WORLD CLASS COACHING
30 Finishing Rondos
By Luca Bertolini
Table of Contents
PART FOUR
THREE, FOUR AND SIX-GRID RONDOS
Three-Grid Rondos
Exercise 23: 3 v 1 to build up and 1 v 1s to finish
Sequence
A rectangular area is divided into three areas; a lower and horizontal one to build up and two upper one to finish. A fourth space is marked in front of the goal, where anyone can run inside, as only the goalkeeper can be active there. A 3 v 1 duel is played inside the lower area to build up (one player is placed on the lower line and two on the outer lines) after the pass of the goalkeeper; at least one wall passing combination is required before playing forward inside the finishing areas. Two 1 v 1 duels are played there, and the attackers must cut inside to receive and to finish; both must touch the ball before shooting. If the defenders win the ball, they can shoot directly wherever they recover the possession.
Variations
• Fix a limit of time to build up and to finish the attacking phases
• If the defenders win the ball, they must combine inside the finishing areas before shooting
Eye on: quick build up and finishing, finish overcoming an opponents, move off the ball.
Exercise 24: 3 v 1 to build up and 3 v 3 to finish
Sequence
A rectangular area is divided into three areas; a lower and horizontal one to build up and two upper ones to finish. A fourth space is marked in front of the goal, where anyone can run inside, as only the goalkeeper can be active there. A 3 v 1 duel is played inside the lower area to build up (one player is placed on the lower line and two on the outer lines) after the pass of the goalkeeper; at least one wall passing combination is required before playing forward inside the finishing areas. A 3 v 3 duel is played there, as the attackers must cut inside to receive and to finish and they are helped by the link teammate in the middle; all them must touch the ball before shooting. A third defender is then added to create momentary numerical advantages 2 v 1 during the defense phase, inside the area where the ball is being played. If the defenders win the ball, they can shoot directly wherever they recover the possession.
Variations
• Fix a limit of time to build up and to finish the attacking phases
• If the defenders win the ball, they must combine, playing 3 v 3 inside the finishing areas before shooting within 8"
Eye on: quick build up and finishing, finish after fast passing combination, quick counter attacks.
Exercise 25: 2 v 1 to build up and 4 v 3 to finish
Sequence
A rectangular area is divided into three areas; a lower and horizontal one to build up and two upper ones to finish. A fourth space is marked in front of the goal, where anyone can run inside, as only the goalkeeper can be active there. A 2 v 1 duel is played inside the lower area to build up after the pass of the goalkeeper. A 4 v 3 duel is played inside the finishing areas; two one 1 v 1 duels with a third defender to create momentary numerical advantages 2 v 1 during the defense phase, inside the area where the ball is being played and two more lower and upper attacking players in the center. At least one wall passing combination is required before switching the finishing area, while the two players off the ball must exchange their positions. After these combinations, the move can be finished. If the defenders win the ball, they can shoot directly wherever they recover the possession.
Variations
• Fix a limit of time to finish the attacking phases
• If the defenders win the ball, they must combine, playing 3 v 4 inside the finishing areas
• Ask the players different rotations of positions
Eye on: quick build up and finishing, finish after fast passing combination, quick counter attacks, timing of runs and rotations off the ball.
Three grids Rondos (2)
Exercise 26: 4 v 2 to build up and 2 v 3 to finish - Counter attack or switch the roles
Sequence
A rectangular area is divided into three areas; a lower and horizontal one to build up and two upper ones to finish. A 4 v 2 duel is played inside the lower area to build up after the pass of the goalkeeper. A 2 v 3 outnumbered duel is played inside the finishing areas; two one 1 v 1 duels with a third defender to create momentary numerical advantages 2 v 1 during the defense phase, inside the area where the ball is being played. At least one wall passing combination is required before switching the side of play and of attack. After these combinations, the move can be finished.
If one defender of the lower area wins the ball, they can shoot directly wherever they recover the possession.
If one defender of the finishing area win the possession, he must pass the ball back to build up again, as he become immediately a possession player and his direct opponent becomes defender
Variations
• Fix a limit of time to finish the attacking phases
• Switch the roles and the positions of five players when one defender wins the ball inside the finishing area.
• Ask the players different rotations of positions
• Counter attack within 6" if the ball is won inside the building up area
Eye on: quick build up and finishing, finish after fast passing combination, quick counter attacks, timing of runs and rotations off the ball, switch the roles as transition phase
Four grids Rondos
Exercise 27: 3 + 1 v 1 and 1 + 1 v 1
Sequence
A wide rectangular area is divided vertically into four numbered areas; two goals with goalkeepers are placed at the outer corners of the center areas 1 and 2. Even and odd numbered areas are alternated. Black and yellow players are placed alternately along the lines of the set-up as in the picture; two center players has the possession and a neutral player is placed in the middle. The coach decides where the sequence starts, calling the player in possession who must pass the ball to the goalkeeper. As the zone 1 is indicated, a 3 + 1 v 1 duel is created to build up, alternating forward and backward passing sequence, to switch the side and to finish inside the zone 2 with a cross pass from the zone 3. A 1 v 1 duel is played inside the first finishing area. The main goal is to alternate the areas after the building up phase, playing out and then inside to finish.
If the defender of the 1 v 1 duel in the zone 2 wins the ball, the side of play must be switched and the yellow team must finish inside the zone 1 with a cross pass from the zone 4.
Variation:
• The neutral player must be served while counter attacking when the ball is recovered
Eye on: quick build, alternate the areas of the set up to finish and shoot, quick counter attacks switching the side of play.
Exercise 28: 3 + 1 v 1 and 2 v 1 duels to counter attack
Sequence
This is a variation of the previous exercise. The first part of the sequence is the same as well as the objectives for the team in possession.
If the defending team wins the possession, all the players must touch the ball to switch the side and to finish; 2 v 1 duels are then played inside the center areas 1 and 2. The goals are valid only after a final cross pass as in the picture.
Eye on: create numerical advantage and switch the side to counter attack
Six grids Rondos
Exercise 29: 3 v 3 + 4 to exploit the half spaces (1)
Sequence
A wide rectangular area is divided vertically into six areas; two goals with goalkeepers are placed in the center of the longer sides. 3 black possession players are placed inside the first, the third and the fifth grid from the left, as well as the three defenders. Four neutral players are supports for the team in possession; two of them are placed wide and fixed and the other two can move freely all over the space.
The goal for the team in possession is to pass the ball through the grid among them and to receive the passes from the neutral player inside a different space. The passes must be alternated as much as possible and the last pass before shooting must come from a neutral player.
If the defenders win the possession, they must counter attack using the half spaces.
Variation:
• If the defenders win the possession, they must counter attack through the opposite side
Eye on: change the space every pass, move among the different spaces to create scoring chance for the teammates
Exercise 30: 3 v 3 + 4 to exploit the half spaces (2)
Sequence
A wide rectangular area is divided vertically into six areas; two goals with goalkeepers are placed in the center of the longer sides. 3 black possession players are placed inside the first, the third and the fifth grid as well as the three defenders. Four neutral players are supports for the team in possession; they are placed and fixed at the corners of the second and of the fifth grid from the left.
The goal for the team in possession is to pass the ball through the grids and among them and the neutral players with triangle passing combinations. The passes must be alternated as much as possible and always received inside a different space; the last pass before shooting must come from a neutral player.
If the defenders win the ball, they must play the same way toward the opposite goal.
Eye on: change the space every pass, exploit the space while receiving a pass
