Finishing
Up, Set, Through: Far-Side Run and Finish
Break a back line with three passes: play up to a forward, set it inside first time, and slide the ball through for a runner arriving on the far side, who times his run to stay onside and finishes across the keeper.
Duration
15 min
Total drill time
Players
11
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 30 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: these are the centre-backs. Stand a third mannequin centrally about 24 metres from goal. A forward starts beside each outer mannequin, a centre player starts beside the middle one, and everyone else lines up centrally about 33 metres out with a ball each. Leave the spare balls in a row behind the line. The server takes his ball a couple of steps out of the line and plays it firmly into the forward on one side, who comes short off his mannequin to meet it. That forward sets it inside first time to the centre player, who has checked away and come back. The centre player slides it through first time for the forward on the other side. He runs round the outside of his mannequin, staying level with it until the ball is played, takes it in his stride in the box and finishes in the far corner. Rotate: the server becomes the centre player, the centre player follows his through ball to the wide spot on that side, where he sets the next ball and then makes the run on the one after, and the finisher jogs round the outside, collects a spare ball and joins the back of the line. The next rep goes to the other side, so the forward who has just set the ball is the next runner.
Setup time: 5 min
Tactical breakdown
This is a finishing drill built on one idea: the ball goes into one side of the back line and the goal comes from the other. The server plays up to a forward, the forward sets it inside, and the third pass goes through to the forward on the far side, who has not touched the ball yet. Defenders watch the ball and the player holding it, so the run that hurts them is the one made on their blind side while the first two passes pull them across.
The first forward makes the pattern work by coming short. He leaves his centre-back, meets the ball and sets it first time. In a game that drags a defender out of the line and buys the centre player the half second he needs. The set has to go inside and into the centre player's path, not back where it came from, so the next pass can be played forward without a turn.
The centre player checks away first to open the lane, then arrives side-on so he can see the set coming and the far-side forward at the same moment. One touch if he can: the through ball goes inside the mannequin and into the space behind it. A pass to feet kills the move.
The far-side forward runs round the outside of his mannequin and stays level with it until the ball is played. The mannequins stand in for the centre-backs, so a run that goes early is offside. Going outside and then in gives him the ball across his body and the whole goal to aim at, and the finish goes low across the keeper into the far corner.
The drill alternates sides every rep, and the forward who has just set the ball is the next one to run. The server becomes the centre player, the centre player follows his pass to the wide spot, and the finisher collects a spare ball on his way to the back of the line. Ten players means two or three are always waiting with a ball, so the next rep starts as the last one finishes.
How to run this drill
- Set up the back line. Goal and keeper. Two mannequins on the edge of the box just outside the D, a third one central about 24 m out. A forward beside each outer mannequin, a centre player beside the middle one, the rest in a central line about 33 m out with a ball each, spare balls behind them.
- Play up to a forward. The server takes his ball out of the line and plays it firmly into the forward on one side, who comes short off his mannequin to meet it.
- Set it inside. The forward sets it first time into the path of the centre player, who has checked away and come back side-on.
- Through ball to the far side. The centre player slides it through first time, inside the far mannequin. The forward on that side runs round the outside of the mannequin, level with it as the ball is played.
- Finish across the keeper. Take it in your stride in the box and finish low into the far corner.
- Rotate and switch sides. Server to the centre, centre player to the wide spot on the side he passed to, finisher round the outside to collect a spare ball and join the line. The next rep goes to the other side.
Coaching focus
FROM SESSION PLANCoaching points
- Server: a firm pass along the ground to the forward's front foot
- Setter: come short to meet the ball, don't wait for it on the mannequin
- Setter: one touch, weighted into the centre player's path so he can play forward
- Centre player: check away to open the lane, then arrive side-on so you can see both forwards
- Through ball: inside the mannequin and into the space, never to feet
- Runner: go round the outside and stay level with the mannequin until the ball is played
- Runner: take it in your stride with the first touch, shoot with the second
- Finish low and across the keeper into the far corner
Common mistakes
- The setter standing still, so a real defender would step in front and win the first pass
- The set played back towards the server instead of inside, which leaves the centre player facing the wrong way
- The runner going early and finishing beyond the mannequin before the ball is played (offside)
- The runner cutting inside the mannequin, where the defender would be standing
- Through ball overhit to the keeper, or played to the runner's feet so he has to stop
- Finishers walking back, so the line runs out of players with a ball
Progressions & regressions
VARIATIONSProgressions
- The runner finishes first time
- The centre player chooses: through ball to the far side, or back round the corner to the setter spinning in behind
- Swap an outer mannequin for a live defender who can step in on the through ball
- Shot inside six seconds of the serve
Regressions
- The centre player takes a touch before the through ball
- Work one side only until the pattern and the rotation are learned
- Move the outer mannequins a few metres further from goal to give the runner more room
- No keeper: finish into a target zone in the far corner
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