3-5-2 Formation Rondo | Possession & Beating the High Press

Overview

• Middle school players through adults, especially teams running a back three
• Age groups that need to hold possession when the pressure comes flying in
• Players who want to really get the roles of the wing-back (#6) and the #10 down cold

Objectives

• Keeping the ball moving while holding your shape
• Learning to knit together possession play AND a quick reaction the second you lose it (pressing) — both at once
• Linking up the wing-back and the #10 to build an overload
• Fast decisions and sharp, accurate passing under pressure

Setup

This one keeps your back-three shape intact while you run a rondo through midfield, so players learn to play out of a high press.

１）Set up a 30m×30m square

２）Possession team: back three + midfielders + forwards (creating a 4v2 rondo shape through the middle)

３）Pressing team: start them off at a light, easy intensity

４）Possession team’s goal is to string together 10+ passes and keep the ball away from the press

５）The moment they win it back, the pressing team attacks right away — just like a real game

６）Play for 5 minutes, then switch attack and defense