Rondos
Rondos are one of the most effective training exercises in soccer. They help players develop technical skills, decision-making, and positional awareness in a game-like context.
Static Rondos
Can be used during the warm up to just get players moving a bit and focusing on fundamentals.
- 4v0 - Basic passing pattern with no defenders. Focus on technique, movement, and communication.
- 4v1 - Four players in a square or circle with one defender in the middle. The objective is to maintain possession.
- 4v2 - Similar to 4v1 but with two defenders, increasing the difficulty.
- 5v2 - Five players on the outside with two defenders. Great for developing quick passing and movement.
Coaching Points
- Emphasize body position to receive
- Encourage scanning before receiving the ball
- Focus on first touch direction
- Maintain proper spacing
Transitional Rondos
Can be used as the warm up or second phase to focus on desired behaviour in small numbers. This should be a high intensity fast-paced exercise and can be adapted simply by adjusting field dimensions and team size to work on various aspects of the game.
- 2v2v2 - Three teams of two players. When one team loses possession, they become the defenders.
- 3v3+1 - Two teams of three with one neutral player who plays with the team in possession.
- 4v4 - Two teams of four in a defined space focusing on possession and pressing.
- 4v4+1 - Two teams of four with one neutral player to help maintain possession.
- 5v5 - Larger groups that can begin to incorporate more tactical elements.
- 6v6 - Even larger groups that bridge the gap between small-sided training and full team tactics.
Coaching Points
- Quick transitions between attacking and defending
- Immediate pressure after losing possession
- Creating passing angles
- Decision-making under pressure
Positional Rondos
These rondos have a specified structure that mirrors structural elements from a game. Structure, field shape, team sizes and neutrals can all be used as adaptations to use these rondos to coach many elements of the game.
- 4v4+3 - Two teams of four with three neutral players positioned strategically to create game-like scenarios.
- 5v5+2 - Two teams of five with two neutral players, often used to simulate midfield play.
- 6v6+3 - Larger format that can incorporate more tactical elements and positional play.
- 7v7+2 - Nearly a small-sided game that maintains focus on possession while adding positional responsibilities.
Coaching Points
- Maintaining team shape
- Position-specific responsibilities
- Creating and exploiting numerical advantages
- Building attacks through specific zones
Setting Up Effective Rondos
To maximize the effectiveness of rondos in your training sessions:
- Space - Adjust the size of the area based on the number of players and the focus of the exercise.
- Rules - Consider implementing touch restrictions, time limits, or scoring systems to emphasize specific skills.
- Progression - Start simple and gradually increase complexity as players improve.
- Intensity - Maintain a high tempo to simulate game conditions.
- Feedback - Provide specific, actionable feedback during and after the exercise.