In sports, the word "scrimmage" has a number of different meanings. Football players, for example, assemble on either side of the line of scrimmage. The ensuing play, from the center's snap to the end of the down, is called scrimmage. While the term's meaning is similar in both football and soccer, scrimmage generally refers to less serious types of play in soccer.
Between Teams
The meaning of the word "scrimmage" is similar to that of "skirmish," which refers to a minor battle or fight between opposing sides. Before the regular season begins, many soccer clubs compete against each other in practice games, also known as friendlies or scrimmages. While these games use officials, follow the rules of regular games and are taken seriously by players, fans and coaches alike, they do not count toward team or individual statistics. Instead, they serve as a showcase for new talent, an opportunity to practice strategies and a chance for coaches to test out different line and player combinations.
Within Teams
Despite retaining less of the feel of battle, scrimmages are also common within teams. By diving her team into two or more groups, a coach can test out different combinations of players in a scrimmage. Unlike a scrimmage between teams, however, these practices do not always use full teams, standard rules, the entire field or even a player's full body. As such, scrimmages within teams allow coaches and trainers to focus on specific abilities or types of play.
Benefits
In scrimmages within teams, players circulate between groups and may eventually play with and against all of their teammates. This helps to build teamwork and rapport among players, helping each player on the team learn everyone else's strengths and weaknesses. When focusing on specific plays or limiting a scrimmage to one part of the field, these practices provide players with extensive playing experience in a variety of situations. Although this does not perfectly transfer over to real game play, teammates who scrimmage together may be quicker and better at responding to situations in games similar to those that they practice.
Examples
Some common scrimmages within teams involve one-on-one to full team play, with equal numbers of players on each side to practice different plays. These may or may not involve keepers, with scoring not necessarily the goal of these practices. Uneven situations, such as two-on-one or three-on-two play, allow players to practice offensive and defensive strategies in challenging situations. Another common practice is the "inside the 18" scrimmage, which restricts players to the 18-yard penalty area around the goal. Using two teams of three or four, the offensive and defensive teams switch sides after a set period of time, with each team attempting to score as many goals as possible.
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