Play this like a Rondo where if you split the defenders and hit the cone keeping possession of the ball. The pressing team must try to win the ball and prevent the possession team hitting the cone.
Why use it
The main content is geared to pressing and protecting. It holds both physical and technical attributes and helps develop player psychology in terms of the demands and skills required when defending the 18-yard box.
Set up
You need balls, bibs, cones and a traffic cone. Set up an area 10 x 10 yards with a 2 x 2 yard centre zone with a traffic cone inside it. We used 6 players in the session.
How to play
Set up as many 10×10-yard boxes, as you need depending on your squad size. Attackers must stay outside the square keeping possession, trying to knock over the central traffic cone. Defenders must press and protect. They are not allowed to go into the shaded area, with their objective being to win the ball as many times as possible whilst preventing the traffic cone from being hit. We play this with 60-second repetitions, instructing defenders to press aggressively, with a secondary press and support. We are looking for body contact – no bobbing, no pointing – just simple, quick, aggressive pressing and, ultimately, an interception
Technique
Pressing technique versus possession so good passing movement and support play for both sets of players
1. Attackers pass the ball between themselves trying to set up a chance of scoring a goal by knocking the cone over.2. The defenders role is to cover passing lines and block any passes as the defending team try to keep possession and create an opening3. Here a shot hits the cone in the centre knocks in it over and a point is secured
4. The defenders must support each other organise properly, press opponents and intercept the ball
Anticipate the ball being played through the lines and intercept passes by blocking passing routes. Players will also need to be able to tackle and win the ball MORE
Teams can turn up and launch long balls behind your defenders. This game will get players watching for, and reacting to, the danger of the long ball. MORE
Use this session to teach players to press opponents high up the pitch – so they can win the ball nearer to the goal. By pressing quickly and working together, attackers will win the ball back nearer the opponent’s goal and have a greater chance of scoring.
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This session replicates situations where midfielders can find themselves outnumbered and a timely tackle is needed to stop the move in its tracks. MORE
The defending team is coached how to get into formation in a match when they have lost the ball and how to quickly assemble a zonal defence. After using our first session, run this and allow players to make decisions on where to defend at the corner. MORE
Rondos are ideal for training, for warm-ups, for pre-season and to get players in the mood for working hard. They are directly related to the principles of play and link into systems of play – so 2v1 3v2 – and that works into practising formations at all age groups. MORE