Drills / Team practice

Rondo: 4 against 1

Four players keep the ball from one defender in the middle. If the defender wins it, the player who lost it goes in.

Players
Groups of 5
Space
10 × 10 m per group
Kit
1 ball, 4 cones per group, 1 bib
Time
12 minutes
Age
Under-9s and older
1234D
  • Us
  • Them
  • Pass
  • Run
  • Dribble

Set up

  • Mark a 10 m square. One player on each side, a defender in the middle.

How it works

  1. The four outside players pass the ball between them. They may move along their side.
  2. The defender tries to win it or touch it.
  3. The player who gave the ball away swaps with the defender.
  4. Count passes in a row. Ten in a row is a point.

What to work on

  • Move along your line to make an angle, so there is a clear path for the pass.
  • Open your body, so you can see more than one player to pass to.
  • Pass to the foot away from the defender.
  • Two touches at first, then one.

Easier

A bigger square. Or 5 against 1.

Harder

One touch. Or 4 against 2 in a 12 m square.

Skills this works on: receiving on the half-turn, shielding the ball. Each one has a close-up drawing of the feet.

Especially good for: central midfielder.

Planning a whole session? The session planner builds one around this kind of practice.

Try next

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