Using Rondos & Constraints to Teach the Game Model & Increase Soccer Intelligence

with Marcus DiBernardo,
Monroe College Head Men's Coach;
2019 NJCAA Division I National Champions (18-0);
2018 NJCAA Division I Women's National Champions (16-0-1);
6x NJCAA National Tournament appearances;
2019 United Soccer Coaches Men's Soccer Coaching Staff of the Year;
2018 United Soccer Coaches Women's Soccer Coaching Staff of the Year;
2012 NSCAA Coach of the Year

The famous Dutch player and coach Johan Cruyff, who implemented Rondos at FC Barcelona, described the drill: "Everything that goes on in a match, you can do in a Rondo. The competitive aspect, fighting to make space, what to do when in possession and what to do when you haven't got the ball, how to play `one touch' soccer, how to counteract the tight marking and how to win the ball back."

In this video, Marcus DiBernardo shows numerous ways on how to implement Rondos within your game model and the different constraints you can put on your players to increase their soccer intelligence. Coach DiBernardo displays 24 different Rondos with in-depth illustrations, both in animation and on the field that you can use for all phases of the game: attacking, defending, pressing, counter-pressing, finishing, transitions and more.

Rondos that Incorporate All Principles of the Game

Learn how to train your team by using Rondos effectively to get the most out of your training sessions. Coach DiBernardo explains the teaching points he emphasizes during the exercises:

• The movement and supporting angles needed from supporting players.
• Reading the play and making proper decisions based on the positioning of the player and ability to be a 360 degree player.
• Using a different variety of passing techniques within different Rondos.
• The importance of scanning and checking your shoulder for better vision.

Practice Segments

DiBernardo demonstrates how you can manipulate your sessions using different Rondos to emphasize your game model as a coach. With 24 different Rondos explained and showed on the field, he does an excellent job of showcasing how space and the number of players and restrictions that can be placed on players affect your game model - whether it's attacking, defending or transitional play. He covers his smallest Rondo, which is 3v1, and shows how he incorporates a 16v3 Rondo and everything in between. Whether it is directional, functional, position-specific, possession-based, or different unit objectives, Coach DiBernardo truly has a Rondo game specific to your team's needs.

This video includes a plethora of Rondo games and how Coach DiBernardo trains his teams to use them and be effective and efficient to dominate all areas of the field. Every coach must teach their players and team how to skillfully play through all phases of the game, and Rondos do just that and more.

51 minutes. 2021.