This topic contains 11 replies, has 4 voices, and was last updated by 
-
Posts
-
Ran the double rondo activity. Like the concept of it and the potential of it simulating player positions relative “blocks” of players that exists in a full sided game. One of the challenges I’m seeing with the activity is the positioning of the players near the corners of the grid versus along the lines. As a result, it doesn’t build form the 4v0/4v1 games and players often become static or stuck in the corners where two defenders are more likely to form a pocket around the person with the ball. Are other coaches running this activity with the players in possession on the lines versus the corners or is the activity intended to create high pressure situations at the corners against the possession team?
One element I thought would be a challenge was the use of a neutral player that always in with the team in possesion. Normally in a single grid, if the neutral player loses possession, he doesn’t pressure to win the ball back which makes the game unrealistic and teaches some very poor habits in what typically would be a team’s playmaker. With the double rondo, if the neutral player loses the ball, he can pressure to win it back. However, if possession is lost and cycled back to the adjoining grid and the neutral player enters that grid, he now becomes “in” with the team in possession. Basically, it solves the issue of the neutral player being involved in the defensive phase of play while performing numbers up possession game.
Thanks,
Paul
Like your solution to the neutral player
The team ran a double rondo activity in their open gym last night. Slight changes made was it was a 4v1 per side with 8 total player. Basically took the 4v1 rondo game and made it a double. Also, the players in possession played between the cones versus in the corners while facing a single defender. If the defender got tired a new defender could enter the opponent grid, so activity had more continuity.
Having only 1 defender though made it difficult for that defender to play the ball to the adjacent grid when the ball was one, as there is only one against 4 (actually 3 at best). Often I would simply feed the ball to the adjacent grid when the defender clipped or won the ball and made the team out of possession shag the lose ball to be played back to me. Compared to the single 4v1 rondo game, there was more focus from more players (8 compared to 5) and I didn’t have to cycle defenders in and out based on base. Also allowed the game to become competitive, Point earned for every 5 consecutive passes. Insisting on 2 touches only. One touch or more than 2 touches equals a turnover to the opponent.
Just throwing this out for those of you coaching really young kids or new to soccer kids and if you’re wanting a lot of repetitions. I used to play the 2v1 double rondo game with my U10’s. All players are within the respective grids versus in the corners or between the “cones”. The intent was to teach movement off the ball after the pass and to break habits of ball watching once a pass is made. Basically, the game is self teaching because of the player passing ball watches, usually the defender that pressured them to pass will run in a line from them to the new ball handler, effectively placing themself inbetween to the two players in possession. To break the coverage, the player that just passed has to move to what ever space that is open.
Emphasis has to be made on the defender to always press for the ball or they will start covering the passing lane thus leaving the person with the ball under no pressure which is a very bad habit to make in training to have come out in a game. Basically make sure the kids are still playing soccer and not just trying to win at the activity.
For my respective teams, this was very helpful in developing first touch, especially touches that took the ball counter to the defender thus getting behind their mark. If I had a team of 12, I would run 3 grids simultaneously, again emphasis was on high repetitions within the training time I had my players.
Watch this video, I use this all the time and it helps with kids mental side as the coach adds in variables. I like the pushup to make the intense harder. Follow your pass to make the runs off the ball in small spaces like Barca. This has greater level problem solving.
Thanks for the video. Played a variation of it of 7v2, if a defender won the ball, they dropped their bib and player took their place that lost the ball. We played two grids. They could unlock the opposite grid when they successfully combined 3 one touch passes in a row. Otherwise it was two touch max touches to sustain possession.
This was after a double rondo game which was 5v1. Again players between the cones versus in the corners, but allowed a neutral player to be a constant center. The intent for me was to help our center learn how to turn with the ball. She plays as my team’s pivot, so when ever she received the ball, she had to turn with it and feed it to the opposite line, regardless of what the shape was. This helped the target player recongize how to get into a proper position as the center was receiving the ball to anticipate that bypassing play.
The activities are run by the players as its open gym. Here’s a clip from a couple of weeks ago. The ball is live, not a futsal, it is a gym and the floor is slick like dirty ice which counters much of the quick reactions and hustle I’d like to see in their play. However, this is a mix of girls ranging from Varsity starters all the way down the roster. Their touch is improving as is their technique, in spite of all the challenges. We’ll have turf this coming spring season and I’m looking foward to having a faster more consistent field.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=gR9FogZKR2k
Regarding Paul’s initial question of players being in the corners instead of on the lines in the 5 v 2 double rondo: I have been using this game, as shown in the videos on this website, with U15 girls in 2 adjacent 9 x 9 grids. The players are in the corners, not on the lines, so it’s true the players are somewhat static, but I think they are benefiting because they have to play very fast, usually one touch, and they have up to three options (all teammates except the teammate diagonally across). The center player has to try to get “out of the shadows”. The corner players also have to use some deception when they are passing under pressure. We also play the 4 v 1 game (mandatory two touch) in which the 4 players are on the lines (outside of a 7 x 7 square) and moving a lot to receive a pass, and the 3 v 1 game inside a 7 x 7 space, in which they can’t be static and have to play a lot of one touch passes. So maybe the solution to the problem you have identified is to use each of these games, as they are each better at developing certain qualities. I’ll try to get some video of our double rondo and get your ideas on how it’s working for the corner players.
I think Andrew hits on a pretty decent point. Videoing the session. For me, the intent was to spark more turn out in the open gyms by posting it. Watching it, saw somethings in it that will need to be addressed, once I’m allowed to when season starts. Of particular note is one of my more seasoned players. She is a bit “too” casual. I like her play under pressure because rarely does she panic. However, because she’s too casual and has very good first touch, she isn’t checking to the near cone as she should. The results is when her touch isn’t as good as it should be, that she at that point is left with no option other than to hit and hope and the result is a poorly executed pass that’s the deck. Basically, had she checked as she should, she would of had more space to play the ball into off of a first touch. Also, she would of had more distance between her and the defender when the ball was played to her versus the defender on her as she is receiving. Its a small detail, but for me, she is my strong center back and it is not only the potential problem of the play that is worrisome, but also the body language expressed that exudes someone that is bored or not to “serious” about her position which are not characteristics I would describe her play as. Then there is what this communicates to the opponent; would it encourage a defender to press her high as they see her as being off in concentration compared to someone that exudes confidence on the ball? She is highly confident, and I’d like her to reflect that in a different way than she currently is.
I have started a full 10v10 double rondo game with my high school girls soccer program. The intent is to keep players in their relative positions during the possession activity The defending team can send in 2 defenders on the opponent side when out of possession. The first team to 40 total clean passes (accumulative not sequential) wins. Typically the group of players on the transition line are the ones that are the defenders entering the opponent grid (ideally). As a coach, you will need to adjust the positions so that the full backs are oriented on this line when you’re wanting them to enter the opponent side or the forward on this line for same thing. I’m hoping, that by doing this there will be more recognition come game time on how to possess as there will be familiarity of players relative to their and their teammate positions. So far, I like what I’m seeing and the competitive element of first to forty is great. Just make sure to have a large number of balls near you to serve in when the ball exits the grid. That way you punish the team that simply kicks the ball out of bounds as play resumes immediately.
Thanks Paul!
what size is your playing area for this exercise? Also, if I lack 20 players- how could I use some neutrals or smaller numbers to still have a game-related shape? Any ideas on this will bw appreciated.
Hello Andrew,
I’ve done “double rondo” activities for a long time, just called them transitional possession games. I’ve done these games using only 4 total players to which each individual grid becomes a 2v1 within two adjacent 7×7 yard grids. That would be the minimal number for this type of game which teaches the passer to change their angle of support immediately after their pass. Just pick players that would normally work next to each other in a game so they can key off of one another’s abilities/tendancies.
The bigger game of 10 per side was played 10v2 within a 12 yard deep, 15 yard wide grid. The size was a bit small, but limited due to gym space. Ideally, I would have changed the space to 20 yards deep, 30 yards wide giving about 7 yards of space between players, which would have been more game realistic. Also may have considered sending in 3 players instead of 2, but with the limited space we had, 2 defenders was plenty and the tight space exposed issues of players individual body positioning being closed to the ball in play causing them to play back into pressure versus opening up the ball to relieve it.
The double rondo game as part of the 3Four3 curriculum creates a solution when you have odd numbers. As for positional relativity, I would keep “pods” of players together within a grid as they would likely be playing in a game.
Part of my thinking is influenced by what I heard Caleb Porter mention in an interview last fall. In it, he stated his team works on possession and pressure activities in every training session. Of the possession activities, he situates his team relative to the positions they play to create the familiarity of play amongst his players that would be experienced in games. Often those players are outside the grid with only the 3 central mids within it against a couple of defenders. I have a preference of keeping my players within the grid, getting comfortable with being on the touch line when receiving or supporting the ball.
Thanks. I think that would require 40×30- I will try that, modified to fit my numbers (that is, a larger double romdo, for up to 16 players, instead of 9 total players in 2 9×9 grids). I like the Porter idea you mentioned. My team are U15 girls and they love the small double rondo as shown on this site. These are some of my team doing the 4v0, which we still do every practice.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.