Space Rondos Training a One Touch Mentality - Training Center Exclusive
/Passing and moving.
Must be one touch and as fast as possible.
A great drill for awareness on and off the ball.
(B) passes to (A) then runs to the free cone the top right of the square.
This one is easy to do on and off the ball.
Objectives:
First touch development
Body positioning
Anticipating situations in advance of the ball
Finding space
Movement OFF the ball
Communication
Mental and physical transitions
A Good Warm Up: Space Rondos using one touch
Passing and moving. Must be one touch and as fast as possible. Here (B) passes to (A) and moved to the free cone. (A) passes to (C) and moves to the free cone. Observation must be away from the ball to see where the free space is BEFORE receiving the pass.
Space Rondos using one touch
One ball, Two balls then 3 balls. Now we add the necessary observation of 2 or 3 balls, as one goes the next one may arrive; so constantly scanning the field.
Players OFF the ball can switch positions now
One ball, Two balls then 3 balls. Now we add the necessary observation of 2 or 3 balls, as one goes the next one may arrive; so constantly scanning the field.
Teaching Anticipation in players
Now we number off each player; you can have 4 to 8 players doing this if you like. If 8 players use 9 cones so always one free one to run to (or more choices if needed). 1 passes to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4 and 4 to 5 and so on. So they are watching the player who is passing to them, and scanning where the player they must pass to is at the time; whilst they are moving off the ball too.
Now players position Between the cones (finding space) not on them
Cones represent defenders so players position between them in the best spaces possible. Talk about triangles and diamonds. Pass and move then call stand still. Check positioning.
Now players position Between the cones not on them
Cones represent defenders so players position between them in the best spaces possible. Talk about triangles and diamonds. Pass and move then stand still. Check positioning. Try to position in the biggest space available.
6 points of observation for players:
Team mates positions,
Defenders (cones) positions;
Where Spaces are,
The position of who I'm receiving from,
The position of who I'm passing to,
Where the other balls are which will force each player to consistently scan the field.
A rondo can be applied on certain parts of the field of play that apply to the game. This exercise is based on the positioning of the players around Zone 14 (the zone in front of the opponents back 3 or 4 and their midfield).
Here we start the exercise off as a typical rondo and develop the idea to take it into the game situation. This example can be the shape within a 4-2-3-1 system of play. I have used this same set up many times in training to bring the ideas out in actual games with my U14 team. Certain moves become almost automatic as each player mentally knows what the other will do; before they do it. Especially good when teams defend deep against you and you have to open them up with imaginative movements OFF the ball. I love this session.
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