Rondos and Small Sided Exercises

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Read time: 3 minutes.

The modern game of soccer that so many coaches, fans and kids around the world, want to play and watch is the quick intercut passing the has stemmed from Pep Guardiola’s teams over the years and Spain’s era of dominance from 2008 to 2012. Everyone including the goalie being comfortable with the ball at their feet and under pressure. This style of soccer comes with a huge responsibility for each player out on the pitch as well as an immense risk because of the potential for a goal to be scored if the ball is given away, but above all else this style offers a beautiful illustration of how the game can be played and catches the eye of so many.

The traditional approach of playing the ball long to the striker or into the channel for a forward to chase down was effective for so long. Because it requires the least amount of skill; each player has a very simple clear instruction and the chances of conceding a goal from a mistake whilst playing this system is a lot lower. This approach can still be effective, and still exists among the top leagues around the world, but the more popular and desired approach is to play possession football.

This has developed from the creation of rondos, the exercise was created by the great Johan Cruyff in 1988, “the rondo is everything you need in football” is how he describes them, but its use and popularity accelerated from 2008. The exercise itself is very simplistic and easy to do, however you can set certain limitations or requirements on each of those who have the ball to make it difficult or to make them think more when playing. These can be, you must reach a certain number of passes for them to stay in, the outside players must take a required number of touches before they can pass, or they must take less than a certain number of touches. This game is a great way to develop players’ ability to keep the ball whilst under pressure from opponents. No matter what approach you use to play the game there will always be a time when you have the ball, and you are being pressured by the opposition, somewhere across the pitch. Through this exercise you can develop a player’s ability to manipulate the ball, disguise their passes, and control or play with a variety of different techniques.

We asked Victor Olorunfemi his thoughts on Rondo’s who has had experience coaching and playing the beautiful game and a variety of different levels. Having played Division 1 soccer for UMKC and Dayton in college and Semi-professionally for FC Wichita, before starting his career in coaching where he now has the opportunity to coach the next generation at Rush Soccer club.

“Every coach dreams of developing highly intelligent players and teams capable of solving any dilemma the game may present. And there isn’t a drill out there that works on the first touch, passing, anticipation, off-ball movement, and technique needed to be an intelligent player more than a rondo does.”

Small-sided games develop a very similar level of composure and comfortability of having the ball with opposition players around you. However, through these you can make the circumstances more game-like, with functional objectives such as scoring a goal or breaking out of the space into another area of the pitch as opposed to just keeping the ball for the sake of keeping it. When playing a game of soccer, the goal is always to progress up the field and ultimately score a goal, it is very difficult and unlikely for you to win a game without doing so. Therefore, these games create circumstances and make the environment that you are playing in very similar to what a game would be like. Therefore, when you step in a game you are comfortable with the ball at your feet and familiar with how to overcome the challenge and keep the ball for your team.

Composure on the ball is an element I hear discussed so much by pundits, parents, other coaches and ex-players as well. The ability to receive the ball with a defender on your back or to find the open man when you have 2 defenders bearing down on you. This is what taking part in these exercises builds in your game. Composure is having confidence in your own ability and not panicking when you are under pressure from opponents, whilst also understanding how to play your way out because of you have experience to rely on from all the times you have done the in training session when doing rondos or small sided games.

These exercises not only develop you as a player to be able to play the silky, much adored style currently. But also, a player all together, which is why I feel that they are such a crucial exercise to incorporate with your team no matter what the age group or ability level they are at.