Finishing
Triangle Finishing: Lay-off or Through Ball
Combine quickly through three players into a finish: a run timed off the pass into the target, a first-time lay-off or through ball, and a finish from each.
Duration
15 min
Total drill time
Players
5
Recommended
Pitch
Full Pitch
Setup space
Level
Intermediate
Skill required
Intensity
Medium
Physical demand
Age band
U9-U10
Any format
Setup & instructions
Put a target cone at the top of the D, about 20 metres from goal, and two cones about 30 metres out, 10 metres apart, one either side of the centre. Full goal and keeper. Two players line up behind the right cone with a pile of balls beside them, one player stands at the left cone and one goal side of the target cone. The first player in the line takes a touch out and passes across to the wide player, then runs. The wide player checks in off his cone, takes a touch inside and passes into the target, who comes short to meet it. Lay-off: the starter runs in behind the target, who sets it back into his path first time, and he strikes first time from about 22 metres. Through ball: the starter runs past the target on the outside, stays level until the pass and the target plays him into the box first time: a touch and a finish. Rotate: starter to target, target to wide, and the wide player runs round the back, collects a ball from the pile and joins the line. Alternate the lay-off and the through ball.
Setup time: 5 min
Tactical breakdown
Most finishing drills hand the shooter a ball. This one makes him earn it through three players, the way a chance arrives in a game: a pass wide, a pass into a forward with his back to goal, and a first-time ball from him into the shooter's run. The starter plays across to the wide player and runs at once, the wide player checks in and plays into the target, and the target has one touch to decide the finish.
The lay-off rewards a runner who arrives behind the ball. The target sets it back into his path, not onto his feet, and the starter strikes first time from about 22 metres before the keeper is set. A touch here gives the keeper time; a set onto the feet forces one.
The through ball rewards a runner who arrives level. He runs past the target on the outside, stays level until the pass, and gets it played into the box in front of him: a touch out of his feet and a finish across the keeper. Going early leaves the target turning to find him; going late leaves the ball rolling into nobody.
Run it alternating, then let the target choose from the runner's arrival: behind him means lay it off, past him means play him through. That is the read a centre forward makes on every ball into his feet. The rotation sends each player through every role, so everyone serves, plays into the target, sets and finishes in each round, and the keeper faces both a strike from distance and a finish in the box.
How to run this drill
- Set the triangle. A target cone at the top of the D, about 20 m out. Start and wide cones about 30 m out and 10 m apart, a line with a ball pile at the right cone, one player at the left cone and one at the target.
- Pass wide and run. The starter takes a touch out and passes across to the wide player, then runs straight away.
- Into the target. The wide player checks in off his cone, takes a touch inside and passes into the target, who comes short to meet it.
- Lay it off to strike. If the runner arrives behind him, the target sets it first time into his path and he strikes first time.
- Or play him through. If the runner is level and going past, the target plays it first time into the box in front of him: a touch and a finish across the keeper.
- Rotate. Starter to target, target to wide, and the wide player runs round the back, collects a ball and joins the line.
Coaching focus
FROM SESSION PLANCoaching points
- Starter: a touch out of your feet, then pass across onto the wide player's front foot
- Wide player: check in off the cone to meet it, touch inside, pass firmly into the target's feet
- Target: come short off the goal side of your cone and play it first time
- Run as soon as your pass has gone, so you arrive as the target receives
- Lay-off: set it into the runner's path, not onto his feet, so he can strike first time
- Through ball: stay level with the target until he plays it, then attack the space
- Strike first time from the lay-off and follow it in for the rebound
- Through ball finish: a touch out of your feet, then across the keeper
Common mistakes
- Starter jogging after his pass, so he arrives late for the lay-off
- Running past the target too early, so he has to turn to find the runner
- Target waiting for the ball instead of coming short to meet it
- Laying it onto the runner's feet instead of into his path
- Taking a touch from the lay-off, which gives the keeper time to set
- Through ball played to feet instead of into the space in front of the runner
Progressions & regressions
VARIATIONSProgressions
- The target chooses: lay it off if the runner arrives behind him, play him through if he runs past
- A passive defender behind the target, so he has to set it or turn it round him
- A defender starts at the wide cone and recovers to chase the runner
- Mirror it from the left: line on the left, wide player on the right
Regressions
- Allow the target a touch before he plays it
- Bring the start and wide cones in to about 25 metres
- Lay-off only until the timing of the run is right, then add the through ball
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