Week 26 Rondos & SAQs

Instructions/Setup:

This pre-season practice focuses on combining high-intensity short movements with quick one-touch passing. Set up four playing areas, one in each corner of the field, with a physical activity station between each zone. Split the players into teams of four, with one player from a fifth team assigned as defenders. Each team starts in one of the four playing areas, looking to maintain possession while avoiding the defenders. If a defender wins the ball, the coach blows the whistle to signal the teams to move anti-clockwise to the next zone, where they perform a speed and agility exercise before continuing the game. Ensure that the defensive team is rotated periodically to maintain intensity and fairness.

Coaching Notes:

• Quick Passing and Decision-Making – Encourage players to keep the ball moving quickly with one-touch passes. Focus on quick decision-making to ensure the ball moves efficiently and effectively through the team.

• Short, Sharp Movements – Emphasize the importance of quick, explosive movements to evade defenders and create space for receiving the ball. Players should move dynamically and stay on their toes to react quickly to the ball.

• Defensive Pressure – Defenders should apply pressure without overcommitting, aiming to force the attacking players into making quick decisions. Encourage defenders to read the play and anticipate passing lanes.

• Speed and Agility – The physical activity stations should be used to enhance the players' ability to quickly change direction, accelerate, and decelerate. These exercises should be integrated into the practice to complement the technical work and improve players' agility and fitness.

Progression 1: Increase Defensive Pressure

Increase the number of defenders in each zone, adding more pressure on the attacking teams. This will challenge the attacking players to move the ball faster and be more creative in maintaining possession.

Focus: Improve the ability to keep possession under greater defensive pressure and adjust to more challenging game scenarios.

Progression 2: Add a Time Limit for Possession

Introduce a time limit for each team to maintain possession in each zone (e.g., 30 seconds) before switching to the next zone. This encourages faster decision-making and sharp transitions between zones.

Focus: Develop quicker reactions and transitions under time pressure, emphasizing the importance of maintaining possession while under the clock.