WORLD CLASS COACHING
30 Transition Rondos
By Luca Bertolini
Table of Contents
PART FOUR
FOUR-GRID RONDOS
Four-Grid Rondos
Exercise 28: 8 v 4 and 4 v 4 transition with alternate directions
Sequence
The playing space is divided into four squares. Two black players are placed along the outer end lines of all the squares and one defender is placed inside each square.
The ball must be passed among the outside players and through the areas without being played side by side horizontally. One player on the lower line of the set up must pass the ball to a teammate on the upper areas or to the teammate close to him, but diagonally.
If a pass is sent toward another area, two touches are allowed; if a pass is sent to the closest teammate, it has to be played with one touch.
The starting direction of play is vertical; from the bottom to the top of the set-up.
The defenders are asked to close the passing lanes rather than to put pressure against the players of the area, as they are outnumbered 1 v 2 inside all the squares.
Transitions
Tta: when one defender wins the ball, wherever the ball is won, he must play a pass to depth black player or a to a wide player depending on which was the direction of the intercepted pass. If a pass was a wide pass, the first one after the interception must be a deep pass and vice versa. The direction of play is now wide; from the right to the left playing a 4 v 4 duel.
Ttd: the deep or wide black players must move inside the upper areas (one inside each zone) to become defenders. If the defenders must be wide or deep black players, it depends on the direction of the last pass.
Tta - 2: if the defenders win the ball again, the sequence starts as the first one.
Eye on: close the passing lanes, quick reactions to understand the direction on play.
Exercise 29: Alternate 4 v 4 + 6
Sequence
The playing space is divided into four squares. One black player is placed along the outer and the end lines of the main square alternately as in the picture. Four neutral players cover the free sides. One defender is placed inside each square. Two more neutral players are free to move among the squares to create 3 v 1 duels.
The ball must be passed among the areas alternating the passes among the black players and the neutral ones.
If a pass is sent toward another area, two touches are allowed; if a pass is sent to the center free player, it has to be played with one touch.
The starting direction of play is vertical; from the bottom to the top of the set-up.
The defenders are asked to close the passing lanes among the areas, rather than to put pressure against the players of the area, as they are outnumbered 1 v 3 inside all the squares.
Transitions
Tta: when one defender wins the ball, wherever the ball is won, he must play a pass toward the nearest neutral player to save the possession. The passing sequences must now be played alternating inside and outside passes and among the yellow players, who are now place wide and the neutral players. A second 4 v 4 + 6 duel is now played. The passing sequence must be played with one touch.
Ttd: the black players must move inside (one inside each zone) to become defenders. If the defenders must be wide or deep black players depend on the direction of the last pass.
Tta - 2: if the defenders win the ball again, the sequence starts as the first one, exchanging the position with the outer neutral players.
Eye on: close the passing lanes, quick reactions to rotate the positions, play fast passing combinations.
Exercise 30: Alternate 6 v 6 + 4
Sequence
The playing space is divided into four squares. Four black players are placed along the wide lines of the main square as in the picture. Two more are placed along the middle line. Four neutral players are placed on the lower and upper lines of the square. One defender is placed inside each square and two more can help the teammates to create 3 v 2 duels inside the square where the ball is and inside the nearest and most dangerous one.
The ball must be passed among the areas alternating the passes; every two passes between the possession players, a neutral player must be served.
If a pass is sent toward a neutral player two touches are allowed; if a pass is played between the possession players only, one touch is allowed.
The goal is to complete all the sequences inside each area.
The defenders are asked to close the passing lanes among the areas if they are playing outnumbered 3 v 1, and than to put pressure against the possession players if they are playing 3 v 2.
Transitions
Tta: when one defender wins the ball, wherever the ball is won, he must play a pass toward the nearest neutral player to save the possession.
The passing sequences must now be played alternating inside and outside passes and among the yellow players, who are now place wide and along the middle line, and the neutral players. A second 4 v 4 + 6 duel is now played. The passing sequence must be played with one touch. The middle players are along the horizontal line and not along the vertical ones as before.
Ttd: the black players must move inside (one inside each zone) to become defenders and two others must double the teammate inside the area where the ball is and inside the most dangerous one.
Tta - 2: if the defenders win the ball again, the sequence starts as the first one.
Eye on: close the passing lanes, double the teammates to defend, play fast passing combinations.
