Directional 4v2 Rondo to a Target
A 4v2 rondo with a direction: after five passes, the attackers try to play into a target player in an end zone. The target sets it back and the rondo restarts the other way.
- Age
- U13–Senior
- Players
- 8–12
- Duration
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Intensity
- High
- Area
- 20 × 15 m
- Type
- Tactical
- Approach
- Global
- Format
- Positional game
- Objectives
- Technical: Passing
- Tactical: Ball possession, Build-up play
- Concepts worked on
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Ball
- Cone
Rondos without direction can turn into passing for its own sake. Adding a target makes possession purposeful: the team keeps the ball until a defender is pulled out of position, then plays forward. Defenders learn to protect the forward pass first.
Objective
Keep the ball until the forward pass is open, then play into the target player.
Organisation
- Square of 15 × 15 m with a 5 m target zone at one end. Four attackers on the sides, two defenders inside, a target player in the target zone.
How it works
- Attackers need at least five passes before playing into the target.
- The target lays off to the attacker on the opposite side and the count restarts.
- Defenders swap with the attacker who loses the ball.
- Point for each ball played into the target.
Coaching points
- Circulate quickly to drag the defenders across.
- The player facing the target must be ready: half-turned, scanning.
- Defenders: always block the lane to the target first, press second.
Progressions
- Two-touch, then the forward pass must be first-time.
- Target zones at both ends.
Regressions
- Three passes before the target.
Variations
- The target player can be pressed by one defender once the ball enters.
Key principles
- Possession with purpose.
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