How to Improve Communication in Soccer Players
In soccer, team communication is just as important as your talent, athleticism, and tactical intelligence. With the game constantly changing in real-time, players must process information quickly, make split-second decisions, and communicate instructions to their teammates.
Communication is one of the most important traits of any successful soccer team because it improves chemistry and teamwork and ensures that every player is on the same page. But communication in soccer is not just about talking for the sake of talking and being loud.
Communication in soccer is more about giving the right instructions at the right time because every call out should have a purpose. That is why in this blog post I will be going over different soccer phrases to use during a game based on different situations that you might encounter on the field.
Defensive Communication Techniques in Soccer Players
Effective communication is one of the most important parts to any team’s success, especially for defenders working together to stop attacking players. Central defenders, defensive midfielders, and the entire back line in general must be in constant communication to organize the defense, mark opponents, and anticipate potential hazards.
The following phrases are some of the most commonly used phrases during the defensive phase and during the transition-to-defense phase.
- Step up – Push the entire team up the field to apply pressure and maintain a higher defensive line.
- Drop – Move back or drop deeper into your defensive position to create space and reorganize.
- Hold – Maintain your current defensive position or line, staying solid and not pushing forward.
- Right / Left – A quick directional call indicating where to shift or focus attention to (right or left).
- Stay inside – Keep your position towards the center of the field to defend or block central passing lanes.
- Stay wide – Maintain a position on the outer side of the field to defend an offensive player or create width during the defensive to offensive transition
- Halfway – A call telling a player to position themselves between opposing players, often to cover a threat.
- Press or yes – Apply immediate pressure to the ball carrier, indicating readiness to challenge or close down.
- Hold or no or we’re not ready – Signal to slow down or hold position, indicating the team is not yet prepared to advance or press.
- Step to the ball – Move toward the ball to close down the space and reduce the opponent’s options.
- Force wide + cut inside – Direct the opposing player to the outside (wide) while preparing to intercept or cut off an inside route.
- Foul – Indicate that a foul has been committed by an opponent or your team.
- No foul – Call indicating no foul has occurred or to stop the action from being halted by an official.
- Can’t get out – Alert teammates that the ball carrier is trapped and unable to pass or move effectively.
- I got runner, you go with the runner – A defensive call where one player takes responsibility for tracking a runner, and the other covers a different threat.
- Left / right shoulder – A call signaling where an opponent is in relation to the player (left or right), helping teammates position themselves.
- Runner – Refers to an opposing player making a run, often to receive a pass or get in behind the defense.
- Man behind / here he comes – Warning that an opponent is approaching from behind, often in a dangerous position.
- Offside Trap – A defensive tactic where the back line steps up together to catch attackers in an offside position through clear, coordinated communication.
Offensive Communication Techniques in Soccer Players
In soccer games, offensive communication is just as important as defensive communication. Proper communication during the attacking phase and transition-to-attack phase helps soccer players create space, maintain possession, and move the ball forward with purpose.
Clear communication—whether through verbal communication, body language, or player calls—ensures the entire team is on the same page when attacking the opponent’s goal. These are the most common attacking communication phrases used by players at all levels of the game.
- Stay wide / stay inside – A directional call to position oneself either on the outer side of the field (wide) or closer to the center (inside) depending on the situation.
- Higher + get out – Move the team up the field to push the defensive line higher and create more attacking pressure.
- Drop deep + check back in – Move back to a deeper position and then check back toward the ball or into a more attacking area.
- Open up – A call to open the body or create more space to better receive the ball or make a pass.
- Bring it out + recycle – Move the ball out from a congested area, then pass it around to reset the attack and keep possession.
- Swing it + switch it + switch fields – Move the ball from one side of the field to the other, often to stretch the defense and create space.
- Keep it + calm down + easy – A reminder to stay composed, control the ball, and make simple passes under pressure.
- In behind – A call to play the ball behind the defenders, into space, often for an attacking player to run onto.
- Get it out – Clear the ball out of the defensive area, often under pressure, to relieve danger.
- Back post, front post, cut it, + top of the box – Instruction for players to position themselves at specific points in the penalty area for crosses or attacking opportunities.
- Overlap + I’m around – Indicating that a teammate will overlap (run around you) to create an attacking option, usually in wide positions.
- 1-2 – A call for a quick passing combination where one player passes and immediately runs to receive the ball back.
- Information Talk with the Ball – Verbal cues given while in possession of the ball to inform teammates about the situation or available options.
- Time – A call to indicate that the ball carrier has time to control, look up, and make a decision.
- Turn – A call to indicate that the player with the ball should turn and face a different direction to advance play.
- Turn and hit – A suggestion to turn with the ball and immediately take a shot or make a forward pass.
- Bounce + man on – A call to either play a one-two pass (bounce) or indicate that an opponent is closing in (man on).
- R / L shoulder – A call to alert a player about the position of an opponent relative to their left or right shoulder.
- Leave it, flick it, hold it – Instructions on how to deal with the ball: leave it for a teammate, flick it for a quick touch, or hold it for a controlled possession.
- First time – A call to hit the ball on the first touch, often to take advantage of space or keep play flowing.
- Drive – A directive to push forward with the ball, either running with it or passing it into an attacking position.
- Keeper – A call to alert teammates about the goalkeeper’s position or to indicate a pass back to the keeper.
- Yea + Feet – Positive reinforcement for a good action, or a call to ask for the ball to feet (control it with a pass to the player’s feet).
- Far Post – Take a shot towards the far post of the goal
- Near post- Take a shot near the front / near post of the goal
Communication with the Referee
Besides communicating with your teammates it is also very important for players to know how to communicate with the referee to ensure fair play, maintain control in high-pressure moments, and even persuade the referee to give some calls in your favor.
- Watch this player – A directive to focus on a specific opposing player who may be a potential threat or who has committed fouls regularly throughout the game without being booked
- Our ball – A statement confirming that the ball belongs to your team, usually in reference to a throw-in, free kick, or after a referee’s decision. Even if the ball hits you, say it’s “our ball” to possibly persuade the ref to give the call in your favor.
- Handball – A call for an infraction where a player illegally uses their hand or arm to control or redirect the ball. Similar to above, it is important to call out “handball” even if it is not a clear handball because this might persuade the ref to give the call in your favor.
Emotional Communication –
The last category of communication in soccer is emotional communication, which is important for creating trust, maintaining team cohesion, and helping players stay focused under pressure. These are some of the most common emotional communication phrases to use during a soccer game.
- Great work – A positive reinforcement, acknowledging a teammate’s good performance or effort.
- Common – A brief and informal term used to encourage teammates to keep playing with focus and energy, often used when a mistake occurs.
- Yes – A simple, affirmative word used to express agreement, readiness, or support during play.
- Again – A reminder or encouragement to repeat an action, often used after a successful pass or play that should be done again.
- Next one – A prompt to focus on the upcoming action or opportunity, usually referring to the next pass or movement in the game.
- Love that – A phrase of praise used to acknowledge a great play, pass, or effort from a teammate.
- Keep your head up – A motivational phrase to encourage a player to stay positive and focused, especially after a mistake or challenging moment.
- Wake up – A call to alert teammates to stay sharp, aware, and mentally focused, often used when the team is not fully engaged.
- Connect that next one – A reminder to make a successful pass or connection to the next teammate in a play.
- On your toes – A call to remain alert and ready to react quickly to the next move or play.
- Good try / effort / idea – Positive feedback to acknowledge that a teammate’s attempt or idea was valuable, even if it didn’t succeed.
Summary
Effective communication in soccer helps players stay organized, make faster decisions, and keep the entire team on the same page. In this blog, I broke down the key phrases and communication techniques for both attacking and defending, covering verbal cues, body language, and emotional communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to improve communication skills in soccer?
To improve communication in soccer players, focus on both verbal cues and body language to keep the entire team on the same page in real time. Use clear phrases like “man on,” “drop,” or “switch” to help teammates create space, maintain possession, and respond to potential hazards depending on the current scenario on the field. Effective communication helps teams move the ball quickly, coordinate the back line, and make better decisions during soccer games.
How can I begin improving my soccer skills right now?
To begin improving your soccer skills right now, check out our post on the best soccer training drills. If you are looking to accelerate your progress, contact us or sign an interest form for our private training program.
How can I learn more about the game?
To learn more about soccer the most important thing is to join a team and play the game as much as possible. If possible, analyze high level games as much as you can and your own games as well by recording them with a soccer camera. Also read soccer books, listen to podcasts and interviews watch soccer documentaries, as well as some movies, tv shows, and anime.
