back field

plural back fields

1. alternativeAlternative form of backfield.

   Pherffer, Coache, and Steever occupied the back field on the scrub and did excellent work. The coaches are determined not to let their team rest on their oars because of Saturday’s overwhelming victory, […]

   1906 November 7, “Princeton”, in The Chicago Tribune, volume LXV, number 267, Chicago, Ill., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 14, column 2

   2 more examples

   HB TOSS & PASS This play is excellent if you need ten yards fast. The quarterback throws the ball to the halfback, who can then either throw or run with the ball. If the back field opens up it’s best to throw; if the defence sits back go for the run. […] SAFETY BLITZ This play is best used in a goal-line situation as it puts the offensive line under great pressure from the blitzing players. […] It also leaves one player in the back field just in case the offence tries a surprise pass.

   1993, Carl Rowley, “John Madden ’93”, in Official Sega Genesis Power Tips Book, volume 2, Rocklin, Calif.: Prima Publishing, →ISBN, pages 46–47

   They don’t need their wingers up in defence, which means our kicking game isn’t working because there always seem to be three Scottish players in the back field covering. […] And when we drive forward so effectively, France have to put more and more forwards into the mauls to stop us. This means their backs have no inside support in defence, their wingers are forced to come up and help and it frees up the back field.

   2011, Jonny Wilkinson, Jonny: My Autobiography, London: Headline, →ISBN, pages 108 (chapter 8) and 187 (chapter 13)