Every footballer in the history of the game looks a better player when they have space.\u00a0 But how to find this rare entity in a sport where physical fitness is improving all the time, and players are able to close down their opposition, track runners and generally ensure that a mistake is never more than a pass or two away? The answer is to develop the ability to play at speed, with an excellent first touch.\u00a0 The best way to achieve this is to use Rondos.<\/span><\/p>\n Developed by the great Spanish times of the noughties, these drills see one side weighted with extra players.\u00a0 This means that skills can be developed against some opposition.\u00a0 Pressure is created but it is controlled.\u00a0 Space is reduced as players\u2019 touch improves, so that speed of thought and movement is enhanced.<\/span><\/p>\n Rondos deliver results, but they must be practiced regularly and with intensity. Here are five drills rondos for creating space in midfield.\u00a0 Work in as small a space as the skill level and experience of our teams allow.\u00a0 Rondo drills can (and should) be used from the youngest children\u2019s teams to the highest levels of the professional game.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Here, a small grid is set up.\u00a0 One striker and two defenders operate inside the grid.\u00a0 Four further attackers remain outside the grid, one along each line of it.\u00a0 The ball is played through the attacker in the grid to create space for a player to receive the ball.<\/span><\/p>\n As players improve their touch in the drill, the grid is made smaller.\u00a0 The coach encourages one and two touch passes, with the receiver always receiving the ball with their body open, so they can pass in any direction.\u00a0 All players look to remain on the move.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Here players operate inside a grid.\u00a0 Again, work to a size which puts pressure on players, but does not make the drill harder than their skill level.\u00a0 In this drill we are seeking to achieve two aims.\u00a0 Firstly, our team are looking to make triangles so the player in possession always has a choice of passes.<\/span><\/p>\n We are also looking for the team to think ahead, so that they are moving into a position to receive a pass one or two touches ahead.\u00a0 This way, the defence will become stretched and space will be created for a pass which switches play and creates the space for which the team are looking.<\/span><\/p>\n Again, the coach should aim to get his or her players passing quickly, with one or two touches, and be constantly on the move.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In this drill, there are two grids.\u00a0 There is a large one (say, 25m x 25m) and a much smaller 5m x 5m grid in the centre of it.\u00a0 (Adapt sizes to the skill level of players).\u00a0 The central grid can only be occupied by one attacker, and no other player is permitted to enter it,<\/span><\/p>\n Using skills of touch, rapid passing, forming triangles and movement, the aim is to draw the defence towards one side, then pass through the central player to switch the ball to where space exists.<\/span><\/p>\n The defence is then forced to move across the pitch to try to win back possession.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Transition is the term given in soccer when possession changes hands.\u00a0 Effective use of passing during transition can create good opportunities to launch effective attacks.<\/span><\/p>\n Here, we use half of the pitch.\u00a0 There are three teams of five; in our diagram blues are in possession, reds are defense and yellows are neutral.\u00a0 This team plays with whichever side is in possession.<\/span><\/p>\n Three neutral players are put in \u2018safe\u2019 zones, where they can receive a pass unchallenged.\u00a0 One is in the halfway circle, two in the penalty box.\u00a0 (In a smaller, youth pitch, teams can be of four, with just one neutral player in the penalty area.)<\/span><\/p>\n The attacking side seek to maintain possession, with the specific goal of stretching the defense to create space in the middle.\u00a0 Therefore, they need to get players wide to draw out the defense, while moving late into central areas.<\/span><\/p>\n The defense aims to restrict space in the center by pressing the ball and staying tight.\u00a0 When possession is lost, the two competing teams switch roles, with the neutral team remaining on the side of the, now new, offense.<\/span><\/p>\n Once more, touch, speed, triangles and vision are needed, while this drill also makes a good practice for the defense.\u00a0 Clear communication is also valuable, since players will not have long on the ball.\u00a0 Skills learned in the other drills, such as switching the play, will help to create space.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Our final drill seeks to recreate the fluidity of match play while retaining the discipline and intensity of a rondo practice.<\/span><\/p>\n We have three 12m x 12m grids (size can be adapted depending on ability of players \u2013 weaker and less experienced soccer players require more space).\u00a0 The grids sit end to end.\u00a0 There are two teams \u2013 one of nine and one of five.\u00a0\u00a0 The offense \u2013 blues in our diagram below \u2013 have one player in grid three (the attacker); four in grid two (the midfield) and two in grid one (the center backs).\u00a0 The defense (reds) have two players in grid one, two in grid two and one in grid three.\u00a0 Players in the central grid may move into one of the other grids, but there can be no more than any one player from a team doing this at any one time.\u00a0 They can only move into a new grid if the ball is in it.<\/span><\/p>\n The final attacking player wait beyond grid three, and the attacking team seek to get the ball to this player in order to \u2018score\u2019, after which the play begins again in grid one.\u00a0 Swap players after five minutes.\u00a0 Passes must be into a grid; it is not permitted to pass through a grid.<\/span><\/p>\n Thus, the attacking side must communicate, make angles for passes, received and protect the ball \u2013 indeed use all the skills we have worked on in this blog.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n True fans will declare that soccer is more than a game, it is an art form.\u00a0 And that art is at its best when the ball is played intricately through midfield until, suddenly, space is opened up and a goal is scored.\u00a0 Here are ten great team goals to enjoy, and who knows, with enough rondos, perhaps our own team will soon be playing like the sides in the compilation.<\/span><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hOkSQf5p8Tk<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\nRondo Soccer Drill One:\u00a0 Simple 5 v 2 Maintaining Possession<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"rondos](\"https:\/\/www.abiprod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Combination-Rondos-1-300x280.png\")
<\/span><\/p>\nRondo Soccer Drill Two: Triangle<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"rondos](\"https:\/\/www.abiprod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Combination-Rondos-2-300x283.png\")
<\/span><\/p>\nRondo Soccer Drill Three:\u00a0 Switching Play Rondos
<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n![\"rondos](\"https:\/\/www.abiprod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Combination-Rondos-3-300x283.png\")
<\/span><\/p>\nRondo Soccer Drill Four: Transition Rondos
<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n![\"rondos](\"https:\/\/www.abiprod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Combination-Rondos-4-300x284.png\")
<\/span><\/p>\nRondo Soccer Drill Five:\u00a0 Under Pressure<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"rondos](\"https:\/\/www.abiprod.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Combination-Rondos-5-300x280.png\")
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