4v1+1 Rondo
Activity
Field Setup: Set up a square or rectangular playing area suitable for the size of the group. Position one player on each side of the playing area to maintain the shape of the grid.
Teams: There are six players involved – four on the outer edges of the playing area, one additional central player who plays with the outer players, and one defender inside the playing area.
Activity: The four outer players, along with the central additional player, work together to keep the ball away from the central defender. If the defender intercepts or steals the ball, the player responsible for the turnover becomes the new defender. The central player is critical in facilitating possession, providing constant support and options for passing.
Coaching Principles
The activity is structured around maintaining possession by effectively utilizing the additional central player to play away from the defender and create passing opportunities. It fosters quick decision-making and strategic combination play, as the extra player in the middle becomes a pivot for the team’s movement and passing sequences.
Coaching Points
The central player should be utilized to switch the point of attack and offer continuous support. Teammates should look for quick combinations to redirect play away from the defender.
Outer players must be aware of their positioning, ensuring they are not too close together, which would make it easier for the defender to intercept passes. They should adjust their positions based on the ball’s location and the defender’s movements.
The team in possession should focus on quick passes to prevent the defender from settling into a rhythm. The tempo should be varied to disrupt the defender’s attempts to predict and intercept passes.
Verbal and non-verbal cues are vital for maintaining possession. Players should communicate to indicate when they are open and ready to receive the ball, and to direct the play away from the defender.
Variations & Progressions
Add a rule that the players on the outside of the rondo must make a pass into the player in the middle at least every third pass. We want the player in the middle to be involved in the activity and looking to get open and receive the ball.
Add a rule where the players on the outside of the rondo can not pass to each other they must find a pass into the player in the middle and they can then pass the ball out. The player in the middle can only pass back to the player that passed them the ball once before they have to pass to a new player on the outside of the rondo
Make the activity directional by assigning two opposite sides as scoring zones. A point is scored when the team successfully passes from one scoring zone to the other through the central player.