Finishing
Third Man Run: Bend the Run and Finish
Time a third man run off two first-time passes: set off early, bend the run to stay onside, and go in behind the moment the through ball is played.
Duration
15 min
Total drill time
Players
10
Recommended
Pitch
Full Pitch
Setup space
Level
Intermediate
Skill required
Intensity
Medium
Physical demand
Age band
U11-U12
Any format
Setup & instructions
Set four cones in a T. Put the middle cone on the top of the D, about 20 metres from goal, and one cone 10 metres either side of it, level with it. Put the start cone 16 metres behind the middle cone with a pile of balls beside it. Full goal and keeper. Two or more players line up at the start cone, one stands at the middle cone, one at the left cone and one or two at the right cone. The front of the line pulls a ball from the pile and plays it up to the middle player, who steps to meet it and plays it first time out to the left. The left player comes inside off his cone to meet it and plays a first-time through ball into the box. The runner from the right cone sets off as the ball is played up to the middle. He curves in towards the middle cone, bowing his run away from goal so he stays level with the cones, as far as halfway between the two cones. Then he goes in behind as the through ball is played: a touch and a finish. Rotate: line to middle, middle to left, left across to the right cone, and the runner jogs round the outside to the back of the line.
Setup time: 5 min
Tactical breakdown
A third man run beats defenders who are watching the ball. Two players combine and the ball goes to a third who was never in the passing picture: here the middle player and the left player combine, and the runner from the right is the one who gets it in behind. Every pass is first time, so the runner's timing has to match the speed of the ball, not the other way round.
The run is the point of the drill. The runner sets off as soon as the ball is played up to the middle, which feels early, because he has a long way to come. He bends it: in towards the middle and bowed away from goal, so he stays level with the line of the cones the whole way. In a game that line is the last defender, and a straight run in behind at this moment would be offside.
He holds the line until halfway between the cones, then goes the moment the left player plays it. The through ball has to go into the space in front of him, not to his feet, so he takes it at full speed into the box. A touch out of his feet towards goal and an early finish beats a keeper who is still moving across.
The passers set the tempo. The middle player steps to meet the ball and plays it out in front of the left player, who comes inside off his cone and plays it through first time. A touch from either of them leaves the runner waiting on the line, and the run dies. The rotation sends every player through every role, so each one passes up the middle, plays the combination, and makes the run and the finish.
How to run this drill
- Set the T. The middle cone on the top of the D, a cone 10 m either side of it, the start cone 16 m behind it with a ball pile. A line at the start cone and one player on each of the other cones.
- Up to the middle. The front of the line plays it up to the middle player, who steps to meet it.
- Bend the run. As the ball goes into the middle, the runner on the right sets off: a curved run in towards the middle, bowed away from goal so he stays level with the cones.
- First time out to the left. The middle player plays it first time out to the left player, who comes inside off his cone to meet it.
- Through and finish. The left player plays it through first time and the runner goes in behind from halfway between the cones: a touch and a finish.
- Rotate. Line to middle, middle to left, left to the right cone, and the runner jogs round the outside to the back of the line.
Coaching focus
FROM SESSION PLANCoaching points
- Every pass first time: step to meet the ball and open your body to where it goes next
- Middle player: play it out in front of the left player as he comes inside, so he can play it through first time
- Runner: set off as the ball goes into the middle, not when the left player has it
- Runner: bend the run away from goal so you stay level with the cones, the offside line in a game
- Runner: stay level until the through ball is played, then go in behind at full speed
- Left player: play it into the space in front of the runner, not to his feet
- Finish: a touch out of your feet towards goal, then finish early before the keeper is set
Common mistakes
- Running straight in behind too early, which is offside in a game
- Running across the line and then stopping, so the run has no speed when the ball comes
- Setting off late, after the left player has the ball
- Taking a touch in the passing chain, which leaves the runner waiting
- Through ball played to the runner's feet, so he has to stop
- A heavy first touch that runs on to the keeper
Progressions & regressions
VARIATIONSProgressions
- A defender on the edge of the box holds the line, so the runner has to stay onside
- The left player chooses: through for the runner, or back into the middle player for a first-time strike if the runner has gone too early
- The runner has two touches at most: one to control, one to finish
- Mirror it: the runner starts on the left and the through ball comes from the right
Regressions
- Allow the middle and left players a touch before they pass
- The runner starts halfway between his cone and the middle cone
- Shorten the stem to about 12 metres so the first pass is easier
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