Rondo Pairs Game | Excellent for Young Players

Elevate ball control, passing, and teamwork in young’s (U11, U13, U15) training sessions with the dynamic Rondo Pairs Game! This engaging drill fosters a fun and competitive environment, ideal for honing essential football skills while promoting positive interaction amongst players. Also useful for other categories till professional teams during warm up.

Drill Organization:

• Players: 7 (2 players each for Blue, Green, and Red teams; 1 Yellow “Joker” player).
• Playing Area: Marked box (8 meters x 8 meters).
• Equipment: A football.

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Drill Process:

1. Team Formation: Divide players into three teams of two (Blue, Green, Red) and designate one player as the Yellow “Joker” (neutral player).
2. Starting Positions: Two players from any team (e.g., Blue) position themselves in the center of the box, while the remaining players (Green, Red, and the Yellow Joker) stand outside the box, forming pairs.
3. Possession Focus: The two players in the center (e.g., Blue) aim to maintain possession of the ball by dribbling and passing between themselves, avoiding attempts to win the ball by the outside pairs.
4. Joker’s Role: The Yellow Joker can join any outside pair to assist them in gaining possession from the central players.
5. Winning Possession: If an outside pair wins the ball (through a tackle or interception), they switch places with the central players, and the drill restarts.
6. Rotation: Periodically rotate the teams in the center and the Yellow Joker to ensure everyone gets a chance to practice both attacking (outside) and defending (center) roles.

Watch the accompanying video for a complete visual demonstration:

Coaching Cues:

• Ball Control & Passing: For all players, emphasize close ball control, accurate passing, and communication to maintain possession.
• Movement & Support: Encourage outside players to create space, make runs, and support their partner for effective passing options.
• Pressing & Scanning: For the team in the center, focus on pressing effectively and utilizing the space to win the ball back. The Yellow Joker should practice scanning the field to identify the best moment to join an outside pair.

Variations:

• Time Limit: Introduce a time limit (e.g., 30 seconds) for the central players to maintain possession, adding an element of pressure.
• Touch Limit: Implement a touch limit (e.g., 2 touches) for all players to encourage quicker ball movement and decision-making.
• Target Passing: Designate specific areas of the box for successful passes by the central players, challenging them to vary their passing strategies.

Benefits:

• Improves ball control and passing accuracy.
• Promotes teamwork and communication.
• Enhances movement and spatial awareness.
• Develops pressing and scanning skills.
• Provides a fun and engaging warm-up activity.

The Rondo Pairs Game is a valuable tool for young’s & kids teams coaches to cultivate essential football skills in a dynamic and enjoyable training environment. This drill can be easily adapted to cater to your players’ specific needs and development goals.

Related Article: High Pressing Rondo Game | 4vs2 to 3vs1

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