A passing pattern in football where the receiver runs toward the sideline, typically making a sharp cut at a 90-degree angle after running straight downfield. The route is designed to get the receiver open in space near the boundary of the field.
Combines 'out' (toward the sideline/boundary) with 'route' (from Old French 'rute' meaning path or way). The term emerged in American football's systematic development of passing patterns in the mid-20th century.
The out-route was revolutionized by the West Coast Offense in the 1980s, where Bill Walsh used precise timing and short out-routes to create a horizontal passing game that dominated the NFL. This simple pattern became the foundation for modern quick-strike offenses because it's nearly impossible to intercept when executed with proper timing!
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