Rondos: 50 Training Tasks PDF

Rondos: 50 Training Tasks – The Art and Science of Football’s Most Effective Drill

Introduction: The Rondo Revolution

In the intricate tapestry of football training methodologies, few exercises have achieved the mythical status and universal adoption of the rondo. More than a simple warm-up or passing drill, the rondo is a microcosm of the beautiful game itself—a dynamic, high-intensity, and intellectually demanding practice that hones every facet of a player’s abilities. Rondos: 50 Training Tasks by Adri Jiménez is not just a collection of exercises; it is a masterclass in this fundamental component of modern football. This comprehensive guide delves deep into the art, science, and practical application of rondos, providing coaches with an extensive playbook to develop technically proficient, tactically intelligent, and mentally sharp players.

The widespread use of the rondo by the world’s elite clubs and coaches, from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to the philosophies explored in the UEFA Pro License Course, is a testament to its unparalleled effectiveness. This eBook serves as the ultimate resource for understanding and implementing this cornerstone of contemporary coaching.

The Philosophy: Why the Rondo is King

The rondo’s supremacy is built upon a powerful coaching philosophy that aligns perfectly with the modern game’s demands. It is the practical embodiment of the principle that the game is the best teacher.

• A Holistic Training Tool: Unlike isolated drills, a well-designed rondo simultaneously develops technical skills, tactical understanding, physical conditioning, and psychological resilience. It forces players to execute under pressure, making decisions in a confined space that replicates the intensity of a match.
• The Foundation of a Playing Philosophy: For teams that value possession, the rondo is the foundational exercise. It ingrains the principles of support, movement, and circulation of the ball. The habits formed in these small-sided battles directly translate to maintaining possession and controlling the tempo in an 11v11 match.
• A Mental Workout: The rondo is a game of chess played at high speed. It demands constant scanning, anticipation, and quick thinking. Players learn to read the game, predict passing lanes, and understand spatial relationships, which are core concepts explored in the UEFA A Licence: The Complete Coach’s Guide.

Deconstructing the Rondo: Key Components and Variables

A resource like 50 Training Tasks would empower coaches to master the variables that define a rondo, allowing for infinite customization and targeted outcomes.

• Space: The size and shape of the playing area are crucial. A smaller space increases pressure and demands quicker play, while a larger area allows for more time and focuses on longer passing and switching play.
• Player Numbers: The classic format is a numerical overload (e.g., 4v1, 5v2, 6v3). The ratio of attackers to defenders dictates the level of pressure and the complexity of decision-making.
• Touch Limitations: Imposing touch limits (e.g., one or two touches) dramatically increases the pace of the drill, improves first touch, and forces players to think ahead of the ball.
• Scoring Systems: Moving beyond simple possession counts. Points can be awarded for specific actions: a certain number of consecutive passes, a pass that splits defenders, or a successful nutmeg, making the drill more competitive and objective-driven.
• Positional Constraints: Introducing positional rules (e.g., players must stay in their zone, or a central player is always neutral) helps train specific tactical patterns and player roles.

The 50 Tasks: A Glimpse into the Drill Arsenal

While the eBook would contain 50 specific setups, they can be broadly categorized by their primary training objective.

1. Technical Mastery Rondos

These tasks are designed to hone specific technical actions under pressure.

• Focus: One-touch passing, receiving with back foot, using non-dominant foot, sharp volleying.
• Sample Task: A 4v1 rondo in a very small circle where players are limited to two touches and must use their weak foot for every second pass.
• Coaching Point: Body shape and preparation before receiving the pass are paramount.

2. Tactical Intelligence Rondos

These exercises train players to understand and execute tactical concepts.

• Focus: Creating overloads, third-man runs, switching the point of attack, breaking lines.
• Sample Task: A 6v3 rondo in a rectangular grid. The six attackers must make a minimum of five passes before attempting a “line-breaking” pass to a target player on the outside. This directly trains the principle of penetration, a key theme in the Principles of Play (Attacking).
• Coaching Point: Encourage players to use eye contact and body feints to disguise their intention before playing the penetrating pass.

3. Position-Specific Rondos

These drills are tailored to the demands of specific positions on the pitch.

• Focus: For central midfielders: receiving under pressure and playing forward. For defenders: quick combinations to play out of a press.
• Sample Task: A 4v2 rondo designed to mimic a double pivot in midfield against two pressing forwards. The two central players must work together to retain possession and find the two wide players, simulating a game scenario.
• Coaching Point: The movement of the players without the ball to create passing angles is critical.

4. Transition Rondos

These are advanced rondos that incorporate the moment of losing and regaining possession—the most critical phase in modern football.

• Focus: Instant counter-pressing upon loss of possession and quick attacking transitions upon winning it back.
• Sample Task: A 5v3 rondo where if the three defenders win the ball, they must immediately pass to a target player outside the grid to score a point. This trains the immediate reaction to press and transition, a hallmark of philosophies like Marcelo Bielsa’s Football Philosophy.
• Coaching Point: The reaction of the players who lose the ball must be immediate and aggressive.

5. Large-Sided and Directional Rondos

These are complex exercises that bridge the gap between traditional rondos and full-sided games.

• Focus: Integrating rondo principles into larger areas of the pitch with directional objectives (e.g., progressing towards a goal).
• Sample Task: A 8v4+2 directional rondo across a 30×20 meter grid. The eight attackers must work the ball to one end line to score, while the four defenders and two neutral players try to prevent this. This is essentially a phase of play drill built on rondo principles.
• Coaching Point: Emphasis on width, depth, and support to progress the ball effectively.

Integrating Rondos into a Holistic Training Plan

The true power of this eBook lies in showing coaches how to weave these 50 tasks into a coherent training plan. A session structured around rondos might look like this:

1. Activation (5 mins): A simple, low-pressure rondo (e.g., 5v2) to get players mentally and physically engaged, serving as a dynamic warm-up with the ball.
2. Technical/Tactical Rondo (15 mins): Select a rondo from the eBook that focuses on the session’s theme. For a session on playing through a press, use a position-specific rondo for defenders and midfielders.
3. Expanded Application (20 mins): A larger small-sided game or phase of play that allows players to apply the skills and concepts from the rondo in a more game-realistic scenario. This follows the “Whole-Part-Whole” coaching methodology.
4. Conditioned Game (20 mins): A full-sized game with conditions that reinforce the session’s objective.

This structured approach ensures that the rondo is not an isolated activity but the engine room of the entire session’s learning objective.

The Coach’s Role: Facilitator of Learning

During a rondo, the coach’s role is to observe and intervene with precise feedback. 50 Training Tasks would provide key coaching points for each exercise. The coach should:

• Observe: Look for technical execution, decision-making, and body shape.
• Intervene: Stop play at times to highlight good examples or correct errors.
• Ask Questions: “Where could you have looked?” “Why did you choose that pass?” This promotes player discovery.
• Manipulate Variables: If the drill is too easy, make the area smaller or add a defender. If it’s too hard, enlarge the space or give the attackers an extra touch.

This active coaching approach is a skill developed through courses like the AFC B Diploma and is detailed in practical resources like the UEFA B License Coaching Sessions.

Conclusion: Mastering the Microcosm of the Game

Rondos: 50 Training Tasks is an indispensable encyclopedia for the modern football coach. It elevates the rondo from a simple exercise to a sophisticated, multi-layered training tool that is the heartbeat of a contemporary soccer training program. By providing 50 detailed tasks, it offers a lifetime of variation and targeted development, ensuring that training remains engaging, challenging, and effective for players of all levels.

Mastering the rondo is to understand the soul of possession-based football. It is the foundation upon which teams like Barcelona, Manchester City, and top academies like the Leicester City Football Club Academy have built their success. This eBook provides the key to that kingdom. It is a call to embrace a methodology that produces not just robotic passers, but intelligent, creative, and resilient footballers who are prepared for the relentless demands of the modern game.

---

External Resources for Further Learning:

The FA – Practice Designs: The English FA’s resources on designing effective practices, including possession sessions.

The Coaches’ Voice – Rondos: Tactical analysis of how top coaches use rondos.

Training Ground Guru – The Rondo: Insight into the science and application of rondo practices at elite clubs.

Soccer Awareness – Rondo Theory: A website dedicated to the theoretical underpinnings of possession practices.

YouTube – Rondo Compilations: Visual examples of professional teams executing complex rondos in training.