A worked practice for your team
Connect a layoff to a controlled ground finish
Control the final pass, place a ground finish through an empty target and organise retrieval without crossing a live lane.
ZIP includes the printable coach card, all three SVG diagrams, timeline and practice data. Extract the folder before opening the card.
Check the problem
The final pass runs across the finisher’s body or leads to a rushed strike while another player retrieves a ball. Separate the receiving problem from lane management before asking for a quicker finish.
Set up the space and roles
Make two 8 × 16 m lanes with four corner cones and a 2 m target gate at the far end of each, using six cones per lane. One ball and three players work in each lane. Leave a clear 2 m buffer around each lane and 4 m between lanes. The target stays empty: no goalkeeper or child stands behind it.
Keep the rotation clear
One ball per lane means one live attempt at a time. C retrieves only during the closed-lane pause, then becomes A; A becomes B and B becomes C. All six join the final game.
See the practice in three steps
Schematic views, not to scale. Player numbers match the roles below. Dark arrows show passes, dashed green arrows show movement and solid green arrows show carries. Use the written dimensions when marking your area.
1. Starting positions
2. The decision and movement
3. Game application
Your complete 30-minute plan
Briefing, planned role changes, water and reflection are included. Add rest or stop when needed; shorten active play rather than rushing a transition.
00:00–03:00 · 3 min
Check, explain and walk the layout
Walk the full route with the ball still. A supplies the pass from the side, B controls and finishes from a comfortable distance, and C observes from outside the lane near the start. Agree that every ball is stopped and the lane is closed before C retrieves it.
03:00–08:00 · 5 min
Prepare the movement
A rolls or gently passes the ball to B. B takes a settling touch and passes through the empty target gate at walking pace. The group calls the lane closed; C walks down the side to retrieve only after the ball stops. No new attempt begins until C is back at the start.
08:00–17:00 · 9 min
Focused practice and role changes
Use a foot pass from A and let B choose a comfortable settling touch before a controlled ground finish. Keep accuracy ahead of power. Each completed attempt rotates A → B → C → A; use three 2 minute 40 second rounds with 20 second pauses to review the delivery. If the ball escapes toward another area, stop both affected activities before retrieval.
17:00–19:00 · 2 min
Water and reset
Pause for water and check the playing area. Prepare the 20 × 25 m game area with a clear 2 m outside buffer, reusing the same cones. Extra rest takes priority; shorten the next playing block if needed.
19:00–28:00 · 9 min
Use it in a game
Join for 3v3 on the larger area. Score by a controlled ground pass to a teammate across the end line, keeping the receiving target occupied only by a ready teammate. Use three 2 minute 40 second games with 20 second resets. Notice whether the final pass lets the next player act comfortably; this game removes the empty-goal retrieval problem while retaining the connection.
28:00–30:00 · 2 min
Reflect and choose the next step
Ask whether a missed finish began with an awkward pass. Repeat the delivery when needed, and stop the activity immediately if retrieval overlaps another attempt.
Watch for a useful change
- Final pass arrives where the finisher can control it.
- Finish is placed along the ground into an empty target.
- Retrieval happens only after the lane is closed.
Make it easier
Move the finish closer and use a gentle roll for the delivery. Keep the target empty.
When ready
Let A vary the ground pass angle slightly so B chooses a settling touch. Do not progress by adding power or a child behind the goal.
Ask whether a missed finish began with an awkward pass. Repeat the delivery when needed, and stop the activity immediately if retrieval overlaps another attempt.
Need a different group size or duration?
The worked example above uses the stated numbers. The related complete session has its own checked customizer, maps and rotations.
Open Finish from a PassCoaching principles and further reading
Adjusting the target and delivery can help players connect an accurate pass with a usable finish.
Public sources reviewed 20 October 2026. Session Pitch created this worked example, timing, role instructions and diagrams; it is not a reproduction of the linked sessions. No FA or FIFA endorsement is implied. Live coaching effectiveness has not been evaluated.