Finishing
Cut-Back Finishing: Score Challenge
Finish first time from a cut-back
Finishing
Crossing
Attacking
Cut-Back Finishing: Score Challenge 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.
Back to drill libraryFinishing
Crossing
Attacking
Skill Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Foundation Phase
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Competitive
Fun
Repetition
Duration
16 min
Players
5-16
Pitch size
Attacking third
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Cut-Back Finishing: Score Challenge — Crossing and finishing — wide delivery into the box · Attacking third
Step 1 of 4Wide 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.
- 4. Run it as a timed competition — pairs or teams count successful reps and compare scores.
- 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.
- 4Run it as a timed competition — pairs or teams count successful reps and compare scores.
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
- -Keep quality while the score matters
- -Reset quickly between reps to fit more in
Common mistakes
- -Runners arriving too early
- -Trying to smash the finish
- -Both runners in the same space