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Sprinting Rondos
By Anthony Hazelwood
The following activity has three 10 yd. x 10 yd. rondo areas at 15 yards away from each other. Each rondo grid will have 5 players and they will play a 4 vs. 1 activity. When playing, the defender in the middle just needs to touch the ball to rotate with another player. At the coach’s signal, the players will print clockwise to the next rondo grid located 15 yards away. The last player to reach the grid will start in the middle. These types of activities are great for athletic speed development. Rest times should be extensive as to completely recover for the next signal. It’s important that each sprint is done maximally — proper rest between sprints is important. 30 seconds rondo play before each sprint should be performed as this activity helps adapt the creatine phosphate system.
When preparing the activity, if needed, concentration and difficulty levels may be increased by having players execute something extra unique by setting more restrictions. Every activity may be modified, and it is up to the coach to be creative. However, it is important to respect the parameters of the exercise time, the rest, the types of actions used and the weekly periodization of the activity.
Additionally, it is beneficial to train a soccer team and its players with all the elements of the game is present in the session. By doing so, it will promote soccer specific adaptations to the player’s body, mind, and emotional triad. Ultimately, these adjustments will enhance their real-time game performances on a physical, emotional, conscious, and subconscious mental level.
Area Size: Three 10 yd. x 10 yd. rondos
Total Activity Time: 10 minutes.
Sets: 2.
Number of Repetitions: 10
Recovery Interval Time between reps: 30 seconds.
Intensity: High.
Objectives:
• Tactical: Attacking Diamond shape in rondo – Proper supporting positions.
• Fitness: Maintain high intense corporal actions.
• Technique: Proper fitness and off/on the ball execution/techniques.
• Mental-Emotional: Players fully engaged and concentration is high.
• Concentration Level: High.
Setup:
• Create Three 10 yd. x 10 yd. rondo grids.
• Place five players in each grid and make it a 4 vs. 1 scenario.
• Begin playing a 4 vs. 1 for 30 seconds.
• On the coach’s whistle, players sprint clockwise to the next rondo grid.
• To add, if the coach whistles twice, the players will sprint counter clockwise.
Activity Progression:
• One touch play.
• One – Two touch play.
Coaching Points:
• High intensity.
• Proper technique and Proper Exercise Movement.
By Anthony Hazelwood
Coach Anthony is a USSF “A” licensed coach with an M.S. in Sports Training and Nutrition and a B.S. in Physical Education. Currently, he is an Assistant and Sports Performance coach with the Miami FC. He has previous European youth academy coaching experience as a soccer fitness and strength/conditioning assistant coach with Levante U.D. and Getafe SAD in Valencia and Madrid, Spain.