Rondo: Back 4 + Midfield

Set up

Field

A single 24 x 16 yard area.

Players

10 or more players. Seven in possession: two centre backs (4) and (5), two full backs (2) and (3), a holding midfielder (6), and two higher midfielders (8) and (10). Three defenders press inside the area.

Balls

The coach or feeder supplies balls from the sideline.

How it runs

1. 1.The coach feeds a ball to one of the centre backs, and the three defenders press together toward it.
2. 2.The back four (4, 5, 2 and 3) move the ball between them, each one opening their body before it arrives so they can play either way.
3. 3.The holding midfielder (6) steps off the nearest defender's line to offer a pass through the block rather than around it.
4. 4.Up, back and through: into the 6, back to a centre back, then forward past the defenders into one of the higher midfielders (8) or (10).
5. 5.When the three defenders stay compact in the middle, the ball goes around them through the full backs instead, and the unit waits for the next way through.
6. 6.Count the passes out loud. Ten in a row by the possession unit is a point.
7. 7.If the defenders win it or the ball leaves the area, the coach feeds a new one to the player furthest from them and the count restarts at zero.

After each rep

Rotate the defenders after two minutes of work, or as soon as they win the ball. With ten players there is no spare group, so three of the possession unit take their place.

How to win

Set the target as 10 consecutive passes by the attacking unit, or use another scoring condition chosen by the coach.