4v4+4 Guardiola Soccer Rondo: STEP-BY-STEP Guide for Beginners

[@melissaschloneger9902]

Thank you for putting this on youtube. It is a variation on our basic 4v4+4 and will challenge my players.

[@PaulSpacey]

Glad you found it helpful Melissa; good luck with your team!

[@njiarmstrong1642]

i am so greatful and it has really help me to improve my boys

[@PaulSpacey]

I’m so glad it is helping your boys! 🙏

[@estiflijochuf.c6113]

Wow its amazing keep it up bro we expects more

[@PaulSpacey]

thanks, more to come!

[@HD-th6mt]

that was class

[@PaulSpacey]

Cheers HD! If you’re looking for something more substantial in terms of a coaching program, check out my website pauljspacey.com

[@MK-pz6vv]

The training you displayed first is a 4v4 + 3

[@PaulSpacey]

Yes, the original version of this exercise. But it evolved to 4v4+4, which is what the video focuses on.

[@nofurtherwest3474]

For very beginners, can you start with a basic passing pattern with no pressure?

[@PaulSpacey]

Absolutely. Simply remove the defending team from the middle and have the outside team plus the neutral players pass the ball quickly with 2-touches maximum, while moving around but with no opponents. This gets them used to the shape and angles of passes they will be making. You can progress to opponents once players are comfortable passing the ball quickly and accurately.

[@nofurtherwest3474]

@@PaulSpacey Thanks! In general, when they are passing, do you try to tell the passer to pass to the receiver's front foot? (ie the foot closer to the opponent's half) will this make it easier to control and pass again? eg I'm assuming the left back will want to pass up to his mid using his left foot correct? so should he receive it on his left too, ideally?

[@PaulSpacey]

Depends how you look at it; front or back foot, whichever is the furthest away from the opponent closest to them. Mostly, you want players to be receiving with an open body shape so that’s likely going to be their back foot.

[@footballphilosophy2023]

What's the rules on how many players can leave the rectangle when the ball is with the outer players

[@PaulSpacey]

No restrictions other than the outside players cannot go more than a couple of steps backwards, otherwise the size of the space becomes irrelevant. Nobody is ‘immune’ to being challenged basically.

[@footballphilosophy2023]

@@PaulSpacey thanks appreciate the feedback. Often we get kids running off away from the box. This sime tweak of a few steps back is good and effective

[@gkarma15]

What if the neutral player’s pass gets intercepted? Does the offense and defense switch?

[@PaulSpacey]

Yes. Quickly.

[@hungrytime3343]

May l change to 2vs2vs2 and 3vs3vs3 ? And how to play ?

[@PaulSpacey]

This exercise is positional, so the numbers are required from that perspective. You have full backs and wingers on the outside with either a GK or center back at one end then a striker at the other end; neutrals in the middle are 6’s or 8 and 10. There’s a good reason this exercise is so popular and used by virtually every top level club at one time or another; it is very effective and the setup is positionally realistic. If you want an exercise with less numbers of players, check out our possession pressure drill video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2m8d4eZnNGdetU

[@hungrytime3343]

@@PaulSpacey I go to this link and Thank you , I will use them to train several kids in Thailand

[@PaulSpacey]

You’re welcome. Good luck with the training!

[@yunisharai428]

What do we do if defender caught the ball?

[@PaulSpacey]

They immediately switch places with the four players on the other team and move to the outside of the area. It is a transition exercise where you are constantly defending or attacking; the four neutral players always play with the team on the outside of the area.

[@SuperFootballDrills]

For real beginners I'd stop the play when the defenders win the ball and then progress to transitioning quickly. I think you need to include the key coaching points otherwise you're just coaching the practice.

[@PaulSpacey]

There are definitely benefits to stopping the play at times, particularly if the same mistakes are being made frequently. You just don’t want to get into the habit of stopping play too much for the sake of it; the coach talking is way less important than young players getting time on the ball to figure out problems themselves.

[@SuperFootballDrills]

@@PaulSpacey It was more about stopping to get the players used to transitioning between attack and defence (attackers moving inside and defenders moving outside) until they get the hang of it rather than making any lengthy coaching intervention.

[@PaulSpacey]

Got it, in that case you’re spot on. Young players often need that reminder before it becomes habit 🧠

[@obiksobri4077]

👍👍👍👍👍