Pressure :
Tactical play that is carried out without the ball, opposite to drop back or lay off. The forwards dont fall back towards the halfway line rather become markers of their markers and no player in possession of the ball is allowed to dominate it. This prevents the generation of new attacks as the player with the ball is still close to his own area, all his options for passing are blocked and he has no easy route to advance upfield. For the physical effort that this requires, however, it is very difficult for a team to maintain this tactic for the whole match.
Pairing :
Another club, which is usually a neighbour, that a league club nominates before a seasons fixture list is drawn up, in order to avoid both clubs playing on the same day, risking a loss of revenue, traffic congestion and conflict between rival fans.
Parabola :
Term used in Spanish to describe the trajectory of the ball and that sometimes coincides with the geometric figure.
Paradiña :
Term used in Spanish to describe the action of a player who, to confuse the goalkeeper, stops briefly and suddenly just before taking a penalty. This trick is attributed to Pelé and is now prohibited in a penalty shoot out to decide a match.
Partnership :
Name given to two players who combine in such a way to bring synergy to their individual performances. Also called a pair or duo, they are usually forwards, one of which is the star, the other the understudy.
Pass :
Act of striking the ball with the foot in the direction of a teammate or to where it is expected he will arrive to receive it.
Pass to Oneself :
A play based on speed. The player who kicks the ball towards a space where there is no one is the first to get to the ball to receive it, meaning that he is running at the same speed as the ball. This play is very seldom used during matches as there are very few players who are capable of executing it.
Passing Game :
A playing style characterised by retaining possession of the ball until a goal-scoring opportunity arises.Passive attitude on the part of a player, particularly a goalkeeper, towards the game. Some goalies misjudge shots, sure that they are going wide and merely following the ball with their eyes when they should, in fact, be doing all they can to stop it. Football history is full of examples of goals let in by keepers guilty of ball watching and, incredibly, many continue to do so from time to time throughout their professional career.
Pelada :
An informal game of football played by Brazilians during their work breaks.
