Episode 269: How to Use Foundational Rondos and Really Improve Your Players

The biggest misunderstanding of the rondo is that it’s been perceived as just circle keep away. Where you have some number of players on the perimeter and some defenders in the middle. The classic circle keep away warm-up. That’s what most coaches think a rondo is. As you’ll hear us say, rondos, especially foundational rondos, are typically misunderstood here in America. What people seem to not understand is that there are 15, 20, 30 different variations of a rondo all with varying geometries, position-specific, different responsibilities, all kinds of restrictions to bring a particular foundational lesson, and more. “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 (Legendary player for FC Barcelona and Holland) The conversation between John and Gary in this episode stemmed from a question that was submitted to us on Twitter about rondos. Specifically, the way that we use the 4v1 rondo with our teams.

Why do you have the players check all the way down to the cone towards the ball in rondos instead of reading where the defenders are and position themselves in a position to break lines? (I’ve only done phase 1 so I’m not sure if it changes in later years)

— marco devito (@CoachDeVito1) June 18, 2020

In order to orientate everyone going into this discussion, we’ll use some information provided by our friends at Soccer America. Definition of “rondo”: A game where one group of players has the ball while in numerical superiority (3v1, 5v2, 5v5+2 etc …) over another group of players. The basic objective of the group in numerical superiority is to keep possession of the ball while the objective of the group in numerical inferiority is to win the ball back. Rondos help develop the following areas:

• COGNITIVE.
• TECHNICAL COORDINATION.
• TEAM BUILDING. (mini-societies)
• CREATIVITY AND EXPRESSION.
• COMPETITIVENESS.
• PHYSICAL CONDITIONING.

Do you have more questions about rondos or the 4v1 rondo specifically? Drop your questions in the comment section below.

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