Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Final Pass and Finish

Final Pass and Finish (20 mins)

Final Pass and Finish

Set Up:

• One full size goal
• 4 x mannequins 
• 4 x cones
• One goalkeeper is needed for this activity and is positioned in goal. If there are extra goalkeepers, have them stand off to the side of the goal and rotate in every four repetitions.
  
• Set up four mannequins about five yards outside of the penalty area. The mannequins should all be parallel to the penalty box and should have eight yards of space between each other. The mannequins are used to replicate an opponent’s defense. Use sticks, or cones, if mannequins are not available. See diagram for more information.
  
• Set up four cones like the diagram shows. Two cones should be placed 12 yards in front of the two center mannequins, while the other two cones should be placed eight yards in front and just to the outside of the wide mannequins.
  
• Have the players divide evenly between the four cones and form lines behind each cone.
  
• Place all the balls between the two center cones at the top of the activity. Each player in these lines should start with a ball at their feet.
  
• Complete at least two five-minute rounds. Players should switch sides after each round.
  Add more rounds and time as needed.
  

Instructions:

• When facing the goal, the first players in each of the right two lines go first. The player at the top cone starts with a pass to the wide player to the right of them.
• The wide player receives the pass and lays the ball back to the top player who passed it to them.
• As soon as the wide player lays the ball off, they start their diagonal run towards the mannequins while the top player approaches the lay-off.
• The wide player times their run to stay onside before the top player passes the ball through the mannequins and into the wide player’s diagonal running path.
• The wide player receives the ball behind the mannequins and attempts to finish on goal.
• Once the right side has completed their turn, the left side lines immediately begin their turn. The left side completes the same pattern as the right side.
• The player who made the final pass goes to the back of the wide player line while the shooter retrieves their shot and goes to the back of the line at the top cone on their side.
• The wide players are free to run behind any of the mannequins on their side of the field.
• The runner and the passer must communicate the run and where the final pass should be played.
• Complete at least two, five-minute rounds. Add more time and rounds as depending on available time. Switch sides after each round for players
  

Coaching Points:

• Educate the players on the importance of the timing of their run. Runners must not break the line of defenders before the ball is played otherwise they are in an offside position.
  Runners should communicate where they want the ball to make the passer’s job easier.
• Teach the players to focus on the weight of their pass to the runner. The final pass should be placed in front of the runner so that they can score more consistently.
  
• Remind the players to communicate with each other and to give their partners the right pass and the right weight to make the combination flow.
• Challenge the players to increase the speed of play to make the drill as game-like as possible.
• Encourage the players to get a quick look at the goalkeeper before putting their head back down and striking the ball around the goalkeeper.
  

• One-touch – Players must complete the whole sequence in one-touch.
• Various passing combinations – This setup allows for numerous passing patterns. Be creative and use more cones, or different passing angles to create different passing and finishing combinations.