Rondo: 4v1
Transcript
A rondo is piggy in the middle that trains quick decisions. Here's the game. You need five players, a ball and an eight metre square. Four on the sides, one defender in the middle. Two touches or fewer. Watch. Pass it round and keep it away. First, move along your side to give an angle. Then, open up to receive. Not this. Hiding behind the defender. Lose it, and you swap into the middle. Defend on your feet. Our target is four rounds of two minutes, resting a minute between. After any knock to the head, if in doubt, sit them out. Then take the free test at footballreach.com.
What it trains
Keep the ball away from one defender: passing angles, first touch and quick decisions. England Football describes the rondo as piggy in the middle that builds decision-making, communication and composure.
Set up
- 5 players, 4 v 1
- 8 x 8 m square
- Defender in the middle
- 2 touches or fewer
How it works
- Warm up first. Mark an 8 x 8 m square with 4 flat cones on flat grass. Use a size 4 ball at U12-U13 and a size 5 from U14.
- Four players stand on the sides of the square, one on each side. One defender starts in the middle.
- Pass along the ground to keep the ball away from the defender, with two touches or fewer each (our rule).
- Move along your side to give the passer an angle, and open up to receive.
- If the defender wins it, or it goes out, the player who lost it swaps into the middle. Play 2-minute rounds.
Coaching points
- Move to give an angle. When the defender stands between the ball and you, move along your side until you can see a clear line to the ball. Keep adjusting every time the ball moves.
- Open up to receive. Before the ball arrives, turn your body side-on so you can see the passer and the next teammate. Control it with your first touch and pass it on with your second.
Not this
Standing still behind the defender. The passer cannot reach you, so the ball gets stuck or is forced into the defender.
Dose
- 4 rounds of 2 min
- 1 min rest between
Our target: 4 rounds of 2 minutes with 1 minute of rest between (the Football Reach target, not an FA rule).
Harder / Easier
Harder
One touch when the defender is close, as FIFA's rondo does to escape pressure. Or play 4 v 2 with two defenders in the middle, or score a point for every 5 passes in a row.
Easier
A bigger square (10 x 10 m), or free touches until the passing flows.
Safety
- If in doubt, sit them out: anyone with a suspected concussion stops straight away, does no training for at least 24 hours and plays no matches for at least 21 days (UK concussion guidelines).
- Defenders stay on their feet: no slide tackles, and keep the ball on the ground.
- Flat grass with space all round, never a road or driveway. Use flat cones.
- Under 16: if your knees or heels hurt when you run, stop and tell an adult; a GP or physio can help.
Sources
- England Football Learning - what is a rondo (opens in a new tab)
- FIFA Training Centre - 3v1 rondo: fast readjustments (opens in a new tab)
- England Football Learning - passing session: passing circles (opens in a new tab)
- FIFA Training Centre - directing the ball with the first touch (opens in a new tab)
- England Football - UK concussion guidelines for grassroots sport (opens in a new tab)
- The FA Boot Room - growth and the physical corner (opens in a new tab)
Not sure which skill to work on first? The free Football Reach test gives you a Player Development Score and shows which of the four corners of your game to work on next, in about two minutes.
Take the free test
