The Importance of 1-1 Sessions – Now More than Ever

The Importance of 1-1 Sessions – Now More than Ever

God I’m missing football! Missing watching the game I love. Miss playing so much and miss coaching; working with players, pushing them, driving them, enjoying watching them play. This isn’t normal or enjoyable. 

Yes it’s great to spend more time at home with the family and kids but whereas some may enjoy being ‘off’ from work, I miss my work. Coaching is my passion, my love. I am sure a lot of people feel the same. And of course it’s not just the football, but the relationships, with players and staff. The bonding, laughs and camaraderie which makes football so enjoyable. I hope it can return to something of normality when the season starts. Yet we may have to accept an element of difference, of distancing or at least a change of how we operate. 

The hope is we get the green light to get back to doing what we love, helping players improve. If the joys of working with a team, of having games, from 1v1 games up to the 'real' game of 7v7/9v9/11v11, it’s the game whichever you look at it. The passion, the energy, the love of a goal being scored. The jokes and laughs in the changing room. All of this can't be replicated over Zoom. 

The Need for 1-1 Sessions

So while I appreciate we cannot play the game at this time, we can surely begin to open the opportunity for players to return to 1-1 sessions? Effectively a controlled environment which helps player develop their skills with a qualified coach? If anything this is the best time to do this work. Technically we are now in the ‘off-season’ and will enter pre-season in July. This is a time to do a number of things; rest, take up a different sport, or do some extra training to get ready for the new season. The option to do extra sessions should now be allowed. 

Robbie Savage has been talking a lot of sense in relation to the need for the government to allow the reopening of sports (right now golf and tennis) to include football and the use of 1-1 sessions for young footballers. He speaks of the importance for mental well being and physical activity to help young kids during this difficult time. And he’s completely right! 1-1 sessions in football need to be allowed. 

Football is a contact game, but a 1-1 session doesn’t have to be. It is an opportunity to work with players on their game, to develop their skills and improve their skill-set. This can be done in terms of position, as well as enhancing core skills which a player requires in the game. I love 1-1 sessions and can conduct a session with an opposed/passive defensive element and a full contact 1v1 mini match - yet you can also do a session without any contact and still get excellent outcomes. 

For me 1-1 coaching can really enhance a players skill-set which is essential for the level of technical excellence required in the modern game. I don’t believe that conventional team/group sessions can enhance these qualities sufficiently, which is why 1-1 training should be part of a players development program. With team sessions currently not possible, the need for 1-1 sessions is fundamental!

I would actually make the argument for players to carry out 1-1 sessions at any time, as a supplement to their team sessions. Team sessions are important, and of course it is important players use and practice their skills in opposed, team environments through practices and games, in order to improve their performance and understanding of the game. What 1-1 coaching seeks to do is enhance the players quality with the ball, their skills and control. If they are better in these areas then you will see more confident, composed and effective players in 'the game'. The reason I promote and carry out 1-1 training is because I believe it is important, almost essential, for a player’s development. 

I understand that a lot of players are benefitting from the use of Zoom calls which allow coaches to do technical sessions with their players, either individually or as a group. This is allowing continued practice and interaction. Zoom has become a positive and effective way of working with players, however, if the opportunity to work with players in person has become possible then these should be supported and allowed. 

There are many who argue against the benefit of 1-1 sessions, or of unopposed technical sessions. But I believe these can be made to be important when we consider the purpose of the sessions. 

When ‘technical development’ is discussed it brings up ideas of ball mastery and skills in unopposed and unrealistic practices rather than developing the effective use of these skills. If you’re teaching players about ‘skills’ then it’s important that a coach educates the purpose of a ‘move’. By educating a player they become more intelligent and the use of skill becomes more relevant and effective. 

My aim is to seek to produce exceptional individuals who have high game intelligence, so they can also be part of a coherent and cohesive team. The Coerver method for me is the best tool for developing the technical side of the game. Through all age groups I believe players should be continually developing their technical skills, putting an emphasis on ‘effective use of skill’. The promotion of 1v1/2v2 practices in sessions seeks to help improve a players attacking and defending ability. 

Developing 1v1 skills

What is a 1v1 player? What is a 1v1 skill? For me it is a player who can retain the ball under pressure, protect the ball from a defender, create space to find a pass, shot or to dribble and to beat a player with a skill, a feint to move a defender and create space to exploit. It is a player who has the knowledge of space and time, perception awareness and the skill levels to know which skill to use to create and exploit space and the confidence and composure to have the ball and not panic or rush under pressure. To be composed under pressure and to make good decisions. So we need to put players in these situations and educate players about the decisions they can make and the skills needed to retain, protect and create when they have the ball. 

Now if you’re doing 1-1 sessions please focus on the detail of passing and receiving. This is a skill which while isn’t neglected by many, lacks the quality of detail which players need. This will only help enhance the players ability to impact games. What I would say is lacking with English players is pass detail and intelligence. Pass speed and precision is often mis-judged and lacks the precise detail. And 1st touch on receiving needs to be further enhanced. When I watch top young foreign players they move and receive the ball with such detail, speed and quality. This is a trained skill. 

So we need to work on receiving skills, in itself a ‘skill’. The importance of a purposeful first touch, where and why? To work on off the ball movement to create space and time, to know how to use their body to shield and protect, as well denying a defender the chance to get the ball. All key to get players on the ball more effectively and to then engage in a 1v1 or turn into space. A point of reference here for sessions is to make sure players aren't just given the ball without having to learn to get on it. As the pre-receive element of the game, the off the ball work, is so fundamental. 

For me 1v1 is an essential element of the game. 1v1's are a fundamental focus of player development. Why? Because 1v1 situations happen all the time. They then involve a decision and relation to an opponent and teammate. 

The use of 1-1 sessions help to develop a players skills, decisions and importantly provide the repetition needed to refine and hone their skills. With this is also is the element of finishing. A team session just doesn’t provide enough opportunities and repetition for players to develop their finishing. A player needs 100-200 shots a week from different angles, different techniques and different angles of assists to help them practice and improve on the key part of finishing. Crossing and through balls the same. 1-1 sessions can help provide these practice situations. 

The key part of this message is that 1-1 sessions are an essential element of player development, yet they need to be done with quality, be purposeful and provide the detail which reflects the game. 

We want to produce thinking players, who are intelligent, who can solve problems and who have the skill-set at their disposal to deal with the demands of the game. Extra sessions with help players become better. 

At any time I would advise a young player to do everything they can to enhance their game. Yet during this period it is more important than ever to be active and seek to develop and learn more. To do more than any of their peers. Go and study the game, watch games and take notes. Watch the best players and see what they do in games. Research the work top pro’s did when they were young, the sacrifice, the extra work. Become a student of the game, analyse and learn the game and then go practice it. Do the extra work to improve on your game, enhance your strengths and improve your weaknesses. The key is to get a top coach who can provide the necessary quality. Deliberate practice.

My advice; find a 1-1 coach who can help your development, find a personal trainer who can improve your athleticism and core strength. Understand psychology and seek to become a master of your mind and be great with your mindset. And above all, enjoy the challenge of improving, embrace the challenges, push yourself to get better and do it with a smile. 

Too many young players fall into their comfort zone, they stop doing the extra work, they get comfortable. But to become a top player you need to keep pushing yourself, constantly seeking to do more and get better.

Robbie Savage, you are 100% right! 1-1 football sessions need to be allowed. The FA and government need to allow this vital aspect for young players. For the nations primary sport, this feels a necessity at this time. 

The Whitehouse Address @TheWAddress