Soccer Passing Directions Terminology

SOCCER PASSING DIRECTIONS TERMINOLOGY

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Passing directions terminology in soccer refers to the line or path the ball is expected to take when it is struck by the passer to a potential receiver.  These are general soccer terms used when a player, in possession of the ball, is facing the attacking goal and attempting to send the ball to a teammate.

It is recognized that a player can face in any direction, just as the ball can be passed in any direction, but most of the terms still apply.  For example, a midfielder who is facing the defensive goal, and is going to pass the ball to a central defender who is behind him, is still making a “back” pass. Passes may be on the ground or in the air.

Clockwise, around the circumference of the player, the general directions are Forward: Angled Right; Right; Back and Right; Back; Back and Left; Left; and, Angled Left.  Within these terms there are other terms that are essentially synonymous.

Soccer passing directions terminology.

Soccer passing directions terminology.

Forward

Ahead – Generally, any direction in front of the player in possession of the ball.

Deep – Pass the ball far upfield to a teammate who is making a run; long.

Downfield, Down – In the direction away from the defending goalkeeper.

Down the line – To kick or pass the ball upfield parallel to and just inside the touchline.

Forward, Front – Passes directed toward the attacking goal, usually parallel to the sidelines; contrast with back passes, diagonal passes, or square passes.

Long – Generally, a pass beyond approximately 30 yards, usually in the air, which requires an instep kick.

Parallel – A pass which is made close to, and follows the direction of, the sideline marking.

Short – Passes generally traveling 15-yards or less.

Straight, Straight Ahead – Directly in front of the player in possession of the ball.

Upfield – In the direction of the goal a team is attacking.

Angled (Right)

Angled – Any pass in the pie-shaped space from directly straight ahead to immediately toward the right.

Corner – The area inside the field near the right corner post.

Diagonal – An angled pass toward the right-front which is neither parallel to (“down”) the sideline nor perpendicular to (“square”) to the sideline (often 45-degrees).

Line – Passing in the direction of the right sideline.

Post – The area inside the field around and in front of the right upright of the goal.

Right

Center, Centering – Generally, while on the left side of the field, a pass from near the sideline to the middle of the field.

Flat – Pass which is perpendicular to the sideline.

Lateral – A pass made by a player to a teammate directly to the right such that the path of the ball is parallel to the halfway line or perpendicular to the sideline.

Square – A pass made by a player to a teammate directly to the right such that the path of the ball is parallel to the halfway line.

Wide – To pass the ball toward the right sideline, touchline, flank or wing.

Back and Right

Angled – Any pass in the pie-shaped space from immediately to the right to directly behind.

Diagonal – An angled pass toward the right-rear which is neither parallel to (“down”) the sideline nor perpendicular to (“square”) to the sideline.

Reverse – Player with the ball advances forward looking like he will make the obvious pass to a player in front of him, but instead makes a more-than-90-degree-angle pass to a trailing or following teammate.

Back

Back – In the direction of the goal being defended.

Behind – To the back or rear, in the direction of the defensive goal.

Straight back – Directly behind the player with the ball.

Back and Left

Angled – Any pass in the pie-shaped space from immediately to the left to directly behind.

Diagonal – An angled pass toward the left-rear which is neither parallel to (“down”) the sideline nor perpendicular to (“square”) to the sideline.

Reverse – Player with the ball advances forward looking like he will make the obvious pass to a player in front of him, but instead makes a more-than-90-degree-angle pass to a trailing or following teammate.

Left

Center, Centering – Generally, while on the right side of the field, a pass from near the sideline to the middle of the field.

Flat – Pass which is perpendicular to the sideline.

Lateral – A pass made by a player to a teammate directly to the left such that the path of the ball is parallel to the halfway line or perpendicular to the sideline.

Square – A pass made by a player to a teammate directly to the left such that the path of the ball is parallel to the halfway line.

Wide – To pass the ball toward the left sideline, touchline, flank or wing.

Angled (Left)

Angled – Any pass in the pie-shaped space from directly straight ahead to immediately toward the left.

Corner – The area inside the field near the left corner post.

Diagonal – An angled pass toward the left-front which is neither parallel to (“down”) the sideline nor perpendicular to (“square”) to the sideline (often 45-degrees).

Line – Passing in the direction of the left sideline.

Post – The area inside the field around and in front of the left upright of the goal.

Other

Angle of a pass – Direction or path of a pass from a passer in relationship to the touchline, a defender, or a teammate.

Back heel – Either a back pass or, if the player in possession is facing toward the defensive goal, a forward pass to a teammate on an overlap.

Center – To the middle of the field:  To the left when right of the midline and to the right when left of the midline.

Far post – The area around and in front of the upright farthest away from the player: To the farthest left when right of the midline and to the farthest right when left of the midline.

Horizontal axis – The field from sideline to sideline, right-to-left, parallel to the goal lines.  (Sometimes referred to as east-west.)

Interface – A pass between two defenders to an attacker in the immediate space in front of the goal.

Near post – The area around and in front of the upright closest to the player: To the closest right when right of the midline and to the closest left when left of the midline.

Outlet – The goalkeeper, or a defender, kicks or otherwise sends the ball to a teammate who has run toward the sideline and upfield, after the ball has been stopped or saved near the goal; often used to start a fast break or quick counter-attack.

Parallel – A pass which follows the same direction of (and generally close to) a sideline marking.

Passing angle – The degree from straight ahead that a ball must be kicked in order for it to not be intercepted by a defender.

Possession – A pass intended to retain the ball for the team; usually a back-pass or square-pass to a clearly-open teammate, not necessarily intended to further any specific type of attack.

Reverse field – To switch (pass) the ball to the other side of the field; as a dribbler, to perform a 180-degree turn and go in the opposite direction.

Straight lines – Runs or passes that are made upfield, backward or square, parallel or perpendicular to the sidelines.

Switch fields – To change position of the ball from one side to the other side of the field of play, usually through the back defenders; to swing the ball.

Vertical axis – The field from goal line to goal line, back-to-front, parallel to the sidelines.  (Sometimes referred to as north-south.)

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