4v2 Rondo — Finding the Target
Four attackers keep the ball from two defenders and hunt the pass into their target in the far half — land it and the whole game slides over, 4v2 again on the other side.
Keeping possession with a purpose — get connected, find the target, and feel what losing the ball costs, because winning it back two players down takes real pressure and real energy.
15 min tonight · 8 players — 5 attackers, 3 defenders (4v2)
- Ages 12+
- 8 players — 5 attackers, 3 defenders (4v2)
- 15 min as the drill is written
- Cones, pinnies, balls
Grab Cones for the grid and its halfway line, pinnies in two colors, and balls.
Build Build a 25-by-25 grid and split it in half with cones.
Place Four blue attackers and two yellow defenders in one half; the fifth blue is the target in the other half, marked 1v1 by the last yellow.
- 1
Organize the players
Eight players — five attackers in blue, three defenders in yellow. Four attackers and two defenders start in one half; the fifth attacker is the target in the other half with one defender marking them 1v1.
“Blues, you've got five — four here, one target over there. Yellows — two of you press here, one of you lives with the target.”
- 2
Show the jobs
Attackers play two-touch; the defenders have no limit. The four blues play 4v2 and look for the pass into the target. When it arrives, three attackers move over to the new half and one defender crosses to help win the ball — a new 4v2 in the new grid. If the target's defender wins the ball as it's played in, two defenders come over from the other half and keep it away from the target 3v1 — and when the target wins it back, they must play over to the three blues waiting in the other half.
“Two touches, keep it moving, and hunt that target. Hit them, and the game moves — three of you go join them.”
- 3
Play
The attacking team chases 10 changes before everyone rotates roles. If the defenders win the ball and connect 10 passes, the whole attacking team pays — push-ups, sit-ups, or sprints, whatever you decide. Watch the movement to keep possession, the passing angles, the support — and the pressure the instant the ball is lost.
“You lost it two players down — win it back now! Press!”
Look for High pressure the moment the ball is lost — immediate, because winning it back shorthanded takes real energy.
- 4
Switch and repeat
At 10 changes, rotate the players into different roles. For later rounds, tighten the touch limit for quicker speed of play.
“Ten changes! Everybody rotates — new target, new defenders. And we're playing quicker this round.”
If the possession never settles, resize the grid while they play — larger or smaller until it matches this group's skill.
Go deeper · 2 notes
Why it works
Losing the ball in the attacking half leaves the target two players down, so possession stops being casual — players feel the danger of getting dispossessed and the energy it takes to win the ball back.
What they learn
Movement to keep possession, good passing angles, movement to support the ball, finding the target player, and immediate high pressure to win back a lost ball.
Where does this come from?
SoccerXpert — their published drill library.
A published drill library. Useful and widely used, but not a governing body — so it fills gaps rather than leading.