• A Rondo is a possession based exercise where the

attackers outnumber the defenders.

• The main objective of the Rondo is for the
attackers to keep the ball away from the
defenders.
• Rondos are played in a set area which can vary in
size depending on the number or ability of the
players
• Common Rondo formats can be 3v1, 3v2, 4v2, 5v2,
5v3, 6v3
• Rondo’s are great for developing, speed of play,
awareness, passing and receiving techniques,
good support play, teamwork, creativity and
defending.
• Rondo’s are often used as a warm up activity at
the start of the training session, however they can
also be used as part of the main session
 “Transitions have become crucial. When
the opponent is organised defensively, it
is very difficult to score. The moment
the opponent loses the ball can be the
time to exploit the opportunity of
someone being out of position. Similarly
when we lose the ball we must react
immediately. In training I sometimes
practice keeping a minimum of five
players behind the ball, so that when we
lose it we can still keep a good
defensive shape. The players must learn
to read the game – when to press and
when to return to their defensive
positions. Everybody says that set plays
win most games, but I think it is more
about transitions.” -

Jose Mourinho

Often coaches will forget to include transition when

using Rondo’s, simply the defender getting a touch
on the ball or kicking the ball out is considered
success. This would not be acceptable in a game,
therefore why should we accept this in training. In
this document I have provided some examples of
Rondo’s and demonstrated how to incorporate
transition within each exercise.
In this classic 6v2 Rondo warm up, to successfully
win the ball the 2 defenders must connect a pass
In this example on winning the ball the defender
passes into one of the attackers, and calls the name
of another player who switches to become the
defender
In this 4v2 Rondo, the defenders on winning the ball
attempt to dribble the ball out of the area
In this example the defenders on winning the ball
have to play a wall pass to exit the area
In this example 4 mini goals are placed on the side
of the area. The defenders on winning the ball can
score on any of the 4 goals
In this example, the defenders on winning the ball
would look to connect a pass with one of the 2
resting defenders on the outside of the area, on
playing the pass the 2 defenders would leave the
area to rest, and the resting defenders would pass
into the attackers and enter the area to become the
active defenders
In this 5v2 Rondo, the defenders on winning the ball
pass to a teammate in the opposite grid, on making
the pass they provide support, and 2 players from
the red team become the defenders creating another
5v2 Rondo
In this 4v4+3 Rondo, the defenders on winning the
ball pass to one of the 2 outside target players in
blue, and switch positions with the attackers who
become the defenders
In this 4v2 Rondo, the defenders on winning the ball
pass to one of the 4 players in the larger square to
create a 6v4 Rondo
In this 4v1 Rondo, the defender on winning the ball
connect a pass to one of their 3 teammates in one of
the 3 squares, on making the pass the other players
will provide support and one player from the other
team will become the defender creating another
4v1. The other players from the other team will
occupy the other 3 squares.
In this 6v4+2 Rondo, the defenders on winning the
ball look to shoot on either of the 2 goals
In this 5v2 Rondo on winning the ball the defenders
pass into one of the 2 target players and make a run
into the box to receive a pass for a shot on goal. The
defenders switch with the targets.
 “Everything that goes on in a match, except
shooting, you can do in a rondo. The competitive
aspect, fighting to make space, what to do when in
possession and what to do when you haven’t got the
ball, how to play ‘one touch’ soccer, how to
counteract the tight marking and how to win the ball
back.”

Johan Cruyff