High Tempo Rondo Ideas

Rondos at the start of a session can be extremely effective to align into technical and tactical objectives for the session. Where they struggle to deliver however, is on the physical side of the game, where players can often be standing still for long periods of time and negate any activation work done in the initial warm-up. This week on the MSC Breakdown, we look at three ideas that coaches can use to get more movement and tempo from their traditional rondo set-up.

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Below are the session details and dimensions.

Idea One: 4v2 Progression Game

• Exercise takes place in a 20x20 yard area, split into four grids

• Six players are organized into 3 pairs

• Game starts as a 4v2 exercise in one grid, with the possession team looking to use their overload to complete four consecutive passes

• After four consecutive passes, the objective is now to move the ball to another adjacent grid

• Players are encouraged to support as early as possible

• If defensive pair win the ball, the game simply continues as they switch roles with the pair who gave the ball away

Idea 2: 3v1 Release a Runner

• Exercise takes place in a 20x20 yard area, split into four grids

• Eight players are organized into one team of six and one team of two

• Two grids are occupied diagonally from each other with two 3v1 situations

• Ball starts in one grid where the possession team are looking to 'break out' of the 3v1 after 3 passes and release one player on the dribble into either empty grid

• Once the player is released, they dribble into the next 3v1 situation and restart the game, before going back to the starting positions

• Play 3 minute games and switch defenders each time

Idea 3: 4v2 into 6v2 to Goal

• Exercise takes place inside a 10x10 grid on the each of the box and a 15x15 area inside the box

• Thirteen players are organized into three teams of four, plus a GK

• One team starts as attacking team (in blue), one as defensive team (in red), and one as supporting team (in yellow)

• Game starts with a 4v2 situation at the edge of the box. After four passes, the possession team are looking to 'break out' either with a pass to the neutral players or by dribbling out into the penalty area

• Once in the penalty area, it's about scoring as soon as possible and using the supporting players if needed

• Supporting players are limited to one touch

• After the set: Defenders become attackers, supporting players become defenders, and attackers become supporting players