Secure The Ball In & Out Rondo
Coaching Principles
This activity is designed to have your players work on the concept of securing the ball as quickly as they can as quickly as they can and as far away from the opposing defenders as they can. Securing the ball helps the team establish possession of the ball and gives the team time to try and get into their attacking shape. Securing the ball away from the area where it was won makes it harder for the team now out of possession to get the ball back
The secondary principle is that of support the players on the outside of the playing grid and the player who remains in the inner playing grid must be ready and in a supporting position so they player who wins the ball can secure it to them. Make sure these players are watching the rondo and moving to the best supporting position as soon as the ball is won.
Activity
Start out with a 4v4 rondo in the inner playing grid as shown in grey below and position 4 neutrals on the outside of the larger playing grid. Do not make the inner grid too large as you want to force turnovers in possession so they players can practice securing the ball. If your grid is too large it will make it too easy for the team with the ball to keep possession and then you do not create enough moments when the ball can be secured. Green team and blue team plays a simple 4v4 rondo inside the inner grid until one of the green players wins the ball from the blue team.
When a green player wins the ball they must secure the ball as quickly as they can to one of the neutrals on the outside of the larger grid. All 4 green players now leave the inner grid and play with all of the outside neutrals in the larger playing area against 3 of the blue players. One of the blue players stays inside the inner playing grid.
When one of the blue players wins to ball back in the larger grid they will secure the ball back their one team mate who is waiting inside the original inner grid and then the blue players will return to support the player in the innder grid and the green players will have to come and try and win the ball back and secure it to the outside.
Coaching Points
Secure The Ball Quickly: If the player that wins the ball can keep the ball and has a direct line to secure the ball to one of the neutrals on the outside of the larger grid they should do so as quickly as they can.
Secure The Ball As Far Away As You Can: Ideally we want to secure the ball to the neutral who is furthest away from them opposing players that we have just won the ball from. Getting the ball further away means it will take the other team longer to be able to get the ball back and gives your team more time to organize. It also give the player you are securing the ball to more time to receive the ball and look at their options.
Secure The Second Pass: Sometimes the player who wins the ball can not secure the ball themselves as there are opposing players blocking the pass to secure the ball. In this case the player should try to get the ball to the closest team mate who can then secure the ball. We want to avoid trying to dribble out of pressure and combine with a team mate to secure the ball quickly
Change Neutrals & Which Teams Starts With The Ball: Don’t forget to rotate the players who start as neutrals into the middle and give them a chance to play in the 4v4 starting rondo you want them to get repetitions at securing the first pass also. Make sure you change which team starts with the ball in the inner grid rondo so each team has a turn securing the ball out of the smaller playing grid to the neutrals on the outside