Scrimmage

How it is used

Common in team sports coaching. Coaches organize a scrimmage to test lineups, rehearse tactics, or increase decision-making under pressure.

Example sentences

1. The coach stopped the scrimmage twice to reset our defensive shape and explain where the midfield line should sit.

   Here, scrimmage means a training game that can be paused and adjusted for teaching, unlike a formal competitive match.

2. Friday's scrimmage against the academy side gave the substitutes meaningful minutes before the cup match.

   In this example, the term refers to a practice contest used to prepare players who need realistic match exposure.

Common collocations

• intrasquad scrimmage
• full-court scrimmage
• scrimmage session

Related terms

• coachA person who trains athletes or a team, plans their practice, teaches technique and tactics and often makes decisions during competition.
• drillA short practice exercise, repeated many times, that trains one particular skill or movement, such as passing, footwork or a set play.

More terms: Coaching & Teams

• personal trainer
• athlete
• teammate
• substitute
• tactics
• game plan
• captain
• pep talk
• training partner
• assistant coach
• starting lineup
• chalk talk