Finishing
Time the Run: Wide, Set, Through and Finish
Combine through three stations and finish, with the runner timing a curved run across the mannequin line so he arrives onside as 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
Use the penalty area and about 35 metres outside it, a full goal and a keeper. Stand two mannequins on the edge of the box, just outside the D, about 17 metres apart. Stand a third mannequin centrally about 27 metres from goal. Put a cone about 11 metres either side of it, level with it: a wide player stands at one, a runner at the other, and a central player stands beside the middle mannequin. Everyone else lines up behind a start cone about 37 metres out with a ball each, with the spare balls in a row behind the line. The starter steps out beside the cone and plays into the wide player, who comes short off his cone, takes a touch and passes into the central player. The central player shows across in front of his mannequin and sets it first time back to the starter, who has followed the ball down the side of the mannequin. The starter slides it through first time for the runner from the far station, who checks in, then curves his run across the front of the edge mannequins, takes it at the top of the D and finishes. Rotate by following your pass: starter to the wide cone, wide player to the centre, central player to the runner's cone, and the shooter jogs back round the outside, collects a spare ball and joins the back of the line.
Setup time: 5 min
Tactical breakdown
This is a finishing drill where the run matters as much as the finish. Four passes go through three stations before the shot: wide, into the centre, set back, then through. Each one sets the timing for the next, and the runner from the far station has to read all of them to arrive at the top of the D at the same moment as the ball.
The wide player starts the combination by coming short off his cone to meet the first pass. His touch goes across his body so the pass into the centre is on straight away. The central player shows across in front of his mannequin, so he is between the ball and the defender it stands in for, and sets it first time back into the path of the starter, who has followed his own pass down the side of the mannequin. That set is what turns the play forward: the starter now faces goal with the runner in front of him.
The runner checks in first, which in a game drags his defender with him, then curves his run across the front of the edge mannequins. The mannequins stand in for the back line, so he must be level with them or behind when the through ball is played. Curving the run, rather than going straight, keeps him onside for longer and brings him onto the ball facing the goal. If he goes too early he is offside; too late and the ball runs through to the keeper.
The through ball goes into the space in front of him, not to his feet. He takes one touch to set it at the top of the D and finishes low into a corner.
Everyone follows his pass: the starter takes the wide cone, the wide player moves to the centre, the central player becomes the next runner and the shooter jogs back round the outside, collecting a spare ball on his way to the back of the line. With nine players two or three are always waiting with a ball, so the next rep starts as soon as the last one finishes.
How to run this drill
- Set up the stations. Goal and keeper. Two mannequins on the edge of the box just outside the D, a third one central about 27 m out with a cone 11 m either side of it. A wide player at one cone, a runner at the other, a central player beside the middle mannequin, the rest in a line behind a start cone about 37 m out with a ball each.
- Play it wide. The starter plays a firm pass into the wide player, who comes short to meet it and takes a touch towards the centre.
- Into the centre and set it back. The wide player passes into the central player, who shows across in front of the mannequin and sets it first time back to the starter following his pass.
- Time the run. The runner checks in, then curves his run across the front of the edge mannequins. The starter slides it through first time as he comes level with them.
- Finish. One touch at the top of the D to set it, then finish low into a corner.
- Follow your pass. Starter to the wide cone, wide player to the centre, central player to the runner's cone, shooter round the outside to collect a spare ball and join the back of the line.
Coaching focus
FROM SESSION PLANCoaching points
- Starter: a firm pass along the ground to the wide player's front foot, then follow it
- Wide player: come short to meet it, and take the touch across your body towards the centre
- Central player: show across in front of the mannequin and open up to the starter
- Set it first time, weighted into the starter's stride so he can play forward without a touch
- Through ball: into the space in front of the runner, never to feet
- Runner: check in first, then go; level with the edge mannequins when the ball is played
- Arrive as the ball arrives: early is offside, late is no shot
- One touch to set, then pick a corner and finish low
Common mistakes
- The runner going too early and standing past the mannequins before the ball is played (offside)
- The runner making a straight run, so the through ball has to be perfect and he arrives facing the corner flag
- The wide player waiting on his cone, so a defender would step in front and win the first pass
- The central player receiving square on to the mannequin and setting it back to where the ball came from
- The starter standing after his first pass, so the set has no one to go to
- Through ball overhit to the keeper, or played to the runner's feet so he has to stop
- Shooters walking back, so the line runs out of players with a ball
Progressions & regressions
VARIATIONSProgressions
- Two touches maximum for everyone, then one touch through the middle
- The runner finishes first time
- Add a recovering defender who sets off from the start line on the first pass
- Shot inside six seconds of the first pass
Regressions
- The starter takes a touch before the through ball
- Walk the pattern through without a keeper until the rotation is learned
- Move the edge mannequins a few metres further from goal to give the runner more room
- The coach plays the through ball while the players learn the run
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