Transition rondo
Goal
Equipment
- Markers
- 10 vests (7 of one color, 3 of another one)
- Balls
Preparation
- Playing Area: 45x40 meters / 49x44 yds
- Players: 17
- Duration: 25 minutes
- Series: 2 of 12 minutes each with 1 minute of recovery
| Summary | Secondary Objectives |
|---|---|
|
Positioning game to practice ball possession |
Pass and move, Mobility, Possession triangles, Reaggression, Losing your marker, Come and go with two players, Communication, Transitions |
Organization
Between the penalty area and the center circle in the opposite half of the field, mark out a rectangle measuring 45×40 meters/49×44 yards. Thirteen players are positioned inside the playing area as follows: one blue neutral player, five players from the team in possession of the ball (the red and black team in the picture) and seven players from the team not in possession (shown in white). Outside the perimeter, on each long side, stands a blue neutral player, while on each short side a player from the team in possession (red and black players) is positioned.
Description
- The aim of the exercise is to move the ball from right to left and from left to right, but above all from corner to corner, thanks to the staggered positioning of the players in the playing area
- Specifically, the players inside the rectangle must exploit the pressure exerted by their opponents on the outside players, so as to free themselves up and find time and space to play
- If the ball is regained by the opponents of the white team, the red players on the outside close in on the white player in possession, working on the transition and trying to immediately regain the ball by implementing Gegenpressing. On the contrary, the players of the white team must maintain possession by creating new passing lanes generated by attacking the space on the side freed up by the red player, where a white player will act once their team maintains possession
- The team that maintains possession of the ball for 15 seconds earns one point
- If, in the same action, the ball is controlled by both neutral players, the team earns one point
The white team regains possession
Rules
- When the ball is played externally, the team not in possession is required to press
- If the player in the center receives the ball from an outside player, one touch is mandatory
- Outside players have a maximum of three touches
Variations
- The neutral players no longer act in width on the long side but in depth on the short side
- If the team in possession loses the ball and regains it within 3 seconds, it earns a point
Coaching Points
- Encourage players to see (rather than just watch), recognizing time and space, looking for the most useful pass to develop the action and maintain possession
- Pay attention to the positioning of the red outside player, as this is not only useful in the build-up phase but especially when regaining possession, where correct positioning makes all the difference
- Make it clear that the red players' run and movements should not be “synchronized” but rather “in tune,” because they should never be the same but have the same shared purpose
- Keep the focus and concentration of the outside players high on the long sides
