Possession
Rondo
Keep the ball under pressure with quick decisions
Possession
Passing
Pressing
Receiving
Rondo is a 15-minute possession drill for 6-18 players, suitable for Under 8 to Adults at intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, bibs. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.
Back to drill libraryPossession
Passing
Pressing
Receiving
Technical Practice
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Foundation Phase
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Duration
15 min
Players
6-18
Pitch size
10 x 10 yards
Ability levels
Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Rondo — Four-corner square · 10 x 10 yards
Step 1 of 3Outside players keep possession, moving along their side only.
- 1. Outside players keep possession, moving along their side only.
- 2. Defenders swap with whoever loses the ball.
- 3. Count consecutive passes and set a team target.
- Cones mark the area
- Ball
- Cones mark each station in the shape
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Keep the ball under pressure with quick decisions
- -Find and use the free player
- -Press as a pair out of possession
Setup
- 1Mark a square.
- 2Four attackers outside, one per side; two defenders inside.
- 3Spare balls with the coach for fast restarts.
Coaching instructions
- 1Outside players keep possession, moving along their side only.
- 2Defenders swap with whoever loses the ball.
- 3Count consecutive passes and set a team target.
Coaching points
- -Scan before the ball arrives
- -Receive on the back foot to open the square
- -Split the defenders when the gap appears
- -Defenders press together, one shows, one intercepts
Common mistakes
- -Slow passing that lets defenders set
- -Flat, static support angles
- -Defenders pressing individually