Call | What it means | Action |
Defence Calls |
“Feed” / “Boy” / “Girl” | There’s a boy or girl in a feed position. | Defenders drop off slightly to force long shots and stop runners |
“Tight” | I’ve blocked the feed so a pass can’t be made (often Front Defence) | Defenders close up and mark players hard (tight) |
“See you” / “Got you” | As a defender, I’m finding it easy to mark my player and can see you and cover you so you can mark yours tight. Often when there’s a fast runner with a deadly long shot as well | 2nd defender can go hard up against their player a long way out to stop a long shot, knowing there is cover behind them in case of a runner |
“Away” / “Gone” / “(Word) Away” | What ever was happening above is now over | |
“Switch” | “Mark the other player”. Usually when a runner has managed to get through | Both defenders switch over who they were defending. This normally happens when someone has been beaten and now has a scoring chance. A swift ’switch’ to defend the other attackers is needed to ensure one of them does not get free and shoot |
“Girls/Boys Switch” | A boy/girl defender has spotted the other 2 defenders of the other sex need to switch who they’re defending (someone’s probably been beaten) | The defenders switch. And moving forwards keep an eye on each other and communicate more. |
“Party” / “Party Ball” | I’ve won the ball in Rebound/Collect and it now belongs to defence | Defence switch from defending to actively moving the ball to the attack zone |
“Ball in” | The opposition have managed to get the ball into their attack zone and we need to defend | Er, start defending? |
“Walking the Block” / “Running the Block” / “Boy Walking” / “Girl Walking” | The attack are forming ”the block”. Often add the element of which sex is walking round to take the Rebound (boy walking, girl walking) | Be ready for fast ball movements. Whoever is defending the Collect needs to work to get round and retake the Rebound |
“Moving it round” / “Going Round” | Attack playing a 4-0 structure to get the ball moving and create an attacking chance | Take a rebound posture and be ready for a player to take feed/ collect or form the block, long shots etc. |
“Shot” | The attack have taken a shot | Turn round and collect! |
“Over” | Ball’s been shot, or thrown, over (or parallel to) the post to the opposite quadrant to set up a different attack | Receiving defender could turn and catch, or at least be ready to defend, to avoid a dropping off shot. (Or a runner if there’s also a feed going in place) |
Attack Calls |
“Got it” | I have a great Rebound/Collect position so shoot away team | Shoot |
“Out” | Incoming Rebound/Collect asking existing one to leave as they have a worse position | Leave Collect and start shooting |
“Hold it” (or similar) | Feed / Assist to hold onto the ball and not pass (for now) | The Block, or other attack structure like simply changing the Feed/Assist, can then form |
“Move!” | You’ve gone slow. Get moving | There’s a boy or a girl in a feed position. |