Possession

Counter Rondo Ladder

Keep the ball under pressure in a tight area

Possession
Passing
Receiving

Keep the ball under pressure in a tight area. Set up the area, follow the steps and use the coaching points below.

Back to drill library
Possession
Passing
Receiving
Technical Practice
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Counter Attack

Age

Under 9 to Adults

Duration

16 min

Players

5-12

Area / pitch size

18 x 18 yards

Difficulty

Intermediate / Advanced

Equipment

Balls, Cones, Bibs

Coaching focus

Keep the ball under pressure in a tight area

Build a full 60-minute session around this drill

Warm-up to match, ready to print. Free — no card needed.

Build it free

Objective

  • -Keep the ball under pressure in a tight area
  • -Find the pass through or around the press
  • -Improve body shape and support angles

Setup

  1. 1A rondo circle with defenders in the middle in a 18 x 18 yards area.
  2. 2Place two mini goals on the halfway line for the counter-attacking side to aim at.
  3. 3One ball, bibs for the middle players.

How to play

  1. 1Outside players keep the ball away from the middle defenders.
  2. 2Ten consecutive passes wins the round.
  3. 3The defender who wins the ball swaps with the player who lost it.
  4. 4The team in possession starts each rep in their own half and must build forwards.
  5. 5Turnovers earn a direct counter at the mini goals worth two points.

Coaching points

  • -Open the body to see both sides
  • -Split the defenders when the gap appears
  • -Support at an angle, not flat
  • -Counter in a straight line — the first pass forward beats the recovery run

Progressions

  • +Counter must be finished inside five seconds
  • +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

  • -Award the counter goal for simply carrying over halfway
  • -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

  • -Swap the counter goals for a dribble-through gate
  • -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

  • -Passing round the outside only
  • -Standing flat on the cone
  • -Dribbling into traffic when the counter is on

Related Football Drills & Sessions

Build a full session around this drill

Related drills

Age band
Under 8 to Adults
Players
5-12
Time
16 min
Area
16 x 16 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones, Bibs
Focus
Technical Practice
Possession
FREE

Overload Rondo Ladder

Keep the ball under pressure in a tight area

Intermediate / Advanced
PossessionPassingReceiving
Age band
Under 9 to Adults
Players
5-12
Time
14 min
Area
10 x 10 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones, Bibs
Focus
Technical Practice
Possession
FREE

Underload Rondo Ladder

Keep the ball under pressure in a tight area

Intermediate / Advanced
PossessionPassingReceiving
Age band
Under 8 to Adults
Players
5-12
Time
14 min
Area
12 x 12 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones, Bibs
Focus
Technical Practice
Possession
FREE

Two-Touch Rondo Ladder

Keep the ball under pressure in a tight area

Intermediate / Advanced
PossessionPassingReceiving
Age band
Under 8 to Adults
Players
5-12
Time
14 min
Area
14 x 14 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones, Bibs
Focus
Technical Practice
Possession
FREE

Tempo Rondo Ladder

Keep the ball under pressure in a tight area

Intermediate / Advanced
PossessionPassingReceiving
Age band
Under 9 to Adults
Players
5-12
Time
16 min
Area
18 x 18 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones, Bibs
Focus
Technical Practice
Possession
FREE

Transition Rondo Ladder

Keep the ball under pressure in a tight area

Intermediate / Advanced
PossessionPassingReceiving
Age band
Under 9 to Adults
Players
5-12
Time
14 min
Area
10 x 10 yards
Kit
Balls, Cones, Bibs
Focus
Technical Practice
Possession
FREE

Pressure Rondo Ladder

Keep the ball under pressure in a tight area

Intermediate / Advanced
PossessionPassingReceiving