Square ball / square pass

A square ball is a pass played sideways—across the pitch—rather than forward or backward. Imagine drawing a square on the field: the ball moves from one corner of the square to another, horizontally.

Why It’s Used

• Keep possession: It helps teams maintain control by shifting play from one player to another.

• Switch angles: It can open up new passing lanes and drag defenders out of position.

• Build attacks safely: Instead of forcing a risky forward pass, a square ball lets a team reset and look for space.