Table of Contents
Pump Up Your Team’s Pressing, Possession and Pressure
Elevate your team’s possession game and defensive pressure with the high-intensity Rondo – 6 vs 2 Ball Chase drill! This dynamic session, perfect for groups of 10 players (plus a coach), injects a dose of adrenaline while honing passing accuracy, movement, and responsiveness. In just 20 minutes, you’ll witness a significant improvement in your team’s ability to dominate possession under pressure.
Let’s break down the drill’s organization, process, variations, and coaching cues.
Organization:
- Mark out two square playing areas: 12 meters x 12 meters each.
- Maintain a 10-meter gap between the two squares.
- Divide your players into two teams.
- Assign five players (White) to each of the two squares.
- The remaining players (Red) form pairs and become the defenders.
- Position the defenders with the coach at a designated “ball depot” approximately 15 meters away.
Drill Process:
- The Coach Initiates: The coach injects the ball into one of the playing fields.
- Red on the Hunt: The first designated Red defender pair sprints into action, aiming to win the ball from the White team in that specific field.
- White Reinforcement: A White player from the opposite field can join the possession team, creating a temporary 6 vs 2 scenario.
- Winning the Ball: Once Red successfully wins the ball, the coach plays it into the other field.
- Red Pair Rotation: The next Red defender pair takes the field, with the option for a White player to switch fields for continued 6 vs 2 play.
- Duty Swap: After a set time (e.g., 2 minutes), switch the roles of White (attackers) and Red (defenders).
Variations:
- Limited Contact: Introduce a variation where players can only make light contact when challenging for the ball, promoting skill and control over brute force.
Coaching Cues:
- Sharpen the Passing Game: Emphasize quick and accurate passing among the White team, maintaining possession under pressure.
- Explosive Acceleration: Encourage Red defenders to explode into action when the ball enters their designated field.
- Masterful Changes of Direction: Highlight the importance of sharp changes of direction by both attackers and defenders to create space and win the ball.
- React and Respond: Promote a mentality of quick reactions and anticipation among all players, adapting to the dynamic flow of the drill.
- Duel Mentality: Foster a competitive spirit during the 2 vs 6 situations, emphasizing the importance of winning individual battles that contribute to overall team success.
- Majority/Minority: For a more advanced variation, implement a “Majority/Minority” rule. For example, if there are 4 White players in one field and 2 in the other, the “Majority” field has an advantage and requires Red to win the ball within a shorter timeframe.
Related Article: Rondo Pairs Drill for Soccer 4+1 vs 2