Rat Race - This drill is a defensive oriented drill to rehearse 1 v 1 defensive skills and later add more players for coverage positions. Beginning "first" defenders are encouraged to follow
the "3 aways" rule.

First: Just get in the way.
Second: Turn them away.
Finally: Take it away.

(Older players should be taught the "3-stops" of 1v1 defending. First stop the pass, second stop the turn, finally stop the run.

Anyway, the name "Rat Race" comes from using this drill with the younger kids. The players are the "rats" and the ball is the "cheese" that they chase and fight for accross the "kitchen floor"
The key to this drill is to vary the starting point for the defense. If you start them even with the striker it is like a breakaway and if you start them closer to the goalie they have to backpedal and screen.

This is the basic pattern.

Set up 2 starting points with cones, one for the strikers and another for the defense. Start the strikers near midfield and the defense just inside of their position. (Later, move the defensive starting area deeper in towards the penalty box for more backpedaling).

Striker A takes the ball and begins a breakaway towards the goal.

Defender B engages the striker with the "3-aways rule"

The defender gets points for turning the ball out of bounds or upfield, the striker for goals and shots on goal. (see diagram)

Here is the really fun part. Immediately after the defender and striker begin to clash, point to another defender and another striker and say "go help!" Now the "second defender must take up an appropriate covering position depending on how the second striker helps out. And when the two strikers begin passing the ball back and forth the defenders must react by switching roles of 1st and 2nd defender.
Variations
1. Occasionally send in another defender but not another striker for intial cover positions and maybe a double team.
2. If some of your defenders are "diving in" at on-coming strikers and getting beat, set their starting point up back nearer to the penalty box so they must first come out towards the striker and then backpedal while they begin to turn the play.
3. Occasionally send in another striker and not a second defender to create a difficult 2 on 1 chance that will involve help from the goalie.
4. Occasionally have the coach play the part of the second striker to help artificially create situations for the defenders.
5. Important: From time to time stop the drill and instruct the 2 strikers to pass the ball back and forth near the top of the penalty box as you rehearse the proper positions for the 1st and 2nd defenders depending, of course, on which striker has the ball.