Week 37

Outcomes

• ✓Players can finish from a cut-back with the side-foot on the ground.
• ✓Players can arrive at the cut-back from outside the box to finish first-time.
• ✓Players can deliver a quality cut-back from the byline for team-mates.
• ✓Players can time their run to avoid arriving too early in front of the keeper.

Equipment

• 12 cones
• 6 bibs
• 10 balls
• 2 full-size goals
• 2 keepers

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Ball Mastery

   8m

   Set up: Each player with a ball near the byline area.

   How to run it: Players dribble to the byline cone and roll the ball back toward the penalty spot — practicing the cut-back motion without a target. After five solo reps, find a partner: one rolls the cut-back, the other controls and passes it forward.

   • ›Roll the ball firmly — a weak cut-back is intercepted.
   • ›Angle the cut-back toward the edge of the 6-yard box, not across it.
   • ›Finisher: let the ball come across your body before striking.

2. 2. Dynamic Warm-Up

   10m

   Set up: Full goal with keeper. Wide player starts with ball 5 yards from byline. Central finisher stands outside the box.

   How to run it: Wide player drives to the byline and rolls a cut-back. Finisher arrives at the edge of the box and shoots side-foot first-time. Three reps per side per player before rotating.

   • ›Finisher: time your run to arrive as the cut-back is rolled.
   • ›Don't enter the box too early — stay at the edge until the moment.
   • ›Side-foot across the keeper, into the far corner.

3. 3. Technical Practice

   15m

   Set up: Full goal with keeper. Two cut-back servers (one each side). Two finishers in the box. Passive defender between the servers and finishers.

   How to run it: Servers alternate cut-backs. Finishers must read which server is going and adjust their run. Both finishers attack every ball — only the best-placed finishes. Defender becomes active on progression.

   • ›Track the server's body shape — know early which side the cut-back comes from.
   • ›Near finisher: attack the near-post cut-back.
   • ›Far finisher: peel off to the far post for the back-across delivery.

4. 4. Skill Game

   15m

   Set up: 3v2 (+ keeper) in the attacking half. Attackers may only score from a cut-back — direct shots not allowed. Defenders may intercept at any point.

   How to run it: Attacking team must work the wide channel and deliver a cut-back before any shot. Three-minute rounds, rotate defenders. Scoring team receives an extra token if both the deliverer and finisher called their roles.

   • ›Force the play wide — that's where cut-backs come from.
   • ›Finisher: call 'Cut-back!' to the wide player to demand the ball.
   • ›Don't rush the delivery — get to the byline first.

5. 5. Small-Sided Game

   17m

   Set up: 5v5 including keepers, 35×25 yd, full goals.

   How to run it: Standard match. Goals from cut-backs score triple. Coach keeps a special cut-back goal tally on the side with player names. End of game: cut-back goal scorer gets an extra cheer.

   • ›Get wide and get deep — byline is the key position.
   • ›When a player reaches the byline, all team-mates must make box runs.
   • ›Keeper: position centrally when the ball is at the byline.

6. 6. Cool-Down & Review

   5m

   Set up: Group near goal, easy juggling.

   How to run it: Light juggling and passing. Coach demonstrates the cut-back delivery position on the ground and asks: 'Why is the cut-back so dangerous for the keeper?' Hear two responses.

   • ›Keeper is moving toward the near post; the cut-back goes the other way.
   • ›The finisher has an open goal — placement beats power.

Outcomes

• ✓Players can combine to create the opportunity for a cut-back in game play.
• ✓Players can score from a cut-back or secondary rebound.
• ✓Players can read when a cut-back is the best option over a cross.
• ✓Players can defend cut-back situations by blocking the delivery angle.

Equipment

• 12 cones
• 8 bibs
• 8 balls
• 2 full-size goals
• 2 keepers

Run of show

1. 1. Arrival Ball Mastery

   8m

   Set up: Groups of three near the wide channel.

   How to run it: Player A plays to B wide, B drives to the byline and cuts back to C arriving at the edge of the box. C finishes at a cone goal. Rotate roles after every three sequences.

   • ›B: don't cross — cut back. The target is the edge of the six-yard box.
   • ›C: run behind A's pass — arrive later than the initial play.
   • ›Finish firmly across — never straight at the keeper.

2. 2. Dynamic Warm-Up

   10m

   Set up: Half-pitch with defenders. 3v2 build-up ending in a wide run and cut-back. Full goal with keeper.

   How to run it: Three attackers combine to create a wide opportunity using any combination play. One player makes the byline run and delivers a cut-back. Two team-mates attack the box. Defenders provide light pressure.

   • ›Combination play opens the space for the wide run.
   • ›Runner: decide early if you can reach the byline.
   • ›Box runners: create separation before the cut-back is delivered.

3. 3. Technical Practice

   15m

   Set up: Full match-realistic scenario: 4v3 (+keeper) in the attacking half. Attackers are encouraged to create cut-back opportunities. Live pressure throughout.

   How to run it: Attackers earn two points for a cut-back finish, one for any other goal. Defenders earn one point per turnover. Rotate one defender every three minutes.

   • ›Patience — don't cut back until you're at the byline.
   • ›Finishers: communicate your position ('Edge!') to the wide player.
   • ›Defenders: assign one player to cover the edge of the box at all times.

4. 4. Skill Game

   15m

   Set up: 4v4 (+keepers) on a 35×25 yd pitch. Both teams can score from any method. However, if a team concedes a cut-back goal, they restart with 10 seconds of possession for the scoring team (as a 'reward possession').

   How to run it: Reward possession is taken from the halfway line. Teams must decide: risk defending cut-back situations or sacrifice a reward possession. Coach announces when reward possessions are active.

   • ›Defensive awareness when the ball is near the byline.
   • ›Track the runners at the edge of the box.
   • ›Keeper: come off your line to cut out the cut-back space.

5. 5. Small-Sided Game

   17m

   Set up: 6v6 including keepers, 40×30 yd, full goals.

   How to run it: Free match. No constraints. Coach observes cut-back use and notes instances at full time. Gives one piece of tactical feedback per team about when they used (or missed) a cut-back opportunity.

   • ›Review: look for the cut-back when you're near the byline and a defender is blocking the cross.
   • ›The best cutbacks come from good build-up — trust the process.
   • ›Celebrate clever combination play, not just goals.

6. 6. Cool-Down & Review

   5m

   Set up: Group seated in front of the goal.

   How to run it: Static stretches while reviewing the week. Coach asks: 'Give me two situations where a cut-back is better than a cross.' Take three answers.

   • ›Cut-back when: (1) runners are arriving from outside the box, (2) the keeper is positioned at the near post.
   • ›Cross when: runners are already inside the box and timing their runs.