noun
- Plural of backliner; players in sports (especially ice hockey, soccer, or rugby) who play in defensive positions near their own goal line.
Usage: sports; commonly used in ice hockey and soccer contexts
Examples
- The team's backliners played a strong defensive game to protect the goaltender.
- In soccer, the backliners must communicate constantly to prevent scoring opportunities.
- The coach praised the backliners for their positioning and tackling.
- Ice hockey backliners need excellent skating skills and hockey sense.
- The backliners cleared the puck out of the defensive zone multiple times.