🇺🇸
/ˈbæk.hiːl/
🇺🇸
/ˈbæk.hiːl/
🇬🇧
/ˈbækˌhiːl/
🇬🇧
/ˈbækˌhiːl/
Plural
backheels
Past Tense
backheeled
Past Participle
backheeled
Gerund
backheeling
3rd Person
backheels
A backheel is a clever, often surprising football (soccer) move where a player kicks the ball backward with the heel of their foot — usually to pass, shoot, or evade an opponent. It’s a hallmark of flair and improvisation, like when Neymar flicks the ball behind him mid-turn to set up a teammate.
She stunned the crowd with a perfectly timed backheel that found her striker unmarked in the box.
He backheeled the ball past the defender and sprinted into space.
The midfielder attempted a risky backheel in midfield but lost possession.
That audacious backheel assist was voted Goal of the Month.
Coaches often drill backheel control in small-sided games to improve spatial awareness.
back
Comes from Old English 'bæc', meaning 'the rear part of the body' or 'behind, backward'. It denotes position, direction, or reversal. Examples include backspace, background, backlash, backpack, backhand.
heel
Comes from Old English 'hēl', meaning 'the hindmost part of the foot' — extended metaphorically to denote a rearward point of contact or leverage. In sports terminology, it specifically refers to using the heel of the foot to strike or control a ball. Examples include high-heel, heel-toe, heel lift, and in football/soccer contexts: backheel, toe-poke, volley.