery in an organized manner. The program includes: short passing game, duels, and shooting on small goals....
Aerial duel, second ball, and dynamic play in 5v3

Aerial duel, second ball, and dynamic play in 5v3

15 min
14-22 joueurs
Tactical
U17 - U18
Game-based drill that will allow your players to work on recovering the second ball following an aerial duel, while keeping in mind the importance of the attacking-defensive transition....
Defensive play training for the fullback

Defensive play training for the fullback

15 min
8-12 joueurs
Technical
U15 - U17
Ideal exercise for training your fullbacks in defensive play on the wing and the sequence of defensive actions....
Defensive play on opponent's throw-in

Defensive play on opponent's throw-in

15 min
14-16 joueurs
Warm-up
U17 - U19
Ideal warm-up exercise to train your players on throw-ins, especially from a defensive perspective....
Working on Heading

Working on Heading

12 min
4-8 joueurs
Technical
U19 - U20
Ideal exercise for practicing headers and crosses with your players, with an increase in aerial duels....
Warm-up: Ground and Aerial Duel

Warm-up: Ground and Aerial Duel

15 min
10-14 joueurs
Warm-up
U19 - U17
Ideal warm-up exercise to work on ground duels and aerial duels....
Double 2v2 and Shooting on Full-Size Goal

Double 2v2 and Shooting on Full-Size Goal

25 min
16-18 joueurs
Tactical
U19 - Seniors
Through a double 2v2, your players practice defensive recovery (defenders) as well as combinations and shooting (attackers)....
2v2 Situation and Shooting

2v2 Situation and Shooting

12 min
12-14 joueurs
Tactical
U19 - Seniors
Ideal exercise for having your players practice shooting from a 2v2 situation....
Defending with a Numerical Disadvantage

Defending with a Numerical Disadvantage

12 min
10-14 joueurs
Tactical
U20 - U17
Excellent exercise to learn how to defend when outnumbered, where it is common for one or two defenders to find themselves at a numerical disadvantage. Show your defensively-minded players how to manage these situations and get your attackers accustomed to exploiting them to the fullest!...

Other sub-theme U18 soccer drills

U18 Agility soccer drills

  1. Pep Guardiola's technical circuit with shooting and speed drill
  2. The 4 Colors of Unai Emery: Quickness and Reaction Time
  3. Agility and information gathering by color and by team
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U18 Attacking transition soccer drills

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  2. Possession with 3 teams and quick transition play
  3. Possession game and defensive-attacking transition in a 6v6 (+ 2)
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U18 Build-up play soccer drills

  1. Possession game in 3 zones with transitions and numerical disadvantage on the weak side
  2. Pressing and Counterattack Work in 8v8
  3. Rondo in 3 zones to find the 9 and exploit the numerical advantage
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U18 Circuit soccer drills

  1. Luis Enrique: High-Intensity Passing Sequence
  2. Aerobic Endurance Circuit by Massimiliano Allegri
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U18 Cognitive soccer drills

  1. Agility in 1v1 with ball and colored signals
  2. Decision Making and Reaction Time with Shooting in 2v1
  3. Pep Guardiola's off-the-ball agility with speed and coordination work
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U18 Counterattack soccer drills

  1. 3-Team Transition Game: Intense 2v4 Pressing in Zones
  2. Jurgen Klopp's Attacking-Defensive Transition with a Reduced 6v6 Game
  3. Possession game in 3 zones with transitions and numerical disadvantage on the weak side
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U18 Counter-pressing soccer drills

  1. Possession game in 2 zones with role change
  2. 3-Team Transition Game: Intense 2v4 Pressing in Zones
  3. Counter-pressing work by J. Nagelsmann in 10v10 with 4 goals
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U18 Defensive recovery / Tracking back soccer drills

  1. Tracking back in 1v1 situations with variations by Jurgen Klopp
  2. Attacking-defensive transition of Mikel Arteta in a 4v2
  3. Possession Game by Claudio Ranieri on 4 Mini-Pitches
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U18 Defensive transition soccer drills

  1. Possession game in 4v2 with quick transitions and pressing
  2. Luis Enrique: dynamic situation in 3 zones with support for the ball carrier
  3. 9v9: midfield pressing and maintaining a compact block across 3 zones
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U18 Dribbling soccer drills

  1. Speed work, one-two pass, dribble, and shooting
  2. Fast ball dribbling athletic drill
  3. Shooting drill with slalom and passing sequence (non-contact)
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U18 Endurance soccer drills

  1. Athletic and conditioning circuit in 4 sets
  2. Athletic work with the "1 to 4" then "4 to 1" pyramid
  3. Alternating small-sided games and intermittent training
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U18 Explosive strength soccer drills

  1. Curved interval training with footwork on a 20-20
  2. Speed training: interval sprints on various courses
  3. 2(+1) vs 2 with goalkeeper – quick attack from wide area
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U18 Fun Game soccer drills

  1. Double 2v2 and Shooting on Full-Size Goal
  2. Duel Training by V. Del Bosque in 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3
  3. Rondo 8v3 and Passing Accuracy Under Pressure
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U18 Gaps soccer drills

  1. Positioning and movement to find space between the lines
  2. Offensive combination work between the lines of Pep Guardiola
  3. Working on build-up play with Marcelo Bielsa against 2 forwards
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U18 Motor skills soccer drills

  1. Endurance capacity circuit with ball and motor skills work
  2. Pass, dribble, cross, and near-post off-the-ball run
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U18 Offensive combinations soccer drills

  1. Getting Open and Combinations in Front of Goal
  2. Circuit with offensive combinations in groups of 4
  3. Build-up and transition in 5v3
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U18 Overload soccer drills

  1. Pep Guardiola: Small-sided high-intensity play from 1v1 to 5v5
  2. Positioning of Forwards Between the Lines and Shooting
  3. Warm-up: working on play with support
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U18 Passes soccer drills

  1. Passing circuit followed by shooting on 2 colored mini goals
  2. 6v6 (+2) possession game with play through the central zone
  3. 3v3 with 4 supports and a central player
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U18 Positional play soccer drills

  1. Switch of play and defensive positioning game
  2. "Juego de Posición" in possession 9v9 + 2 support players
  3. Transition from one zone to another with positional play in 5v5 (+ 2 central supports)
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U18 Possession soccer drills

  1. Possession play and high press in 2 zones
  2. Creating a numerical advantage in a possession game across 3 zones
  3. Possession game in double zone with coordinated press
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U18 Pressing soccer drills

  1. Attacking transition: pressing and ball circulation
  2. Positioning of Forwards Between the Lines and Shooting
  3. Fast-paced 3v1 play with speed and agility work
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U18 Rondos soccer drills

  1. Short possession with switch of play and support sprints
  2. Rondo in 3 zones to find the 9 and exploit the numerical advantage
  3. Short passing game and direct play with support
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U18 Scanning soccer drills

  1. Information gathering, ball control, and passing in groups of 3
  2. Rondo and Switch of Play in 4 Zones by Rafael Benitez
  3. Possession with 3 teams and quick transition play
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U18 Shooting soccer drills

  1. Shooting drill with slalom and passing sequence (non-contact)
  2. Switch of play and shooting with a series of 1v1 duels
  3. Pep Guardiola's Quick Attacking-Defensive Transition with 1v1 Duels
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U18 Support soccer drills

  1. 3v3 with 4 supports and a central player
  2. Transition from one zone to another with positional play in 5v5 (+ 2 central supports)
  3. 3v3: shooting with outside support and delayed runs
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U18 Transition soccer drills

  1. Possession game and defensive-attacking transition in a 6v6 (+ 2)
  2. Transition and switch of play with support and neutral players (variation)
  3. Exploiting a Numerical Advantage with 3v2 Duels
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U18 Using width soccer drills

  1. Pep Guardiola's Quick Attacks: Working on Transitions in 6v6
  2. Defensive Block: Positioning in the Game and Tactical Principles
  3. Luis Enrique: possession play in 10v10 across 6 zones
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