Finishing

Pressure Cutback Finish

Finish from cutbacks along the ground

Finishing
Crossing
Attacking

Pressure Cutback Finish is a 16-minute finishing drill for 5-18 players, suitable for Under 9 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, full goals. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.

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Finishing
Crossing
Attacking
Skill Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Under Pressure

Duration

16 min

Players

5-18

Pitch size

33 x 26 yards

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Pitch set-up: Pressure Cutback FinishGKW1234C33 x 26 yards

Pressure Cutback Finish — Crossing and finishing — wide delivery into the box · 33 x 26 yards

Step 1 of 5Wide player drives to the byline and cuts the ball back.

  1. 1. Wide player drives to the byline and cuts the ball back.
  2. 2. Two runners attack the near post and penalty spot.
  3. 3. Alternate sides each rep.
  4. 4. The defender is released the moment the ball leaves the server's foot.
  5. 5. The working player scores by completing the action before pressure arrives; the defender scores by blocking it.
  • Cones mark the area
  • Full goal
  • GK = goalkeeper
  • Dashed lines = wide crossing channels
  • Ball
  • C = coach / server
  • Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

  • -Finish from cutbacks along the ground
  • -Time the run to the penalty spot
  • -Improve first-time contact from wide service

Setup

  1. 1Wide starting cones with a marked cutback zone by the byline in a 33 x 26 yards area.
  2. 2Position a recovering defender behind each working player, starting two yards back.
  3. 3Balls in both wide areas, keeper in goal.

Coaching instructions

  1. 1Wide player drives to the byline and cuts the ball back.
  2. 2Two runners attack the near post and penalty spot.
  3. 3Alternate sides each rep.
  4. 4The defender is released the moment the ball leaves the server's foot.
  5. 5The working player scores by completing the action before pressure arrives; the defender scores by blocking it.

Coaching points

  • -Cut back behind the defensive line
  • -Runner delays then arrives
  • -Side-foot the finish, don't blast it
  • -Feel the pressure with your body, take the touch away from the defender

Common mistakes

  • -Runners arriving before the cross
  • -Cutbacks aimed at the keeper
  • -Facing your own goal and getting trapped by the press

Where this drill fits

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