Communication is one of the most important things in soccer as well as everyday life! Imagine going on vacation to a foreign country and you don’t know the language and they don’t know yours… You need to get a rental car, hotel, food what are you going to do? Probably use the best sign language you can:) Players and teams who use soccer sign language play well too! Coaches love a player who has good verbal and nonverbal communication, because it’s contagious!
Coaches love a soccer player who has good verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Click To Tweet
What is soccer sign language?
Using your hands, arms, fingers, eyes to communicate with teammates on the soccer pitch is soccer sign language.
I have listed different ways and reasons players should use soccer sign language.
Note: This is not a term used in soccer/football… More something I use for a teaching point.
It helps kids understand the importance of using signals & non-verbal communication in an appropriate way in soccer to help communicate.
Using your finger to direct where you want the ball
Pointing 1 finger where you want the ball.
Could be pointing down, up or to the side.
If you are a forward or midfielder you can use this to your teams advantage.
Pointing down if you want the ball passed to your feet as your probably checking in or posting up.
Pointing up would be for a forward asking for the ball from a defender or goalie to kick the ball high.
Point in the space where you want the ball.
If you want the ball on the left use your left hand not your right.
You want to make sure they see your motions!
10 ways to use your hand to call for the ball
- Holding your hand out with all fingers out like a stop signal. This tells your teammate to keep the ball because you might recognize a situation before them. Especially since they just were focused on receiving the ball. It could be telling them that they have time in case they didn’t know due to the nature of the game.
- Palm up with your hand away from your leg, hand pointed down asking for the ball at your feet or in the space in front of you is a lot like ‘Pointing 1 finger’… But you will see players use both of them and though they are similar they can also be used different.
- Tap your head or point up if you want the ball crossed or played to your head.
- Tap/Pat your chest to let teammate know you want the ball to your chest.
- Tap/Pat your thigh to call for the ball at a lower elevation.
- Clap your teammate on for a job well done. This could be for telling your mate they did well by working hard, scoring a goal or even almost scoring a goal.
- Waive your arm or hand ‘go’ to tell a player to move.
- Fist Pump to tell a player to go in hard on a tackle or challenge.
- Use Arms or Fingers to call plays on corners EX: your team could have a front post & a back post “play” so you can overload a certain spot for a better chance to score. Before the kick the kick taker holds up 1 finger or arm for a front post ball. 2 fingers/arms for back post ball in. NOTE: Some use arms up instead of fingers because fingers can be hard to see.
Why soccer sign language helps?
While there are many great reasons to use non-verbal communication, I will highlight four reasons to use soccer sign language.
First Reason: EX: Forward checks to a teammate who has the ball.
Then instead of yelling for the ball which would draw attention, use ‘sign language’ so your opponent never sees.
Now this is something you would only do at the right moment, not every time!
Most of the time you will call out loud for the ball, but there are times when soccer sign language holds a huge advantage.
Second reason: When you’re out of breath it’s easier to use (soccer sign-language).
If you have ever played a lot of sports than you know it’s hard to talk while you’re out of breath. 🙂
Third reason: It’s sometimes quicker for a teammate to read soccer sign language than having to hear a command.
Fourth reason: Sometimes you can’t hear your teammate on the pitch because of the wind or the crowd.
Make yourself big
To ‘make yourself big’ is a great soccer term coaches and players will use to encourage their mates to want the ball.
This could mean use big sign language by waiving your arms or it could mean by literally yelling for the ball.
Make it known that you want the ball!
Yell and make noise because if you don’t your chances of getting the ball are less.
Use your arms to spread out so that you really look like you want the ball.
Making yourself big is also getting your arms wider as you receive the ball with a defender on your back.
Players who know how to use their arms are better at shielding the ball.
Know the difference between shielding and fouling.
If your arms stay lower than your shoulders you should be good as long as you have the ball.
Although, if you have them down to your sides the defender will just come around and take the ball.
Learn from watching the pros
No matter what stage you attend a game, you’ll hear lots of communication from the sidelines and pitch.
As a matter of fact, the noise created by fans can be quite deafening.
When you watch a professional soccer game, you will see there are many professionals who often say little. Their teammates know intuitively what their next play will be.
Now rewind the play and watch more closely…
You will see the forward or midfielder check to the ball and call for it with their hands or fingers pointing where they want the ball to be passed to.
They’ve learned the art of communication without words.
They instead rely on other indicators to communicate with their teammates what is next and it soon becomes a good habit.
Educated players communication in soccer
Players can better communicate & improve body positioning – indicating where they will be going next to set up to receive the ball.
Soccer sign language is not really a term, unless you come to my class; there you will hear me use the term to help the player call for the ball.
Why is this a useful skill?
Players can use their soccer sign language to point to a space or to the right or left side of your body.
It depends on where the defender is or where you want the ball played, to put yourself in a good situation.
How coaches use sign language to communicate
Coaches are also very good at this communication.
They’ll use sign language with their players without the other team hearing. Also when the crowd is too loud.
Silent communication is also used by players to indicate the need for applause or to encourage the crowd to raise their noise in show of support.
Most importantly, sign language will change the game in the future.
Referee’s use sign language at different times
Referee’s use soccer sign language because often times in pro soccer they have to work with teams that don’t speak the same language.
There are the global signs that most players understand as well [but yes, they may also be referred to as ‘primitive hand signals’]
Interesting fact about deaf athletes
I know this terminology of soccer sign language is something I’ve used over the last decade to educate players about different aspects of their tactical game.
The implications for my using it are soon to change, as more and more young people who are born deaf enter the sports world as top competitors.
For example, a young man by the name of Derrick Coleman raised a tremendous amount of awareness of deaf athletes in professional sports.
Derricks story gets me every time
While organizations exist who support the role of these particular athletes in sports [thanks to people like Mr. Coleman] I don’t think it will be long before they no longer play in their own league.
Instead they will play simply as the best for the position.
Until then, I will continue to refine my approach to the use of sign language as a tactical advantage.
Then wait eagerly for the day when a deaf player comes to me for training. I’m sure I will then become the student.
Read about this college tackle football team in Washington DC that is all deaf or hard of hearing except one player.
Our Most Popular Posts:
- 3 ways to strike the ball with power
- How to play aggressive
- 8 best 1st- touch drills
- Expert dribbling tips
- Goal side defending
Follow @GFTskills on Social Media
