WORLD CLASS COACHING
30 Finishing Rondos
By Luca Bertolini
Table of Contents
PART THREE
TWO-GRID RONDOS
Two-Grid Rondos
Exercise 16: Alternate 2 + 1 v 1 duels or 3 + 1 v 2 transition duel
Sequence
A rectangular area is divided into two numbered zones vertically (1 and 2) and two goals with goalkeepers are placed on the opposite shorter sides and corners. Two players (one black and one yellow) are placed on the middle line along the shorter sides and they are in possession. One black player is placed along the longer side of the zone 1 as well as a yellow one on the opposite area and side; one yellow player and a black one are placed in the middle of both the zones 1 and 2. A neutral player is placed in the middle.
The coach calls the player who must start the sequence (the black one in the picture) and he passes the ball to the outer teammate (on the left); a 2 + 1 v 1 duel is now created inside the zone 1. The goal is to score after a 1 -2 combination to build up and a pass behind the defender played by the neutral player toward the outer black one.
As the first sequence ends, the yellow player starts a second phase with alternate roles inside the zone number 2. The yellow team attacks 2 + 1 v 1 to score in the opposite goal together with the neutral player, who turned his position in the middle and against the black defender.
If the defender recovers the possession, like the black one in the picture, he must switch the side of play toward the other zone (num. 1 in the picture), passing the ball back to the lower teammate. A 3 + 1 v 2 is now played with the black players and the neutral one against the center defender and a second yellow player who runs inside to defend the goal. The player who recovered the possession must finish the move.
Variations
• Fix a limit of time to finish he attacking phases
• Limit the number of touches during the possession phases
• The neutral player becomes defender during the transition phase creating a 3 v 3 duel
• If the defender recovers the possession a 3 v 2 + 1 duel can be played all over the main area.
Eye on: quick build up and finishing, quick transition play to switch the side, cover the goal space to prevent the opponents from shooting.
Exercise 17: 4 + 1 v 1 - Switch the side and finish
Sequence
A rectangular area is divided into two numbered zones vertically (1 and 2) and two goals with goalkeepers are placed on the opposite shorter sides and corners. Two players (one black and one yellow) are placed on the middle line along the shorter sides and they are in possession; two more on the lower side of each half, like in the picture. Two black players are placed along the longer side of the zones 1 and 2; two yellow players are placed in the middle of both the zones. A neutral player is placed in the middle.
The black the player in possession must start the sequence and he passes the ball to the goalkeeper to build up and to switch the side through the neutral player (on the left), playing 3 + 1 v 1. The objective is to score after a 1 v 1 duel (inside the zone num. 2), receiving a pass played by the neutral player behind the defender.
As the first sequence ends, the yellow player in possession starts a second phase with alternate roles inside the zone number 2. The yellow team attacks 3 + 1 v 1 to build up and to score in the opposite goal, after a second 1 v 1 duel and the final pass of the neutral player, who turned the position.
If the defender recovers the possession, like the black one in the picture, he must switch the side of play toward the other zone (num. 1 in the picture), passing the ball back to the lower teammate. A 3 + 1 v 2 is now played with the black players (a third one drop back from the opposite zone) and the neutral one, against the center defender and center yellow player who runs inside from the opposite zone. The scores count only if all the attacking players have touched the ball before finishing and if the scorer receives as third man
Variations
• Fix a limit of time to finish the attacking phases
• Limit the number of touches during the possession phases
• The neutral player becomes defender during the transition phase creating a 3 v 3 duel
• If the defender recovers the possession a 4 v 4 + 1 duel can be played all over the main area.
Eye on: quick build up and finishing, quick transition play to switch the side, cover the goal space to prevent the opponents from shooting.
Exercise 18: Double 2 + 1 v 2 - Switch the side.
Sequence
A rectangular area is divided into two numbered zones vertically (1 and 2) and two goals with goalkeepers are placed on the opposite shorter sides and corners. Four black players are placed along the longer sides of the main area and on the free sides beside the goals; one of these last two is in possession. Four yellow defenders (two inside each zone) are placed in the middle. A neutral player is placed along the middle line.
The black player in possession must start the sequence and he passes the ball to the goalkeeper to build up and to switch the side through the neutral player (from the left to the right), playing 2 + 1 v 1 on both the halves field. The objective is to score moving the ball among the outer black players and "using" the neutral one as link player.
A first 2 + 1 v 1 duels is played inside the zone to build up and inside the zone 2 to finish.
If a defender recovers the possession, like the yellow one in the picture, he must pass toward the teammate inside the same zone, before switching the side of play toward the other zone (num.1 in the picture). A 2 + 1 v 2 possession phase to finish is now played.
Variations
• Fix a limit of time to finish the attacking phases and the transition to possession phases
• The neutral player becomes defender during the transition phase creating a 2 v 3 duel with an outnumbered counter attacking team
• If a defender recovers the possession a 4 v 4 + 1 duel can be played all over the main area.
Eye on: quick build up and finishing, quick transition play to switch the side, cover the goal space to prevent the opponents from shooting.
Two grids Rondos (2)
Exercise 19: 2 v 1 to build up and 1 + 1 v 1 to finish
Sequence
A rectangular area is divided into two areas horizontally and a goal with goalkeeper is placed on the upper shorter sides. Three black players are placed along the longer sides of the main area and on the lower one. Two yellow defenders (one inside each zone) are placed in the middle. A neutral player is placed near the middle line. The goalkeeper is in possession and he starts the sequence, passing the ball to the lower vertex, who decides where to move (on the right in the picture). The outer possession players must run up and down the lines to receive the ball and then to switch the side of play (from the right to the left in the picture) behind the first defender. The defender can choose to put pressure or to close the passing lane. The neutral player must now run inside the finishing area to shoot with one touch, receiving the pass from the second outer black player. The defender can choose to put pressure or to close the goal space. If a defender wins the ball, he can shoot directly.
Variations
• Fix a limit of time to finish the attacking phases
• The first defender can run inside the upper area to support the teammate
• The defenders must combine before shooting under pressure of the opponents
Eye on: quick build up and finishing, cover the passing lanes or the goal space.
Exercise 20: 3 v 1 to build up and 2 (1+1) v 3 to finish
Sequence
A rectangular area is divided into two areas horizontally and two goals with goalkeepers are placed on the upper and lower shorter sides. A 3 v 1 duel is played inside the lower area to build up after the pass of the goalkeeper; at least one wall passing combination is required before playing forward to the neutral player on the middle line. As the red neutral player receives, a 2 (1+1) v 3 duel is played inside the finishing area to shoot on goal. If the defenders win the ball, a 4 v 4 + 1 free duel is played to counter attack toward the opposite goal.
Variations
• Fix a limit of time to build up and to finish the attacking phases
• A passing combination with the neutral player is required before shooting
• If the defenders win the ball, they must build up 3 v 1 and finish 2 (1+1) v 3
Eye on: quick build up and finishing, finish outnumbered, fast counter attack.
Exercise 21: 4 v 2 to build up and 2 (1+1) v 2 to finish
Sequence
A rectangular area is divided into two areas horizontally and two goals with goalkeepers are placed on the upper and lower shorter sides. A 4 v 2 duel is played inside the lower area to build up after the pass of the goalkeeper; at least one wall passing combination and a switch of the side are required before playing forward to the neutral player on the middle line. As the red neutral player receives, a 2 v 2 duel is played inside the finishing area to shoot on goal after a passing combination and within 10"-12"; if the forwards can't finish, the defenders win the possession.
If the defenders win the ball, a 4 v 5 duel is played to counter attack toward the opposite goal; the yellow player must act inside their areas.
Variations
• Fix a limit of time to build up
• A passing combination with the neutral player is required before shooting
• If the defenders win the ball, they must build up 2 v 2 and finish 4 v 4 as the space limits are unlocked just after the first forward pass
• If the defenders win the ball, they play 5 (4+1) v 5 to counter attack
Eye on: move the opposition while building up, quick finishing with equal number of players, fast counter attack.
Exercise 22: 4 v 2 to build up and 3 (2+1) v 2 to finish
Sequence
A rectangular area is divided into two areas horizontally and two goals with goalkeepers are placed on the upper and lower shorter sides. A 4 v 2 duel is played inside the lower area to build up after the pass of the goalkeeper; at least one wall passing combination and a switch of the side are required before playing forward to the neutral player on the middle line. As the red neutral player receives, a 3 (2+1) v 2 duel is played inside the finishing area to shoot on goal after a passing combination with a third man who is running up and within 8"; if the forwards can't finish, the defenders win the possession. If the defenders win the ball, a 4 v 5 duel is played to counter attack toward the opposite goal; the yellow player must act inside their areas.
Variations
• Fix a limit of time to build up
• A passing combination with the neutral player is required before shooting
• If the defenders win the ball, they must build up 2 v 2 and finish 4 v 4 as the space limits are unlocked just after the first forward pass
• If the defenders win the ball, they play 5 (4+1) v 5 to counter attack
Eye on: move the opposition while building up, quick finishing with equal number of players, fast counter attack.
