What does "open play" mean?

The period of play outside set pieces; the phase where possession can change by passing and tackling.

Open play

noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Noun

1
The period of play outside set pieces; the phase where possession can change by passing and tackling. especially
"We've struggled to score goals in open play since early March which contributed to our promotion hopes falling away last season."

"We've struggled to score goals in open play since early March which contributed to our promotion hopes falling away last season."