Diego Simeone 3v3+3 Hexagonal Rondo

PLAYERS:

TIME:

15 min.

FOCUS:

Possession

AGE:

U12+

INTENSITY:

6/10

SETUP

Arrange 6 cones in a hexagon, with about 9 meters between each cone.
Divide the players into 3 teams of 3, each in a different colour of bib.
Place 2 teams on the outside of the hexagon, one player on each side, alternating so that no two teammates stand next to each other.
Place the third team inside the hexagon as defenders.
Have a supply of balls ready next to the grid to restart play quickly.
Adjust distances between cones based on the age and skill level of the players.

WHY USE THIS DRILL?

On the surface, this looks just like a 6v3 rondo, and it is. What makes Diego Simeone’s hexagonal rondo unique is that it is set up with 3 teams of 3, which turns every lost or won ball into a collective transition. The team that makes the mistake has to react instantly and switch roles, while the defenders who win the ball must immediately turn into attackers. That constant switching demands a high level of situational awareness, the kind of soccer IQ that wins games in tight moments.

This drill particularly focuses on:

Collective Transitions: Whole teams of three switch between attacking and defending together, not just one player at a time.
Situational Awareness: Players must always know where the ball, their teammates and the other outside team are, so they can react the moment possession changes.
Possession Under Pressure: The 6v3 overload rewards quick passing, good angles and scanning before receiving.
Reaction Speed: The team that loses the ball has to switch positions straight away, so there is no time to switch off.

HOW IT WORKS

The two outside teams work together to keep possession around the hexagon against the three defenders inside. In the illustration, blue 6 passes to pink 9, who moves the ball on to pink 10, who then finds blue 8 on the opposite side.

Whichever outside team loses the ball or makes a mistake swaps with the defenders on the fly. For example, if a red defender intercepts a pass from the blue team, the blue players sprint into the hexagon to defend, while red quickly looks for support from the pink team as they take up the blue players’ positions around the grid. Play continues without stopping, so the new attackers must keep the ball while the switch is still happening.

Coaching Flexibility: Rotate the starting roles every few minutes, and add a two-touch or one-touch limit for more experienced groups to raise the tempo.

OTHER KEY POINTS

Demand an immediate reaction when the ball is lost. The team that made the mistake should be inside defending within seconds.
Encourage the defenders who win the ball to look up and find the free outside team straight away rather than dribbling.
Encourage players to stay on their toes, maintaining a state of readiness to receive the ball.
The drill should be seen as inspiration. So feel free to adapt the drill to suit your team’s specific needs or focus areas.