Study Notes: 4v0 and 4v1 Rondos

[LiParticipant]

After watching the video 2nd time, I can start to appreciate the details in them. Regarding coaching points in the ebook: Offensive players must be moving off the ball at all times and with urgency to provide best possible target to player in possession.

In the video and snapshots, it requires player off ball to “rush to provide option all the way to cone”, sometimes, this results that two players are too close to each other. What is the logic to require player off ball to “rush to provide option all the way to cone”? Is support with an angle an better option?

[Brian KleibanParticipant]

Hey Dong Li,

Absolutely!!! You nailed it!  The support angles are critical and hammering this point on the players in the basic rondo is equally important.  Even if they are almost holding hands in terms of spacing, it works on the players foot sensitivity/quality of receiving and moving the ball to next player that much faster.  Almost like a short, short, long passing exercises even though we are talking 1-2 yards to a 6-7 yard pass.  How many times do you see tight and congested spaces when Barcelona is playing and they rocket the ball around in 1 or 2 touches and then switch the field?   Muscle memory is built with the endless rondos and details.

[andrew crollardParticipant]

Hi Dong Li,

I just ran the 4v0 version of this with my U14s and my kids were also really struggling to get the concept of two players near the same cone. They wanted to maintain spacing  so the receiving player could theoretically have more time to receive. What I did, is I stepped into the middle and we played at walking speed. Whenever a player started to run away from the correct cone toward the wrong cone to create some spacing I froze them. I (the defender) simply stepped to the player on the ball and asked what their passing options were. The kids realized there obviously weren’t any. I then brought them down to correct positioning and asked them what their passing options were. That’s when it clicked for them. Some kids got it after me doing that just once, some it took 5 or 6 times.
Hope that helps!

-Andrew

[LiParticipant]

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for the insides. It’s all about options. I cant wait to run the drill with my team in the spring to experience those details.

Li

[Paul GruberParticipant]

I had my team run the 4v0 and 4v1.  Gave a couple of prospective team captains the info, provided them instruction as to how to build the activity and they did a decent job considering the variation of skill present during the pick up soccer time.  I think the hardest element to execute in this activity is when the player makes the pass, to check to the near cone immediately as often they get caught watching their pass.  This became evident when the ball changed directions and the passer was out of position as they hadn’t check to the near cone, and the play often gets locked into a corner as a result.  The key to unlocking the ball from the corner was literally getting the two players to the near cone so play could open up away from the corner.  This was one 30 minute activity ran by the kids and I know better quality will come about with further instruction and repetition. 

How the activity was introduced with step by step progression. 

4 players on a 7×7 grid, just passing the ball around >> restrict to two touch only >> restrict to no passes across the square >> restrict that pass had to be received across the body >> restrict that pass made by opposite foot that receives >> require near players to check to near cones. 

Then add a single defender >> reading the pressure angle of the defender as the ball is circulating so player can determine if she will cut in to change direction or remain open, just as important as reading where the ball is likely to be played next. 

One simple activity, many different layers and in the end, definite improvement within the activity itself and the cadence of the touches was; tah-tah…tah-tah…tah-tah

Almost as fun to listen to as it was to watch.

[Eric DykesParticipant]

We’ve moved to 3 practices a day to prepare for state cup so Im on my 4th day of Rondo’s. The very short pass is the most challenging aspect of the drill as stated above. The other one is the switch of play. I used Andrews suggestion above when explaining supporting angles and explained that in a game we want space and that is our friend but we cant angles for space. In other words don’t get caught finding space and ending up hiding. Angle of support then space.

The switch is a communication issue. Pulled the kids together and asked them to come up with a solution the the lost balls on the switch and they instantly began to communicate when changing direction. Went well.

Im see improvement in the collecting across the body and speed of play in game/ scrimamge situations.

[Marshall DuncanParticipant]

Andrew’s suggestion of emphasizing the angle by placing a defender near the player with the ball is great. This was a huge visual help for my players to understand that they had to move to the cone nearest the ball. They can’t “run and hide behind the defender”.

I noticed that once I put and “Active” defender in the square my guys actually got better at moving toward the cone they should be to help with the angle.

[AlfredoParticipant]

One of the things I started to do with my players in the 4 v 1 rondo is that when there are two players near the same cone I have instructed the receiver to take a step or two back away from the cone to receive the ball. Not up the “line” back toward the other cone but away from the line and the cone to open space yet maintain the angle. This has helped to teach them to create a bit of space in a tight spot and has solved the issue for us.

[CalebParticipant]

How long are you spending on the 4v0 Rondos? Do you do them each practice? Or is it more of an introductory- beginning of the season thing- and you now start your sessions doing exclusively 4v1?

[Kyle GeroParticipant]

We do them every practice with my U9 boys and U9 girls team, I had a parent ask me don’t the they get bored. One of my players looked up and said no way, do you see how we move the ball. They love it, after we do some skill work and moves, i just say 4v0 and they get off to it….. They love it, I can’t say that the first week they did but can say 4 weeks in, it is one of their favorite parts of practice….. We progress from 4vo about 6 minutes, to 4v1 to a bigger rondo, with transition, into small sided games….
Kg

• This reply was modified 10 years, 9 months ago by  Kyle Gero.

[Eric DykesParticipant]

every practice we do rondos right after our dynamic warm up . As we redevelop our club Youngers curriculum Rondos will be mandatory for all our youth clubs.

My rondo time is fluid. I have the kid do it until I think they have their “touch” back. Is the ball comfortably being carried across the body, are the kids in the proper angles of support, is the weight of their touches appropriate. Well them transition into one of the pressure rondos- every practice- no exceptions.

Note- we have now told our 4 v ghost to cut 1 angle on the first touch but not steal the ball (after about 5 minutes of working with the basics of ghost). We were having issues with the kids keeping their heads down and just circulating the ball around- calmly but not with purpose. This forces them to see the angle of pressure and play away or accelerate their speed of play to prevent the ghost from cutting the angle.

Also created a new Rondo- 3 v 1 plus 1 neutral double rondo. The neutral player ( center mids ) play the between the cones that connect the 2 squares. After 5-7 passes the neutral player opens up his touch and plays it to the other team. So its always a 4 v 2 but the one player is neutral and plays it to both sides to practice the transition to the different 1/2s of the field.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 9 months ago by  Eric Dykes.

[Liviu BirdParticipant]

Just spotted in the Arsenal vs. Bayern game:

I spy a 4v1 rondo. This kind of overload is not a mistake. | Arsenal 0-1 Bayern | 62′: pic.twitter.com/MNeO9eyQZp

— Liviu Bird (@liviubird) February 19, 2014

 

[Ryan WagnerParticipant]

Liviu, great post with the pic.  I sent that to my high school players saying there is a purpose behind all this…

[Paul GruberParticipant]

One observation in the players running these sessions for my program.  As their technique improves, both in passing and receiving, I’ve noticed there is less checking to the near cone as before.  Basically with good technical abilities, you don’t have to work as hard physically to get into position.  This is a concern as I want the full check to the cone so when a touch does go awry or when we misjudge the pressure coming in, that we are in the best possible position to unlock ourselves where maybe technique alone doesn’t solve the problem.

One thing I have required the players to do is they have with their foot the near cone relative to the passer before they can receive the ball.  That was the only restriction added.  What I’m trying to break is the habit of ball watching when they’ve made a pass and recognize to get into a positio of support early, before it is needed.  It also means if the player is out of position (hasn’t touched the near cone) that the passer might have to slow the release of the ball until it happens.  Obviously this may lead into the pressure being too great to overcome.  This is the part I’m stuck with as I want that ball moving early so we don’t get ourselves stuck but I also want the players getting in the best positions of support every time, even when it is not necessary so we have the best of technique and positioning to unlock ourselves out of pressure. 

So the issue is speed of play being brought down because of the restriction or will it increase in time as players become more automatic in checking to right support angles versus ball watching.  Some addition coaching points was to the players that it wasn’t simply touching the cone with their foot.  They still need to have their body open to the pass when they make that touch to the cone, so some body shape issues have to be addressed too. 

Anyway, I’m an obvious fan of the activity and it will become one of my go to rondo games we do all season.

[Eric DykesParticipant]

I think speed of play is always an issue when you start something new and it improves as you work on it.

I too have had kids not check to the support cone as they ball watch in 4 v 0 rondo. I like the mandatory cone movement. As stated my kids really struggle in the transition game as they move to offense prior to our team getting clear control of the ball and they cover themselves up too much. They also fail to get width and make things difficult on the passer.

4 v ghost should eliminate that as the pass cant get to the teammate with a diagonal pass. Having the cut an angle but not steal the ball also forces both teammates to be in the proper position.

[Author]

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