This is the fourth article of Season Two and eleventh overall article in a series of articles and videos in the Where Goals Come From project from Jamon Moore and Carl Carpenter.

Introduction

In our last article, Jamon introduced the concepts of the “killer final balls” that lead to the best goal conversion rates - those types of key passes that are the most efficient and dangerous. More specifically, the two most “deadly” types of passes in this sub-category are through-balls and cutbacks. As is always the case with this series, our purpose is to create a framework which is actionable and applicable to teams- theory has very little meaning for us.

Because of this, much like my article in Season One, this section of Where Goals Come From is intended to provide trainable processes for coaches and staff on how to implement through-balls and cutbacks into training sessions, and then translate them to match scenarios. This is obviously not an easy thing to prepare for - even the best training sessions by top level coaches have some level of “fakeness” to them. The conditions placed on players in training will never be truly able to replicate a game and demands placed on them in-match. Indeed, due to player fitness and the need to slow things down and actually coach, they probably should not.

The chosen sessions, similar to last season’s training article, are a blend between simple drills to work on an individual player’s ability to play a pass, and the more complex or larger scale - i.e. those as close to game realism as possible. Continuing on this theme again:

These drills help identify ways in which the killer pass can be played individually: cues on teammate’s runs, the weight of pass needed, and the opponent’s shape.
The beneficiaries recognition of similar cues and how to best disorganize the opposition to get possession of said killer ball.
Be flexible in how they can be applied and adjusted depending on numbers, player ability, etc.

Sessions For Creating Through Balls

To quote some of my thoughts on through balls from the previous article in the first “Carl’s Tips” paragraph: “Through balls against packed blocks and low blocks are tough, for obvious reasons. These types of passes require verticality and space in which to play so the through ball can be successful.” The key themes in this are“verticality and space”. This makes the selection of the pass all the more important as opposed to just putting it to a player’s foot.

All of these things should be noted when training for through balls:

Can you play it with just the right amount of speed to favor the attacker?
Can you play it with just the right amount of weight so it doesn’t allow the goalkeeper to come and sweep off his line?
Can you play the pass on the diagonal to make it harder for the opposition to simply hold a basic offside line?

Session One: Up-Back-and-Through to Finish

We’re starting off with a drill which requires no more than three players, with an optional (recommended) fourth in the form of the goalkeeper. While basic in its application, it hits on all the key aspects needed to play through balls from an actual technical standpoint. The “up-back-and-through” is one of the most utilized combinations in the game to create through balls, capitalizing on the idea of a third man run to spring players in on goal.

This drill replicates that concept with no opposition. The combination follows this basic pattern: Player A passes vertically to Player B who is on the last line. Player B then plays the ball to Player C back in the same direction. Finally, Player C plays the final, killer, through ball to Player B again who is now facing towards goal, 1v1 with the keeper. All those involved in the drill rotate positions, and so on.

Design/Rules/Coaching Points:

Players cannot take no more than two touches.
Must be an offside line to replicate match demands.
Can you play in one touch to maximize the attacking side’s output?
Making sure the forward, when receiving before the shot, does everything at game speed to replicate scenarios.

Session Two: 4v4 +2 to Finish (San Diego State University drill)

This is a session I’ve helped with a number of times during my time at the University of Virginia (UVA), and it incorporates both the focus on the technical requirements needed to play through balls, as well the “liveness” in game you’d see. Given to me by the assistant coach at my time at Virginia, and current San Diego State head coach, Ryan Hopkins, this drill is great for working on the timing and type of through ball required to break down offensive lines.

Involving two teams of six: four players combining to break down the opposition’s line of four and two “finishers,” this session is great for replicating moving and shifting the ball from side to side in settled periods of possession, opening up gaps between defenders and playing the pass to spring in attackers on goal. As shown in the video below, you can add players to either side of the zones (turning it to an 8v8 +2) and even add attackers joining the attacking zone to create cutbacks! (more on that later).

Design/Rules/Coaching Points:

Patience from the team in possession to open up the optimal through ball opportunity.
Positioning of attackers behind the line to provide passing angles.
Taking the minimum number of touches to finish, profiting from the through ball.

Session Three: Combination Play Small-sided Game

The expanded through ball drill continues on these key themes introduced in the last two drills, but now incorporates a more complicated through ball. The receiver is no longer receiving behind the lines in a fabricated offside pocket, but now needs to vary their movements to stay onside prior: aka a more game realistic scenario.

This game has two teams play a “match” of 6v6 with offside zones (similar to the line in session one) behind the play. The goal is for attacking players to combine using clever movement and interplay in order to free a player through on goal to score. No defensive players are allowed in the offside zone to start, but like every drill these can be adjusted or added in later progressions. Further alterations that can be made are the allowance of another attacking player in the final zone to create a 2v1 once the pass has been made, and trailing defenders. Adjust as necessary.

Design/Rules/Coaching Points:

Attackers minimizing touches needed
Movement of the player on the final line to position themselves so when they receive in behind, they can finish quickly
Use of combinations to suck in opponents and open up through ball opportunities
Use of “angled” through balls as deception tools (i.e. not just playing it straight every time which is not game realistic and is easy for the GK to read)

Sessions For Creating Cutbacks

Cutbacks are the least used killer ball pass type, and it’s not hard to see why: they are highly dependent on the speed of the play to create them, and they are only possible through zones 16 and 18 on the pitch. In other words, we want to disorganize defenders and pull them away from the center of the penalty area is difficult!

Similarly, creating training sessions for them which are applicable in matches are hard. It’s easy for these kind of drills to turn into glorified finishing sessions that take away the emphasis on the pass and focus on the finish instead. I like to take away this emphasis on the finishing aspect by incorporating several combinations prior to the actual cutback, and creating “rewards” for good passing combinations and attacks which disorganize defenses the best.

Session One: Rondos to Cutback

To lead off, this small drill utilizes the aforementioned passing combinations in the format of a rondo. The cutback and goal scoring chance happen after the rondo. We add on a scoring element, making it a fun, little game that can get competitive rather quickly.

How teams score: one team starts in possession and must complete a designated number of passes around the opponents (adjusting to skill level as required). Once this threshold has been met, they play a pass to one of the wide players out of the grid, and then crash the box for a cutback. If they score, they get a point. Possession is changed after that.

If the defensive team regains the ball in the grid, they themselves can play the wide players for a cutback. The game is fast paced and the size can easily be reduced or increased as necessary. Because it only requires one goal, you can have the drills running simultaneously if you have a larger team at your disposal.

While not entirely game-realistic, the passing sequences in the grids mirror patterns in play where attackers overload central positions in Zone 14 before quickly attacking through the half spaces. Think of the classic “Man City goal” we’ve highlighted in previous iterations of Where Goals Come From.

Design/Rules/Coaching Points:

Positioning of the players in the grid to provide options for teammates, and able to transfer that quickly to the cutback phase.
Upon receiving, making sure the winger is driving to the endline at speed to replicate the disorganization caused through these overloads.

Session Two: Combination Play to Cutback

This session has a similar passing sequence to the first session that worked on through balls using the up-back-and-through combination. But rather than ending on the through ball to finish, it adds in the element of attackers crashing the box to receive a cutback. All the same principles of play apply here, with a focus on quick, one or two touch passing, the weight of the pass, etc., but now the specifics to play/receive the final ball have changed. Simple progressions can be made to add more players into the game if need be, like more defenders, late/recovering players, 1v1 pressure on the crosser, and more.

Design/Rules/Coaching Points:

For the passer:

Pace on the ball to favor attackers rather than retreating defenders
Eliminate the defenders and goalkeeper with placement

For the finisher:

Varying runs and movement to not become too easily marked (dummy runs to the near post, changing pace, and others)
Communication between the two attackers so they don’t make the same movements towards the ball.

Session Three: Small-sided Game with Cutbacks

Building off the previous drill, this one removes the combination play aspect of the drill prior to the cutback, and implements it into a small sided game. Teams play a normal 4v4 (or 5v5, 6v6, whatever the team has access to) in the middle of the grid. The field is quite narrow and tight, as the wide zones are “neutral areas.” Attackers can score the traditional way, or if six passes are completed, they are given a “free hit” through a cutback. After these six passes are completed, they can find a wide player located in either zone, who drives to the endline and delivers a cutback. No defenders are allowed to deny them these passes in the first progression.

As players get more comfortable with this first iteration, you can add in more passes required, players in the wide zones can defend each other, and one or two defenders are allowed to track back in the cutback phase. This drill turns what is an old staple of training sessions, and ones which players love - small-sided matches, and incorporates the reward/benefits that come with cutbacks.

Design/Rules/Coaching Points

Don’t allow settling for the “easy” way of scoring such as shots from range and low % opportunities.
When defenders are brought in, the attackers should recognize the opponent’s movements, such as dropping deep. This includes both the finishers and the passers so as to create the best possible cutback.

Conclusion

Regardless of your game model or general style, it’s critical to have chances every game coming from the highest value open play shots. These don’t happen without a lot of practice and players recognizing when they should attempt them. Change these exercises where needed to fit your particular style of play and areas of emphasis.

As we said in our last article, top-performing teams typically have one or more of these killer final balls in their arsenal. But it’s equally important to know how to defend these types of situations as it is to create them, so have some sessions where you also focus on the defensive side.

Focus on the process and not the results. Players knowing how to make movements off-the-ball is equally important, if not more so, than the passes themselves or the finish. Passing patterns and runs along with recognition of when to use them should be trained and ingrained so they become more natural.

Key points:

Through balls and Cutbacks are the most dangerous balls in open play that lead to goals. We want to encourage players to look to create these over other low-chance shots when possible.
Understanding how and where to make these passes and the movements and patterns that create them will create smarter players.
Incorporate both of these types of killer balls into your regular training repertoire and ensure that your game model has a way to utilize them. Talk to players about game situations that trigger the opportunities to use them.

About Jamon Moore

Jamon is a high-technology industry executive overseeing business agility transformations. In addition to being a contributor for American Soccer Analysis, he is a credentialed media member covering the San Jose Earthquakes from mostly an analytical perspective. Jamon can be contacted via Twitter, and club analysts and executives can connect with Jamon on LinkedIn.

About Carlon Carpenter

Carlon is the current Tactical & Video Analyst for StatsBomb, one of the largest soccer data companies in Europe and does consultancy work for clubs on the side. Carlon has also worked as a contract employee for the U.S. Soccer youth national teams, working as a performance analyst for the U-17 men’s national team. Carlon can be contacted through his LinkedIn account or via Twitter.