To meet the conditional demands of the microcycle’s duration day (MD-3), coaches can rely on specific didactic strategies applied through different training tasks. These strategies allow the workload and type of effort to be properly adjusted, helping players strike the right balance between physical preparation and recovery ahead of the next match.
In order to comply with the conditional parameters corresponding to the endurance day of the microcycle, MBP Coaches’ School recommends using different didactic strategies. Below is a list of the most recommended ones:
1. Didactic Strategies: Rondo
The Rondo is a task that can focus on different dimensions depending on the day of the microcycle: ludic rondos work on the socio-affective structure; tactical rondos develops the cognitive structure; and the conditional rondo, ideal for an endurance day, prioritises the conditional structure. In the latter, it is recommended to increase the numerical superiority of the attackers to maintain a high tempo and subject the defenders to high-intensity efforts.
This type of rondo, like the others, is very useful in the activation phase or in the main sub-phase of the session, as it allows you to work on technical fundamentals and coordination aspects.
Image 1. Example of a Conditional Rondo. Source: MBP Coaches’ School
2. Didactic Strategies: Positional Game
Positional Games are continuous tasks in which players occupy specific positions and can be trained in the activation phase, the main sub-phase or the main phase of the session, generally with medium-high complexity. Although they can be performed in small spaces, for the endurance session (MD-3) it is recommended to use medium or large spaces, adapting the size to the number of players and favouring the development of longer movements.
The most suitable for this day are bidirectional or unidirectional positional games, ranging from 6v6+2 neutras to 8v8+3 neutrals in medium spaces, and real positional games, which take place between 9v9 and 11v11 in large spaces.
Image 2. Example of a Real Positional Game. Source: MBP Coaches’ School
3. Didactic Strategies: Games to 11
The Games to 11 are the tasks that most closely resemble real-life gameplay and bring us closer to the highest competitive level during training. They are mainly used in the main phase of the session, especially on endurance training days (MD-3), although some parameters can sometimes be adjusted for activation days (-1).
These are highly complex tasks, in which all players occupy specific positions and can be played from 11v8 to 11v1. To reflect competitive reality, on an endurance day, 11-a-side games should always be continuous, avoiding interruptions that break the physiological and tactical load of the task; however, it is advisable to do between 2 and 4 sets of 10-15 minutes each. Another key feature is that they allow the team’s playing style to be worked on directly, integrating tactical, physical and technical aspects simultaneously.
Image 3. Example of a Games to 11. Source: MBP Coaches’ School
With the above in mind, and with a clear understanding of the needs to be met on this day of the microcycle (MD-3), these didactic strategies are ideal thanks to their format and characteristics, although they can also be used on other days of the microcycle with some modifications.
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In the Master in High Performance Football, you will learn a comprehensive and complete method of tactical training, which will give you an in-depth understanding of all the structures of high-performance football. You will apply the basics of structured training and its relationship with Individual Fundamentals by Position (IFP), and discover how to train the team using complex thinking, relating it to Universal Collective Fundamentals and Group Line Fundamentals.
