WORLD CLASS COACHING
From Rondos to Real Games
By Luca Bertolini
Table of Contents
PART FOUR
TRAINING SESSIONS - ATTACKING
Training session 8: Play wide to open center spaces
Small-sided possession game: 4 v 4 + 1 and goalkeeper
Sequence
Two teams of four players each are placed inside a rectangular set-up, with a center area and two outer ones. Two black players and two yellows are placed in the middle area; two players of each team are placed inside the right or the left sides of the set-up. The goalkeeper, who is placed on the lower end line, starts the sequence passing the ball to the center neutral player. As he receives, he decides who is the team in possession (the black one in the picture). The goal for the team in possession is to play wide to create a 3 v 2 duel on the flank where two possession players are placed (two yellow defenders can run out there); this way the center spaces should be opened for the fourth possession player, who can receive and pass back to the goalkeeper, to win 1 point and to start the sequence again. If the defenders win the ball, they must switch the side and keep the ball in a 4 + 1 v 4 duel.
Variations
• The sequence can be completed if all the possession players have touched the ball
• The outside players must keep the ball for a fix limit of time before passing it toward the center
Eye on: create a strong side, cover the weak side even if outnumbered, free the third man in the center.
Rondo: 3 v 3 + 4
Sequence
Two teams of three players each are placed inside a rectangular set-up, with a center area and two outer ones. All the black and yellow players are placed in the middle area, together with the first neutral one. Two neutral players are placed inside the right or the left sides of the set-up and the fourth one, the goalkeeper, is placed out of the lower end line. The goalkeeper decides who is the team in possession (the black one in the picture), and the goal is to play wide to create a 3 (2 + 1) v 2 duel on a flank, where two black players must run to (two yellow defender can run out there also). This way the center spaces should be opened for a third man, who can receive from the center neutral player and dribble out to win 1 point for his team. If the defenders win the ball, they must switch the side and try to play the same way, to dribble the ball out with a third center man.
Variations
• The sequence can be completed if all the center possession players have touched the ball, before passing wide
• The ball must be kept on the flank for a fix limit of time, before passing it toward the center
Eye on: create a strong side, cover the weak side even if outnumbered, free the third man in the center, switch the side to save the recovered ball.
Positional game: 3 v 3 + 4 and goalkeeper
Sequence
Three teams of three players each are placed inside a rectangular set-up, with a center area and two outer ones; a goal with a goalkeeper is placed on the upper end line of the set-up. A black center midfielder and the right and left midfielders of the black team, a center defender and the center forward of the neutral team are placed inside the center area, against three defenders; the left and the right forwards, as part of the neutral team, are placed wide on the flanks. The goalkeeper passes the ball to the center defender who decides the team in possession (the black one in the picture). A 3 v 2 duel is then created inside one flank (the left one in the picture); the center midfielder must support the left midfielder and forward against two defenders; the goal is to free the opposite midfielder, thanks to the moves of the neutral center forward, who must open the spaces in the center. If the defenders win the ball, a 3 + 2 v 3 duel is played in the center part of the set-up to finish, after a passing sequence with the neutral player.
Eye on: create a strong side, cover the weak side even if outnumbered, free the third man in the center, drop back to create space, switch the side to save the recovered ball.
Transition: 3 v 3 + 4 and goalkeeper
If the defenders win the ball, they must create the same situation on the opposite side, building up again from the center defender of the neutral team.
Training session 9: Play wide to open center spaces and to finish
Small-sided possession game: 5 + 1 v 3
Two playing areas are marked with a center space and a flank, the left one in the picture, and all the field players are divided into two groups, working separately. A 5 + 1 v 3 duel is played inside both the spaces; the move starts from the center defender of the other half of the pitch, who passes the ball wide to create a strong side on the flank. The goal for the team in possession is to play wide first, thanks to the neutral player; as a strong side is created, center spaces shall be opened where a 4 + 1 v 3 duel must be carried out to keep the possession for a fix limit of time; after this period, the team wins 1 point. If the defenders win the ball, a free 3 + 1 v 4 duel starts to keep the possession for a fix limit of time to gain 1 point in the center part of the set-up.
Variations
• If the defenders win the possession, all the other team must create a strong area on the ball to put pressure and to recover it back; a 3 + 1 v 5 duel is now played
• Create a required pattern of play along the flank before passing the ball toward the center
Eye on: play wide to free a teammate, create a strong area to play wide, open the center spaces, cover the weak side, keep the balance is outnumbered.
Rondo: 4 + 2 v 3 with goalkeepers
Two goals with the goalkeepers are now added on the end lines of the marked playing areas. A 4 + 2 v 3 duel is played inside both the spaces; the move starts from the goalkeeper of the other half of the pitch, who passes the ball wide to create a strong side on the flank. The goal for the team in possession is to play wide first, thanks to the first neutral player; as a strong side is created, center spaces shall be opened where a 3 + 1 v 3 duel must be carried out to finish through the second free player, who is placed on the sideline of the set-up; if the possession team scores, 1 point is won. Both the neutral players must be part of the move, to play out in one side and then to finish in middle. If the defenders win the ball, a free 3 + 2 v 4 duels starts to keep the possession for a fix limit of time to gain 1 point in the center part of the set-up and to put pressure to recover the ball by the new defending team.
Variations
• If the defenders win the possession, both the other teams must create a strong area on the ball to put pressure and to recover it back; a 4 + 2 v 3 duel is now played
• Create a required pattern of play along the flank before passing the ball toward the center
Eye on: play wide to free a teammate, create a strong area to play wide, open the center spaces, cover the weak side, keep the balance if outnumbered.
Positional game: 3 v 3 + 4 and goalkeeper
In this positional game on the same set-up, a 3 + 3 v 3 with goalkeeper duel is played. The exercise is played alternately on the set-ups. The neutral players are the center midfielder, the left midfielder (or the right one if the direction of play would be on the other flank) and the right forward. The goals of the exercise are the same of the prior ones, but the goals worth only if the center midfielder, who is a support player, is able to open the center space and to pass the ball to the wide forward on the sideline of the set-up. A possession player must be the scorer. If the defenders win the ball, they switch side and set-up, passing the ball to their teammates, to start the same sequence on the other side. If a goal is scored or the move ends, the other goalkeeper starts a new sequence.
Variations
• If the defenders win the possession, both the other teams must create a strong area on the ball to put pressure and to recover it back; a 2 + 3 v 3 duel is now played
• Create a required pattern of play along the flank before passing the ball toward the center
Eye on: play wide to free a teammate, create a strong area to play wide, open the center spaces, cover the weak side, keep the balance if outnumbered.
Transition: 3 + 1 v 5
If the defenders win the ball, the center midfielder becomes their teammate to counter attack along the flank and to score in the wide mini goal. The left midfielder and the right forward become teammates of the new defending team for a counter pressing phase, to recover the ball.
Training session 10: Play behind the last opposition defense line
Small-sided possession game: 4 + 1 v 4
Sequence
Two teams of four players each are placed inside a rectangular set-up; a neutral player is a support for the team in possession. The goal is to shape lines of 3 on the pitch and toward any direction, behind the center neutral player, and to play forward on the run of the fourth teammate through him. If the defenders win the ball they must play the same way.
Variations
• The sequence can be completed if all the possession players have touched the ball
• If the defenders win the ball, they must keep the possession outnumbered 4 v 4 + 1
Eye on: overcome a defense line, free from the marker behind him, keep the possession.
Rondo: 3 + 2 v 4 with goalkeeper
Sequence
Two teams of three and four players each are placed inside the same rectangular set-up; two neutral players are supports for the team in possession. The goal is to shape a line of 3 on the lower part of the pitch, to play forward on the run of the third man through the first neutral player and to free the second neutral player among the defenders to score. If the defenders win the ball they must keep the possession against the three black players, as a 4 v 3 duel is created; the two neutral players aren't active in this phase.
Variations
• If the defenders win the ball, they must keep the possession with numerical advantage 3 + 2 v 4
• If the defenders win the ball, the neutral players support the black ones to organize a counter pressing phase
Eye on: overcome a defense line, free for the marker behind him, timing of runs without the ball.
Gdp: 3 + 2 v 4 with goalkeeper
Sequence
Two teams of three and four players each are placed inside the same rectangular set-up; two neutral players are supports for the team in possession and they play as center midfielder and center forward. Both the neutral players must be unmarked in the center, running from the opposite sidelines, as in the picture. The goal is to shape a line of 3 on the lower part of the pitch, in a momentary 3 v 1 duel, to play forward on the run of the third man through the first neutral player and to free the second neutral player, among the defenders, to score. If the defenders win the ball, they must keep the possession against the three black players, as a 4 v 3 duel is created; the two neutral players aren't active in this phase.
Variations
• If the defenders win the ball, they must keep the possession with numerical advantage 3 + 2 v 4
Eye on: overcome a defense line, free for the marker behind him, timing of runs without the ball from opposite directions.
Transition: 4 v 3 + 2 and counter pressing to recover the possession
If the defenders win the ball, they must score playing outnumbered in the mini goal on the opposite end line, and the neutral players support the black ones to organize a counter pressing phase.
