WORLD CLASS COACHING
From Rondos to Real Games
By Luca Bertolini
Table of Contents
PART TWO
TRAINING SESSIONS - BUILD UP FROM THE BACK
Training session 1: Build up from the back
Small-sided possession game: 4 v 4 + 2
Sequence
Two teams of four players each are placed inside a rectangular set-up. The goal for the team in possession is to play quick passing combinations up and down the field with the goalkeeper and the neutral player, who are placed along the shorter sides. The team in possession wins 1 point at every completed sequence.
Variations
• The sequence can be completed if all the possession players have touched the ball
• The passer and the receiver of the return pass, from the goalkeeper, or the neutral player, cannot be the same
• Pass the ball from the goalkeeper to the upper neutral player (1 point); pass the ball back from the neutral player to the goalkeeper (1 point)
Eye on: passing and receiving rhythm and awareness, give and go combinations, run toward a different space after a pass.
Rondo: 4 v 4 + 2
Sequence
Two teams of four players each are placed inside a rectangular set-up. The possession team is placed on the field with two players along the longer sides of the set-up; the defenders are placed in the middle. The goal for the team in possession is to play quick passing combinations up and down the field, with both the neutral players, from the lower (the goalkeeper) to the upper one, who are placed along the shorter sides. The nearest players to the upper vertex must run inside the field to play the up and down passing combination, before reaching the upper vertex. The team in possession wins 1 point at every completed sequence. If the defenders recover the ball, they switch their positions with the opponents.
Variations
• The sequence can be completed if all the players have touched the ball in a prior possession sequence.
• The inside runs can be required before passing the ball toward both the neutral players.
Eye on: passing and receiving rhythm and awareness, timing of runs without the ball.
Positional game: 3 v 3 + 4
Sequence
Two teams of three players each are placed inside a rectangular set-up, as in the picture. The possession team has a center midfielder and the left and the right midfielders. The four neutral players are the goalkeeper, two center defenders and the center forward. The goal of the building up from the back phase of play is to free to opposite midfielder (the left one in the picture), from the side where the move started (with the right center defender in the picture). The other center defender must run toward the ball area to create numerical advantage. If the defenders win the ball, they switch their positions and the roles with the opponents.
Variations
• Free the midfielder of the same side where the move started.
Eye on: passing and receiving rhythm and awareness, timing of runs without the ball, be unmarked to receive.
Transition: 3 v 3 + 4 to keep the possession after the recovery
If the defenders win the ball, they must pass to the goalkeeper, to run toward their new positions, center defender and left and right forwards, as in the picture.
Training session 2: Build up from the back (2)
Small-sided possession game: 4 v 4 + 1 and goalkeeper
Sequence
Two teams of four players each are placed inside a rectangular set-up as in the picture. One goalkeeper saves the regular goal and a neutral player has the role of support for the team in possession. The goal for the black team is to build up from the goalkeeper and to keep the possession together with the neutral player. The team in possession wins 1 point at every switch side of play. If the defenders win the possession, they must keep it safe together with the neutral player, and the black ones must put pressure to recover it back.
Variations
• If the defenders win the ball, they must try to shoot on goal.
Eye on: body placement to receive, quality of the passes, pressure to win the ball back.
Rondo: 4 v 4 + 1 and goalkeeper
Sequence
Two teams of four players each are placed inside a rectangular set-up as in the picture. The black team is shaped in a line of 4 formation and the yellow team with a 1 - 3 formation; a neutral player has the role of center midfielder. The goal for the black team is to build up from the goalkeeper, to free the opposite fullback from the side where the possession phase starts, through passing combination with the neutral player. Three advanced yellow players must put pressure; the fourth one must mark the neutral player on. If the defenders win the possession, they must keep it safe together with the neutral player, and the black ones must put pressure to recover it back out of the penalty area.
Variations
• If the yellow players win the ball, they must try to shoot on goal.
Eye on: body placement to receive, move to be an option, quality of the passes, pressure to win the ball back, finish quickly.
Positional game: 3 v 3 + 4
Sequence
Two teams of three players each are placed inside a rectangular set-up, as in the pictures. The possession team has two center defenders and one right or left midfielder. The four neutral players are the goalkeeper, the fullbacks and the center midfielder. The goal of the building up from the back phase of play is to free the opposite fullback (the right one in the picture) from the side where the move started (with the left fullback in the picture). The left/right midfielder and the center one must exchange their positions to create space in the middle and to split the pitch easier. If the defenders win the ball, they switch their positions and the roles with the opponents, playing with the neutral players.
Variations
• Free the midfielder of the same side where the move started.
Eye on: passing and receiving rhythm and awareness, timing of runs without the ball.
Transition: 3 + 1 v 4
13
If the defenders win the ball, all the black players and the other neutral ones but the center midfielder must defend the goal area against the counter attack of the yellow players. The yellow players must finish as soon as possible.
Training session 3: Build up from the back (3)
Small-sided possession game: 4 + 2 v 3
Sequence
Two teams of four (the black one) and of three players (the yellow one) are placed inside a rectangular set-up; the possession team must play the ball trying to stay placed wide and leaving the defenders in the middle. Two neutral players are placed in the middle of the area and out of the lower line. The goal for the team in possession is to play quick passing combinations up and down the field, with the neutral players, who are asked to switch their positions at every completed sequence; this way the team in possession wins 1 point. If the defenders win the ball, a 3 + 2 v 4 duels starts inside the set-up.
Variations
• The sequence can be completed if all the possession players have touched the ball
• The passer and the receiver of the return pass from the neutral players cannot be the same player
Eye on: passing and receiving rhythm and awareness, exchange the positions with the right timing, run toward a different wide space after a pass.
Rondo: 4 + 2 v 3 (alternated 3 + 1 v 2 duels)
Sequence
The same set-up is now divided into two areas: a lower one and an upper one.
A 3 + 1 v 2 duel is played inside the lower zone with 2 possession players and a center neutral one against two defenders in the middle. The goal for the possession team is to play a wall passing combination first and to switch the side then, before passing the ball toward the upper area to the second neutral free player. One defender must run up to help the third teammate and the neutral players must move to the next pitch line forward to create a second 3 + 1 v 2 duel inside the upper zone. The sequence must be continued up and down the set-up. If the defenders win the ball, a 2 + 1 v 2 possession game is played inside the area where the wall is recovered.
Variations
• If the defenders win the ball a 3 + 2 v 4 duel is played all over the set-up
Eye on: creation of three players combination with a fourth upper vertex, passing and receiving rhythm, close the passing lanes, pressure on the ball.
Positional game: 3 + 3 v 3
Sequence
Two teams of three players each are placed inside the same rectangular set-up of the rondo practice, as in the pictures. The possession team has a right fullback, a left fullback and the right winger. Three neutral players are the right and left center defenders and the center midfielder. The goal of the building up from the back phase of play is to free a winger (the right one in the picture) with a fullback, who helps the possession phase (the left one in the picture) and through the center midfielder and one center defender as support. The winger can finish in one of the mini goals that are placed along the upper end line. The wall passing combination and the switch of the side are always required. If the defenders, who are always placed in pairs in the middle, win the ball, they switch their positions and the roles with the opponents, playing with the neutral players.
Variations
• If the defenders win the ball, they switch their positions with the black players, but they act with opposite roles; right fullback, left winger and left fullback. They even switch their positions with two neutral players.
Eye on: creation of three players combinations with a fourth upper vertex, support the build up phase, alternate the flanks after the recovery of the ball.
Transition: 3 + 1 v 3
If the defenders win the ball, they play a 3 v 3 duel against the neutral players to counter attack wide and to finish in one the outer mini goals.
Training session 4: Build up from the back and play out with numerical advantage
Small-sided possession game: 3 + 3 v 3 and goalkeeper
Sequence
Two teams of three players each are placed inside and near the penalty area; a third team of neutral players is also placed inside the main rectangular set-up. Two flanks are marked and closed to the sideline. The goal for the team in possession is to build up from the goalkeeper, to find the overlapping runs of the wide neutral players and free the opposite neutral one on the opposite side where the move started. If the neutral player is able to dribble through the cone gates, the possession team wins 1 point. If the defenders win the possession, they must keep it safe together with the center neutral player and the goalkeeper, and the black players must put pressure to recover it back.
Variations
• Free the center midfielder, who must dribble through one of the center gates to score a point.
Eye on: body placement to receive, quality of the passes, runs to be free and to overlap, pressure to win the ball back.
Rondo: 3 + 3 v 3 with goalkeeper
Sequence
Two teams of three players each are placed inside and near the penalty area; a third team of neutral players is placed out of it and inside the main rectangular set-up. Two flanks are marked and closed to the sideline. The goal for the team in possession is to build up from the goalkeeper, to find the overlapping runs of a wide possession player through a neutral one on the opposite side from where the move started. If the possession player is able to dribble through the cone gates, the possession team wins 1 point. If the defenders win the possession, they must keep it safe together with the center neutral player and the goalkeeper inside the main set-up and the black players must put pressure to recover it back (3 + 2 v 3 duel).
Variations
• If the defenders win the ball they switch the position with the black ones.
Eye on: body placement to receive, quality of the passes, overlap with the right timing, pressure to win the ball back.
Positional game: 3 + 3 v 3
Sequence
Two teams of three players each are placed inside and near the penalty area; the possession team has a center midfielder and two center defenders against three defenders. The team of neutral players has two fullbacks (left and right) and a center midfielder (left or right). The goal for the team in possession is to build up from the goalkeeper, to find the overlapping runs of a center defender, who must receive from the fullback of the same side, dribble through the cones gate and pass to the center midfielder, who is running forward through another cone gate to receive. The overlap sequence should be on the opposite side from where the move started. If the defenders win the ball, they switch their positions with the black players; they play with same roles, but they must try to free the opposite fullback.
Variations
• If the defenders win the ball they switch their positions with the neutral players, passing the ball to the goalkeepers and black players become defenders.
Eye on: body placement to receive, quality of the passes, overlap with the right timing, runs to receive of the center midfielder.
Transition: counter attack through overlapping runs
21
If the defenders win the ball, they counter attack as left and right forwards and as center forwards, together with the neutral players, to finish after an overlap run and a cross pass. The center midfielder attacks the second time of the ball or the rebounds of the goalkeeper.
