Long ball

In association football, a long ball is a pass attempt that moves the ball a long distance on the field via one long aerial kick from either a goalkeeper or a defender directly to an attacking player, with the ball generally bypassing the midfield. Rather than arrive at the feet of the receiving attacking player, the attacker is expected to challenge the opposing defence in the air, with other attacking players and midfielders arriving to try and take possession of the ball if it breaks loose. It is a technique that can be especially effective for a team with either fast or tall strikers.^[1] The long ball technique is also a through pass from distance in an effort to get the ball by the defensive line and create a foot race between striker and defender.^[2] While often derided as either boring or primitive, it can prove effective where players or weather conditions suit this style; in particular, it is an effective counter-attacking style of play in which some defenders can be caught off-guard.^[3][4][5][6]

Not all lengthy passes are considered long ball play, and long but precise passes towards a particular teammate may not fit the description.^[7] Long-ball play is generally characterised by the relatively aimless nature of the kick upfield, with the ball simply being 'hoofed' high in the air towards the general location of the forwards, who, given the length of time the ball is in the air, will have time to arrive at the position where the ball will drop.