Training Library › Keeping the ball, progressing
5v3 Rondo — Creating Local Overloads and Fluidity
Moving positions to create a numerical advantage locally, and keeping balance while creating fluidity
Players: 5+3Age: U-11Time: 15 minLevel: IntermediateIntensity: MediumPhase: Keeping the ball, progressing
Use this when…
- Shifting positions to create a numerical advantage (for example, a defensive midfielder dropping)
- Creating a local numerical advantage for a moment
Setup & rules
- The attackers start circulating the ball with four outside and one in the middle
- The rules are the same as a normal rondo
- If the middle player keeps being unable to receive inside, they move outside to create a passing lane
- Other players fill the space that has been vacated
Key factors
- The middle player anticipates the pass going outside and times the move out
- When the middle player comes outside, the player one step further away from the ball carrier changes height (gets beyond the defenders)
- Note: if that player moves into the middle instead, no numerical advantage is created
Progressions
- Change the grid, for example to a rectangle
Kazu's notes FROM THE COACH
- The timing of the middle player's move outside is difficult, so let players grasp it by feel rather than through words.
- If it doesn't work well, make the area bigger — it's fine if players just get a picture of the play.
Use this drill in your own session
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4v2 Rondo (3 outside, 1 inside) — Attack4+2 players · U-10 and up · Keeping the ball, progressing
2v2 + 2 Servers Rondo — Losing Your Marker and the Third Player6 (2 + 2 servers + 2) players · U-11 and up · Keeping the ball, progressing
2v2+3 Rondo — Width and Depth with Your Teammates2+2+3 players · U-11 · Keeping the ball, progressing
4v4 + 2 Servers Possession (Directional)10 players · U-11 · Progressing
I'm Kazu — a youth football coach in Japan since 1995. These are sessions I actually use, shared from the Japanese coaching site I have run for years (Junior Soccer College). I also write a free weekly newsletter on how children learn the game.