The 6v3 Rondo to Fit the Four Phases of your Game Model
Rondos notoriously have been somewhat of a contentious part of soccer training in revent years, with many feeling strongly one way or another about them. Taking the positives and negatives into consideration, I believe the coach needs to make sure that there is a purpose behind them to have them executed correctly. If not they are nothing more than mindless possession or pressing.
One of the reasons I like the 6v3 Rondo is that it can work on all 4 moments of the game. As you see below in Figure 1 there are 3 teams of 3 within the Rond square. I like to use this as an activation that focuses on attacking and defensive transitions.The two colors on the outside keep possession against the 3 yellows on the outside and try to complete 6 passes. If they do successfully the team in the middle owes 6 pushups. If one of the teams loses possession (lets say white) via an interception or unforced error, all 3 players must go in the middle and switch with the defensive team. This should create a high intensity environment to start off your rondos.
- Note if you would like to make it more intense you can have the player who lost possession have to chase the ball if it is an unforced error
If you would like to work on defensive principles, most notable pressing, I would create a target the defense has to defend while also preventing possession on the outside.I really like to focus on Pressure, Cover, Balance as a theme during this time. Figure 2 below. The setup will be exactly the same as the previous Rondo, with the exception of a mannequin and the defense will be in for a 5 minute shift. The goal for the offense is to either get 8 connected passes or to hit the mannequin in the middle. If they are able to do either they get a point. If they can do both within the same sequence the defense will owe 5 pushups and they will get 3 points. This will require the defense to press but also communicate their pressure,cover, and balance principles. The point system allows for a great competition.
If you would like to work on in possession principles you can progress to the setup in Figure 3 below. Instead of the mannequin below one player will be in the middle. Now the offensive team will be required to hit 6 passes in a row, but one of the 6 has to hit the player in the middle. They may also hit 12 in a row for a point if the defense sits back. This will require your offensive players to possess the ball, but add the purpose of a line-breaking pass.
The last variation will incorporate all of our concepts into 1. It will be the same setup as Figure 3, but Figure 4 below will add pug goals to all 4 corners (where the offensive team is not allowed to be positioned. The offensive team has the same goals but now if defense steals it they can shoot it in one of the pug goals immediately. If they do, the offensive team now owes pushups and loses a point!
- Note you can use this progression from the setup provided in Figure 2 or 3!
