Broadcast glossary
We thought it would be a good idea to provide a primer of terms we often use while calling games, in case there was any confusion for our listeners. We hope the graphic (created by Emerald Gao) and glossary can help enhance your enjoyment of our broadcasts!
- We tend to view the playing field as a flexible grid, with appropriate terminology describing player position. The “D,” halfway line, bylines/goal lines, and sidelines/touchlines are all clearly marked on the pitch, but wings and channels are a bit broader in scope. For us, the wings cover the area between the sidelines and the vertical edge of the 18-yard box (if those lines were to be extended across the entire pitch). The channels occupy the space in between the wings.
- If a player were advancing up the left wing of the diagram above with the ball, and we needed to describe his or her cross, the near post would refer to the left post, while the far post would be the one on the right. However, if the cross is coming in from the right side of the field, the opposite would be true.
Glossary
PASSING
Square: a lateral pass, usually from a wide area toward a more central position.
Center: squaring the ball into a shooting position, e.g. sending a cross into the opponents’ box.
Switch: a longer lateral or diagonal pass that moves the ball from one wing to the other in order to attack the opponents’ weak side.
Early ball: when a player sends a pass quickly forward to spring someone upfield.
Through ball: any pass along the ground that splits the opposing defense, seeking an attacking player on the run.
Over-the-top ball: Same as a through ball, except sent through the air.
One-two: a quick exchange of passes between two players executing overlapping runs.
SHOTS
Inswinger/outswinger: Any delivered ball whose trajectory spins toward the opposing goal is considered an inswinger, while an outswinger takes the ball away from the goal. (Used mainly when describing dead-ball situations, i.e. corners and free kicks.)
Half-volley: Whereas a volley is a shot where the ball is struck before it hits the ground, the half-volley is struck just after the ball bounces. Some great examples of volleyed and half-volleyed goals can be found here (the Kanoute, Gerrard and Nayim goals are all half-volleys; everything else is a volley). Here’s another great look at a half-volley goal.
Olímpico: A goal scored directly by the corner taker. One of my personal favorite occurrences in the sport–I could watch these things forever.
FOULS
Studs up: If a referee can see the studs on a player’s cleats during a tackle, it’s considered dangerous and usually will result in a card.
Agricultural challenge: Thanks to former Maroons play-by-play man Omar Al-Ubaydli (and the BBC by proxy, we suppose), this term refers to a challenge that is clumsy, heavy and crude, much like agricultural machinery.
If there are any phrases or terms you hear during broadcasts that you’d like clarified, please feel free to drop us a comment here, or email us at gomaroons@gmail.com. Enjoy!
