Finishing
Tempo Cutback Finish
Finish from cutbacks along the ground
Finishing
Crossing
Attacking
Premium
Tempo 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.
Back to drill libraryFinishing
Crossing
Attacking
Skill Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Tempo
Duration
16 min
Players
5-18
Pitch size
37 x 30 yards
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Tempo Cutback Finish — Crossing and finishing — wide delivery into the box · 37 x 30 yards
Step 1 of 5Wide player drives to the byline and cuts the ball back.
- 1. Wide player drives to the byline and cuts the ball back.
- 2. Two runners attack the near post and penalty spot.
- 3. Alternate sides each rep.
- 4. The clock starts the moment the first pass is played in.
- 5. The sequence must reach the end action inside eight seconds or the rep is void.
- Cones mark the area
- Full goal
- GK = goalkeeper
- Dashed lines = wide crossing channels
- Ball
- 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
- 1Wide starting cones with a marked cutback zone by the byline in a 37 x 30 yards area.
- 2Set a visible timer or have an assistant count aloud from the side of the area.
- 3Balls in both wide areas, keeper in goal.
Coaching instructions
- 1Wide player drives to the byline and cuts the ball back.
- 2Two runners attack the near post and penalty spot.
- 3Alternate sides each rep.
- 4The clock starts the moment the first pass is played in.
- 5The sequence must reach the end action inside eight seconds or the rep is void.
Coaching points
- -Cut back behind the defensive line
- -Runner delays then arrives
- -Side-foot the finish, don't blast it
- -Pass with pace and intent — under-hit passes cost the clock
Common mistakes
- -Runners arriving before the cross
- -Cutbacks aimed at the keeper
- -Slow, sideways passing that burns the clock
Where this drill fits
- More football finishing drills
- More football crossing drills
- More football attacking drills
- football drills for U10s
- football drills for U12s
- football drills for U14s
- football drills for U16s
- Football session plans built around this theme