Finishing

Cut-Back Finishing

Finish first time from a cut-back

Finishing

Crossing

Attacking

Premium

Cut-Back Finishing is a 16-minute finishing drill for 5-16 players, suitable for Under 8 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

Foundation Phase

Youth Friendly

Adult Suitable

Goals Needed

Duration

16 min

Players

5-16

Pitch size

Attacking third

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Cut-Back Finishing — Crossing and finishing — wide delivery into the box · Attacking third

Step 1 of 3Wide player drives to the byline and cuts the ball back.

1. Wide player drives to the byline and cuts the ball back.
2. Runners attack the penalty spot and the far post.
3. Alternate the delivery side each rep.

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 first time from a cut-back
-Time the run into the pocket
-Attack the six yard box

Setup

1Wide server on each side near the byline.
2Two finishing runners starting from the edge of the box.
3Keeper in goal.

Coaching instructions

1Wide player drives to the byline and cuts the ball back.
2Runners attack the penalty spot and the far post.
3Alternate the delivery side each rep.

Coaching points

-Delay the run so the ball is not behind you
-Open the body and side-foot across goal
-Second runner covers the far post

Common mistakes

-Runners arriving too early
-Trying to smash the finish
-Both runners in the same space

Equipment needed

Balls

Cones

Full Goals

Age groups

Under 8

Under 9

Under 10

Under 11

Under 12

Under 13

Under 14

Under 15

Under 16

Adults

Progressions

+Two-Touch Limit: drop to one touch in the central area
+Weak Foot Only: add a defender to raise the pressure
+Tempo Clock: cut the clock to four seconds
+Add a competitive scoreline for the last round

Regressions

-Two-Touch Limit: allow three touches while the picture is learned
-Weak Foot Only: static, unopposed reps before adding movement
-Tempo Clock: extend the clock to ten seconds
-Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

-Two-Touch Limit — Players are limited to two touches — one to control, one to release.
-Weak Foot Only — Every touch, pass and finish must be with the weaker foot.
-Tempo Clock — The ball must reach the end action inside six seconds or the rep restarts.
-Scan and Cue — The coach shows a colour or number and the receiver must call it before their first touch.
-Shadow Pressure — A shadow defender applies half pressure and can win the ball only after the first touch.
-Score Challenge — Run it as a timed competition — pairs or teams count successful reps and compare scores.
-1-to-1 Session — Run as an individual session: coach serves, one player works through the reps with rest built in.
-Flip the practice to the opposite side of the pitch