1-to-1 coaching
One coach. One player. Faster progress.
Plans, safety and tools for 1-to-1 football coaching, from U5 to veterans.
What is 1-to-1 coaching?
A 1-to-1 session is one coach working with one player. Every touch is theirs, so they can improve fast on one thing, like first touch, finishing or the weaker foot. It works alongside team training, not instead of it.
Players
Who want extra touches, confidence after a break or injury, or help in a new position.
Parents
Who want a safe, clear plan for their child with goals you can see.
Coaches
Who want to run 1-to-1 sessions well, safely and as a small business.
By age group
U5-U7
Fun and confidence. 30-45 minutes, lots of ball touches and games. Keep it playful. A parent stays close by.
U8-U9
Ball mastery, both feet, simple 1v1. 45 minutes.
U10-U11
Technique under light pressure: first touch, passing, beating a player. 45-60 minutes.
U12-U13
Decisions as well as technique: scan, receive, play forward. Growth spurts start, so keep loads light.
U14-U16
Position-specific work, speed and agility, finishing. Agree goals with the player and parent.
U17-U18
Sharpening for trials or senior football. Still under 18: all the safeguarding rules apply.
Adult
Returning players, fitness and confidence, or a specific skill.
Vets 35+
Touch, passing and staying injury-free. Longer warm-ups.
Under 18? A parent or carer stays and watches (or is in sight) and the coach has an in-date FA-accepted DBS check. See 1-to-1 safeguarding.
Football words explained
- 1-to-1 (one-to-one)
- One coach and one player. Sometimes called "121".
- Progression
- Making a drill a bit harder once the player is doing it well.
- Scanning
- Looking over your shoulder before the ball arrives.
- Jockeying
- Defending side-on, moving sideways and backwards, not diving in.
- Weaker foot
- The foot a player uses less. Strong players use both.
- DBS check
- A criminal record check (Disclosure and Barring Service). For coaches of under-18s it is the Enhanced check with a Children's Barred List check.
- Welfare officer
- The person at a club who looks after safeguarding.
- Safeguarding
- Keeping children and adults safe from harm.
More in the glossary. We Are Matchday is independent and is not endorsed by The FA.
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