Coach Mick’s Playbook: Unlocking the Magic of Rondos – A Key to Better Passing

Coach Southerland — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 00:50:57 +0000

Hello Team and Soccer Families,

It’s Coach Mick here, ready to dive into another session of our soccer playbook. You’ve probably heard me mention “rondos” during our practices. But what are they exactly, and how do they help improve passing? Let’s dig in!

Understanding Rondos:

At its core, a rondo is a game of keep-away. It’s a drill where a group of players tries to keep possession of the ball while a smaller group of players tries to win it back.

A common example is a 4v2 rondo, where four players form a square and two players are in the middle. The four players on the outside try to keep the ball away from the two in the middle by passing it amongst themselves.

How Rondos Improve Passing:

Technical Skills: Rondos are a great way to improve passing and receiving skills. The quick nature of the drill means players get lots of touches on the ball, helping to improve their technique under pressure.
Spatial Awareness: Players in a rondo have to constantly scan their surroundings to identify passing options and potential threats. This improves their understanding of space and their ability to find pockets of space to receive the ball.
Quick Decision Making: With the ball moving so quickly, players have to think fast. This helps to develop their decision-making skills, which are crucial in real game situations.
Ball Retention: Rondos encourage players to keep the ball moving, emphasizing the importance of maintaining possession. This translates directly to our style of play in matches.
Teamwork and Communication: To succeed in a rondo, players have to work together and communicate effectively. These are invaluable skills on the soccer field.

Rondo Drills in Practice:

In our training sessions, we often use rondo drills as a warm-up exercise. But beyond just getting our muscles ready for action, these drills prepare our minds for the match too.

So next time you’re in a rondo, remember it’s not just a game of keep-away. It’s a chance to improve your passing, awareness, decision-making, ball retention, and teamwork. Embrace the challenge and watch as your game improves!

Keep training hard, keep enjoying the beautiful game, and let’s bring our best to every session.

See you on the pitch!

Coach Mick

Coach Mick’s Playbook: 2 v 1 Rondo

Coach Southerland — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 20:20:58 +0000

Players Required:

Set Up:

There are three players set up in the corners of the small grid, playing 2 v 1. The player starting with the ball is the defender, and he begins play with a pass to either of the two attackers. From there, the two attackers come out of the corners and play keep away from the defender. When an attacker loses possession or sends the ball out of the grid, he becomes the defender and the players go back to the corners for the re-start. The defender switches out of the middle if he does not win the ball within 30 seconds.

Coaching Points:

1. Use the width of the field to make blind side runs in behind the defender.

2. The 1st attacker should look away from the 2nd attacker in order to get the defender to move the wrong way.

3. Do not hide behind the defender. Show yourself.

Progressions: