Meaning of long ball | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A kick in which the ball is kicked over the heads of other players into an empty space, into which an attacker is moving.
2. A strategy focused on sending the ball upfield directly to the striker, especially one with few other tactical innovations.
   attributive, usually
3. A home run
4. A three-point shot.

Equivalents

Examples

“Welsh nerves continued to jangle as Blake let a long ball bounce over his head and only Wayne Hennessey's swift advance from his line prevented Mirko Vucinic sneaking in.”

“In the first group game, they played long ball against Sweden, who knew the English game, and so were hardly likely to be caught off-guard by direct play.”

“Sometimes, a team will use a long-ball strategy to move the ball. In this strategy, a defender will kick the ball in a long pass, far up the field, to the striker or other forward.”

“Graham Taylor, usually cast as a regressive long-ball manager, understood the error.”

“In the 1970s Seaver knew that batters could connect for a long ball at almost any time, so he had to be able to reach back and strike a hitter out if necessary.”

“He could run a team, tough as nails, shoot the long ball; he had great instincts and feel for the game.”

CEFR level