WORLD CLASS COACHING
35 Possession Rondos
By Luca Bertolini
Table of Contents
TWO-GRID RONDOS
PART FOUR
THREE-GRID RONDOS
FOUR-GRID RONDOS
Three Grid Rondos
Exercise 23: 6 v 4 to play forward and backward moving the ball around (1)
Sequence
The playing space is divided into three areas; one horizontal lower area and two upper and vertical ones. Three black players are placed along the borders of the lower area and two defenders are inside it. Two other black players are placed along the outer lines of the two vertical areas; the last possession player is placed on the upper line of the set-up. Two defenders are inside the upper areas.
The objective for the players in possession is to play a wall passing combination on one side of the lower area (on the left in the picture) and then to switch the side (on the right) against two defenders who are pressing.
As the ball can be played forward, forward and backward passing combinations must be played to complete the sequence and to start again, thanks to an inside cut of an outer player.
The defenders are asked to put pressure on the black players inside the lower area and to close the passing lanes if they are placed inside the upper areas.
Eye on: Quick side, forward and backward passing combinations. Close the passing lanes.
Exercise 24: 6 v 4 to play forward and backward moving the ball around (2)
Sequence
The set-up is the same of the previous exercise.
The objective for the players in possession is to move the ball around along one side from the lower area (on the left in the picture) against two defenders who are pressing.
As the ball can be played forward, a backward pass must be played to complete the sequence and to start again, thanks to an inside cut of an outer player.
Every sequence shall be completed within 10"-12".
The defenders are asked to put pressure on the black players inside the lower area and to close the passing lanes if they are placed inside the upper areas.
Eye on: Quick side, forward and backward passing combinations. Close the passing lanes.
Exercise 25: 6 v 3 (+/- 1) to play forward and backward moving the ball around
Sequence
The playing space is divided into three areas; one horizontal lower area and two upper and vertical ones. Two black players are placed along the end line of the lower area, one neutral player and one defender are inside it. Four other black players are placed along the outer lines of the two vertical areas. Two defenders are inside the upper areas.
The objective for the players in possession is to move the ball around on one side from the lower area (on the right in the picture) against two defenders who are pressing. The neutral player is a defender during the first 5"-6"; after this time, the neutral player becomes attacker and a 3 v 1 duel is created.
As the ball can be played behind the defender/s, forwards and backwards passing combinations must be played to complete the sequence.
Every sequence shall be completed within 10"-12".
The defenders are asked to put pressure on the black players inside the lower area and to close the passing lanes if they are placed inside the upper areas.
Eye on: Quick side, forward and backward passing combinations. Close the passing lanes.
Exercise 26: 6 v 4 to play forward and backward moving the ball around
Sequence
The set-up is the same of the previous exercise. There are two defenders inside the lower area and four other players are placed along the outer borderlines of the upper areas
The objective for the players in possession is to move the ball along one side from the lower area (on the left in the picture) against two defenders who are pressing, passing the ball behind them toward the center player.
As the ball can be played forward, a backward pass must be played to complete the sequence and to start again, thanks to an inside cut of an opposite outer player.
Every sequence shall be completed within 10"-12".
The defenders are asked to put pressure on the black player inside the lower area and to close the passing lanes if they are placed inside the upper areas.
Eye on: Quick sideways, forward, and backward passing combinations. Pressure when playing 2 v 2. Close the passing lanes.
Exercise 27: 7 v 4 to play forward and backward moving the ball around
Sequence
The playing space is divided into three areas; one horizontal lower area and two upper and vertical ones. Two black players are placed along the end line of the lower area and two defenders are inside it. Five other players are placed along the outer borderlines of the upper areas.
The objective for the players in possession is to move the ball forward along one side from the lower area (on the right in the picture) against two defenders who are pressing, passing the ball behind them toward the center player.
As the ball can be played forward, a diagonal forward and backward passing combination must be played to complete the sequence and to start again. One defender can run inside the upper areas where the ball is being played, to create momentary 3 v 2 duels. Every sequence shall be completed within 10"-12".
The defenders are asked to put pressure on the black players inside the lower area and where they can play as couple and to close the passing lanes if they are placed alone inside the upper areas.
Eye on: Quick side, forward and backward passing combinations. Pressure when playing 2 v 2. Close the passing lanes.
Exercise 28: 8 v 4 to play forward and backward moving the ball around
Sequence
The playing space is divided into three areas: one horizontal lower area and two upper and vertical ones. Two black players are placed along the end line of the lower area and two defenders are inside it. Six other players are placed along the outer borderlines of the upper areas.
The objective for the players in possession is to move the ball forward along one side from the lower area (on the right in the picture) against two defenders who are pressing, passing the ball behind them toward the center player of one of the upper areas.
As the ball can be played forward, a diagonal forward and backward passing combination must be played to complete the sequence and to start again. One defender can run inside the upper areas where the ball is being played, to create momentary 3 v 2 duels. Every sequence shall be completed within 8"-10".
The defenders are asked to put pressure on the black players inside the lower area and where they can play as couple and to close the passing lanes if they are placed alone inside the upper areas.
Eye on: Quick side, forward and backward passing combinations. Pressure when playing 2 v 2. Close the passing lanes.
Four Grids Rondos
Exercise 29: 8 v 4 to play vertical or diagonal passes
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 defenders can decide to put pressure against the player of the area or to close the passing lanes.
Eye on: Accurate passing, play with one or two touches. Intercept the passes.
Exercise 30: 8 + 2 v 4 to play quick passing combination and vertical passes
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. Two neutral players are free to move among the squares to create momentary 3 v 1 duels.
The ball must be passed among the outside players and through the areas without being played side by side horizontally. Every time the ball is received inside an area, a passing combination to find a third man together with a neutral player must be played, before being passed toward another square.
If a pass is sent toward another area, two touches are allowed. The passing combinations inside the same area should be played with one touch.
The defenders can decide to put pressure against the neutral players or to close the passing lanes.
Eye on: Accurate and quick passing, play with one or two touches. Intercept the passes.
Exercise 31: 8 + 1 v 4 to play quick passing combinations and vertical passes
Sequence
The set-up is the same of the previous exercise, but only one neutral player is placed on the center corner of the squares to create momentary 3 v 1 duels.
The ball must be passed among the outside players and through the areas without being played side by side horizontally. Every time the ball is received inside an area, a passing combination to find a third man together with the center neutral player must be played, before being passed toward another square.
If a pass is sent toward another area, two touches are allowed. The passing combinations inside the same area and with the center neutral player should be played with one touch.
The defenders can decide to put pressure against the outer players or to close the passing lanes.
Eye on: Accurate and quick passing, play with one or two touches. Intercept the passes.
Exercise 32: 8 + 1 v 5 to play quick passing combinations and vertical passes
Sequence
The set-up is the same of the previous exercise; one neutral player is placed on the center corner of the squares to create momentary 3 v 1 duels. A fifth defender is now active and free to move to create 3 v 2 duels inside the squares.
The ball must be passed among the outside players and through the areas without being played side by side horizontally. Every time the ball is received inside an area, a passing combination to find a third man together with the center neutral player must be played, before being passed toward another square.
If a pass is send toward another area, two touches are allowed. The passing combinations inside the same area and with the center neutral player should be played with one touch.
The defenders can decide to put pressure against the outer players, to double the mark against the neutral player or to close the passing lanes.
Eye on: Accurate and quick passing, play with one or two touches. Intercept the passes or anticipate the neutral player.
Exercise 33: 10 v 4 to play with the third man
Sequence
The playing space is divided into four squares. Two black players are placed along the outer end lines of all the squares and two more are placed along two inside vertical lines as in the picture. Four defenders are free to press as couple inside the squares, creating momentary 3 v 2 duels.
The ball must be passed among the outside players and through the areas without being played side by side horizontally. Every time the ball is received inside an area, a passing combination to find a third man together with the inside teammates must be played, before being passed toward another square.
If a pass is sent toward another area, two touches are allowed. The passing combinations inside the same area should be played with one touch.
The defenders can decide to put pressure against the center players or to close the passing lanes. If they win the ball, they change the position with the couple of players of the area where the wrong pass comes from or where the ball control was wrong.
Eye on: Accurate and quick passing, play with one or two touches. Intercept the passes. Press the opposition with the right timing.
Exercise 34: 10 v 6 to play with the third man
Sequence
The set-up is the same of the previous exercise, but six defenders are free to move creating 3 v 2 duels where the ball is played and 3 v 1 duels off the ball.
The ball must be passed among the outside players and through the areas without being played side by side horizontally. Every time the ball is received inside an area, a passing combination to find a third man together with the inside teammates must be played, before being passed toward another square.
If a pass is sent toward another area, two touches are allowed. The passing combinations inside the same area should be played with one touch.
The defenders can decide to put pressure against the center players or to close the passing lanes. If they win the ball, they change the position with the couple of players of the area where the wrong pass comes from or where the ball control was wrong.
Eye on: Accurate and quick passing, play with one or two touches. Intercept the passes. Press the opposition with the right timing.
Exercise 35: 10 v 6 to switch the side and to play forward and backward passing combinations.
Sequence
The set-up is the same of the previous exercise, but two black players are placed on the center lines horizontally and turned toward the upper areas. And again six defenders are free to move creating 3 v 2 duels where the ball is played and 3 v 1 duels off the ball.
The ball must be passed among the outside lower players, switching the side (from the left to the right in the picture). As the ball is played inside an upper area, forward and backward combinations must be played to move the ball.
The defenders can decide to put pressure against the center players or to close the passing lanes. If they win the ball, they change the position with the couple of players of the area where the wrong pass comes from or where the ball control was wrong.
Eye on: Accurate and quick passing, oriented control, play with one or two touches. Intercept the passes. Press the opposition with the right timing.
