Football/Soccer Session (Difficult): Rondos

4v1 (20 mins)

Set up: (5 players)

6'x6' area with 4v1 as shown. Object is for the team of 4 to keep possession. Play intensely for 1-2 minutes, then swap defender OR swap every time the defender intercepts a pass.

*If an extra player they can have a 'play-maker' role in the midle and link up with the team that has possession*

Coaching points:

- Quick decisive movement by the outside players and supporting 2, and the inside 'play maker'.

- Create space to receive pass.

- Open body shape to receive.

- Defenders stay compact, move as a unit to cut off passing lanes.

Progression:

- Limit the touches (1-2 touches).

- Can't play back to where the pass came from.

3v3 + 3 (20 mins)

Set up: (9 players)

15'x15' area with 3v3+3 as shown. Object is for team in possession (black to start) to maintain that possession with assistance from the reds. Play intensely for 5-10 minutes, then swap teams (greens go outside, black come inside to defend). Repeat.

*If an extra player they can have a 'play-maker' role in the midle and link up with the team that has possession*

Coaching points:

-Quick decisive movement by the outside players and supporting 2, and the inside 'play maker'.

-Open body shape to receive.

-Defenders stay compact, move as a unit to cut off passing lanes.

Progression:

-Rather than play for a fixed time, incorporate a transition: when greens win the ball, they quickly distribute to a red, then swap places with black and continue in possession until black win the ball back.

3+3 v 3+3 (20 mins)

Set up: (12 players)

20'x30' area with 3+3 v 3+3 as shown. Object is for the teams to keep possession. Two teams work together to keep ball from the oppoents (Red+blacks v Greens+yelows). Play intensely for 5-10 minutes, then swap teams (Red+green v Black+yellow). Repeat.

Coaching points:

-Quick decisive movement by the outside players and supporting 2, and the inside 'play maker'.

-Open body shape to receive.

-Defenders stay compact, move as a unit to cut off passing lanes.

3v3+4 goal rondo (20 mins)

Set Up: 3v2+4 (9 players)/ 3v2(+1 netural/GK) +4 (10 players) 4v4+4 (12 players) 5v5 (+1 netural) + 4 (15 players).

30'x30' area. When the defenders win the ball they try to score in any of the 4 corner goals. On doing so, they are replaced by one of the other teams.

*add goalkeeper(s) as netural players who support the team with possession to create an overload.

Coaching points:

- Create a defensive 'trap'.

- Press and force play/errors.

- Look for a qucik steel in a corner.

- Shoot as quick as possible.