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running game

running game

28 3.8
A team's plan to move the ball mainly by running
  • noun
  • /ˈrʌnɪŋ ɡeɪm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : juego terrestre
  • They have no running game.
  • a strong running game
  • a productive running game
  • establish the running game

So now I'm out there against this insane run game of the Baltimore Ravens and play well.

Examples

  • Success in the running game can open up the passing game and vice versa.

    Blog text (7)
  • He's got some big targets, too, and help in the running game.

    Blog text (8)
  • How about a running game tonight, Coach?

  • Looks like it's a running game.

  • Let's hope their recruiting is better than their running game.

  • Whenever the Bears needed yards, it was the running game that usually provided them.

    Blog text (8)
  • We'll have to see the degree of impact that will have on the Bucs' running game.

    Blog text (3)
  • Due to turnovers, they fell behind in the 2nd half and abandoned the running game.

    Blog text (7)
  • They couldn't get their running game going.

  • The team focused on building a strong running game to dominate their opponents.

Antonyms

passing game
  • Jargon
25 3.6

A series of plays in American football that move the ball by throwing to teammates

How Run-Focused

running game
  • Specialized
28 3.8
running play
  • US
4 4.4
passing game
  • Jargon
25 3.6

Surface Forms

running game singular
running games plural

Morphology

running + game

The phrase is compositionally related to its parts — 'running' (relating to rushing plays) modifying 'game' (play/strategy) — so a learner can partly infer it refers to a style of play that emphasizes running. However, it is sports-specific jargon and requires domain knowledge (football register) to fully grasp the conventional meaning, so it is not entirely transparent to a general B1 learner.

Etymology

Running game comes from the picture of players using running plays in the game, where one player carries the ball and moves forward by running instead of passing. So the phrase means 'advancing the ball by running'.