Training Analysis: Rondos in football training

The rondo has become a classic in football training and nearly every coach has already used rondos in training sessions. But why have rondos become so popular and what makes them so effective in football training?

In the following analysis, we aim at explaining the basic principles of rondos in football training and their advantages. Moreover, we are going to provide some rondo variations which can be of use for your football training.

The definition of the rondo

The term “rondo” appears regularly, whether on a professional level or on a grassroots level. Basically, the rondo is a game with the team in possession of the ball having numerical superiority. The main goal for the team with the ball is to maintain possession and circulate the ball whereas the outnumbered opposition attempt to win the ball.

Above, one can see one of the simplest rondo forms (5v2). This variation contains the most fundamental aspects of a rondo (two sides with one being in possession with a numerical superiority) with a relatively low complexity. This form is often used during warm up to mentally and physically prepare the players for the main part of the session.

Usually, rondos in their purest and most simple form are non-directional and do not include goals. However, more advanced variations sometimes include goals and can therewith be directional as well. And this enables coaches to structure their sessions with progressing rondo variations and to lay the focus on certain principles fitting to the tactics.