Football Association of Ireland

Attacking Defending

4-3-3 Positional Rondo

A Practice designed to improve players passing, positioning, decision making and movement with transition to defend within a 4-3-3 playing formation.

Key objectives

Quality and selection of pass
First touch/Body shape/Receive on Back Foot
Angles and Distance of support – triangle/diamond shapes
Width and depth – Penetrating Pass
Awareness of space and defender
Decision Making – speed of thought
Transition to Defend – can we win ball back as quickly as possible
Transition to Attack – width and depth as quickly as possible

Organisation

Area: 40 x 35 metres
5 Blues + 5 Reds v 5 Yellows
Blues (attacking) v Yellows (defending) compete to maintain possession using the neutral players (Reds) to combine with when in possession.
If the Yellow team wins the football from the Blue team, they must switch positions. Yellows transition from defense to attack while Blue team now transition from attack to defense.
When not in Possession Blues/Yellows can leave their position and press to win the ball back
Have a supply of footballs to keep the practice continually flowing
Play for 5 minutes with a 1 minute rest period

Session details

Attacking
Defending

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Session plan

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