onside kick
Plural
onside kicks
1
a strategic soccer kickoff aimed at quickly recovering the ball before it travels the necessary distance
An onside kick in soccer is a strategic move where the player taking the kickoff deliberately kicks the ball short, aiming to recover it before it travels the required distance. This technique is used to quickly regain possession and catch the opposing team off guard, often when a team is trailing and needs to regain control of the ball immediately. The kicker aims to make the ball bounce unpredictably or to a spot where their teammates can get to it before the other team does, giving the attacking team a chance to regain possession right after the kickoff.
- The team attempted an onside kick to catch their opponents off guard.
- He executed a perfect onside kick, allowing his team to regain possession.
- They practiced the onside kick repeatedly during training.
- The onside kick bounced perfectly into the hands of a waiting teammate.
- The onside kick attempt failed, resulting in good field position for the opponent.