Recover & Delay 1v1

The ugly essential: sprinting back after being beaten, taking the inside line, and buying time without diving in.

35-yard channel to a goal. Attacker starts with a 5-yard head start dribbling toward goal; defender starts behind and to the side.

1. On 'go', the attacker drives at goal; the defender sprints the recovery run.
2. The defender must reach goal-side before engaging — then jockeys and delays.
3. A second defender is released 5 seconds later; the first defender delays until cover arrives, then they press together.
4. Score: attackers for goals, defenders for delays that let cover arrive.

• Recovery runs go through the inside line toward your own goal, not at the ball.
• Get goal-side FIRST — tackling from behind is a foul and a card.
• Once goal-side: slow them down, show them wide, wait for help.
• When cover arrives, the picture changes — now press the ball properly.

• The recovery run chases the ball sideways instead of cutting the inside line — show the line to goal.
• The defender arrives and immediately dives in exhausted — arriving is half the job; delaying is the other half.
• Delay becomes total passivity and the attacker strolls on — delay still means pressure on the touch.

• Reduce the second defender's delay.
• Add a second attacker — recover, delay, then defend 2v2.
• Start the defender facing the wrong way.

• Reduce the attacker's head start.
• Bigger goal-side target zone instead of engaging.
• Walk through the recovery line.

• The defender may not engage until goal-side.