Glossary

 

Glossary of Soccer Terms

 

 

50 / 50 Ball: A loose ball that can be contested and be won by players from either team

 

Assist: Occurs when a players pass to a teammate leads to a goal being scored bt that teammate.

 

Assistant Referee: (AR) Two assistant referees are appointed whose duties are to judge when the entirety of the ball has crossed the touch (sideline) line or end line and is out of play thereby deciding possession and determining which restart is appropriate.  Another primary responsibility is to judge when a player is off side.   AR's may also assist the center referee in calling fouls.

 

Attacker: The player in possession of the ball and any of his teammates.

 

Attacking Mid: A midfield player whose primary responsibilities include supporting the forwards in attack.

 

Attacking Third: The third of the field (pitch) closest to the goal attackers are attempting to score in.

 

Back Pass: A pass made to a trailing or withdrawn player located nearer to the attackers own goal. Also called a drop pass, this strategic or tactical ploy is employed to relieve defensive pressure placed on the first attacker (ball carrier) by opponents.

 

Ball Carrier: Also known as the First Attacker is the player in possession of the ball.

 

Ball Side: Being in a position closer to the ball than the opponent you are marking.

 

Ball-You-Man: The individual defensive triangle that sees a supporting defender positioned in a manner from which he can see both the ball and the opponent he is responsible for marking simultaneously with himself as the third point of the triangle.

 

Banana Kick: A kick that results in the ball intentionally bending or swerving while in the air.

 

Bicycle Kick: A technique whereby a player kicks the ball after having left his feet while his back is to the target  The player, while in air, leans back and kicks the ball behind him while it is above his head.  A spectacular but often dangerous play.

 

Boot(s):  A soccer shoe(s)

Bounce Step: When engaging a ball carrier this is a backwards step or bounce designed to prevent your momentum being used against you.

 

Breakaway: Occurs when an attacker with the ball gets behind all field defenders and finds himself in a 1 v 1 situation with the opponents goalkeeper.

 

Caution:  A warning given by the referee and announced by the presentation of a yellow card to a player or coach for an infraction against one of the Laws of the Game  (rules).

 

Center Back: A fullback that plays centrally. There are 2 center backs in a zonal back four. One center back in a zonal back three.  This term is also used generically to refer to the role of the sweeper or stopper in man marking systems in todays hybrid defenses. 

 

Center Forward: Also can be designated as a Target, the Nine, or False Nine. This player is the primary attacker through whom much of the attack is run.

 

Center Mid:  A midfielder.  Can also be designated as an Attacking Mid, Defensive Mid / Holding Mid.

 

Centering Pass: A pass made from a wing or outside channel to a central location on the pitch or center channel.

 

Change (ing) the Point of Attack: The act of moving the ball laterally across the pitch (field) in order to find an easier path to defeat the defense and attack towards the goal.

 

Channel: Originally used to describe the space between a central defender and a back. With the advent of zonal defenses channel is now describe the area a defender is responsible for. If the team uses a back 4 their will be 4 channels covering the width of the field. If a back 3 is played their will be 3 channels.

 

Channel First: Is a defensive technique whereby a defender moves into a goal side position before attempting to close down or confront a defender.

 

Charging: The initiation of physical contact with an opposing player. Shoulder to shoulder charges are legal if the ball is being contested.

 

Clear: A term used to describe the action of sending the ball up the field or out of touch (bounds) away from a dangerous threat in a teams defending third of the pitch.

 

Cleats:  Specialty soccer footwear (boots) worn by soccer players. So called because of the studs or cleats found on the sole of the shoes. Cleats help provide traction to the player and may be of a molded on or metal screw-in variety.

 

Close Down: A defensive technique employed by a defender to deny an opponent room to maneuver. Often used in conjunction with Channel First. The sequence or call is Channel First. Close Down second.

 

Collapse Dive: A technique employed by goalkeepers to increase their range when playing a ball struck toward goal low or along the ground

 

Corner Arc: The quarter-circles located in each of the 4 corners of the pitch (field) from which a corner kick is taken.

 

Corner, Corner, Post: The path to goal taken by a back side or weak side attacker.

 

Corner Kick: A method of restarting the match (game). A corner kick is awarded to the attacking team when the ball, having last been touched by the defending team, crosses the end line without entering the goal.

 

Cross: A centering pass made from a flank (wing) towards the central channels of the pitch (field) in an attempt to create a goal scoring opportunity for a teammate.

 

Cutting Down the Angle: A goalkeeping technique that sees the goalkeeper advance toward the ball carrier to shrink the amount of open space in the face of the goal that an attacker can attempt to score in.

 

Defender:  A player whose primary responsibilities are to play defense in front of the goalkeeper and to begin the attack once possession of the ball is gained.

 

Defensive Mid: Also known as a Holding Mid or Withdrawn Mid. A central midfielder with more defensive responsibilities than attacking responsibilities.  Often positioned primarily in front of and between the two center backs in a zonal defensive system.

 

Defensive Third: The third of the pitch (field) closest to the goal a defense is protecting.

 

Defensive Triangle: The three defensive players closest to the ball. The defender closest to the ball is called the Pressure Defender. The two defenders positioned behind and to each side of the pressure defender are known as Second (Cover) Defenders.

 

Deflection: An uncontrolled rebound off a player, a referee or the frame of the goal.

 

Diagonal Pass:  A pass made diagonally through a defense.

 

Diagonal Run:  A run made diagonally through a defense.

 

Direct Free Kick:  A method to restart the match after a foul has been committed. The ball may be played directly into the goal for a score.

 

Dive: An exaggeration of the effect of contact, including falling to the ground, intended to influence the referee to award a free kick in favor of the players team. To dive is considered unsporting behavior and may be punishable by yellow card.

 

Draw: Also called a tie. Occurs when both teams score an equal number of goals, including when no goals are scored by either team.

 

Dribble: An individual move or series of moves employed by a ball carrier to maintain possession while under defensive pressure.

 

Drive: Typically a low, hard shot on goal, struck on the inside set of laces on top of the boot.  Can also be used to describe a low, hard cross driven towards attackers at the near post.

 

Drop Ball: A type of restart that sees the referee drop the ball to the ground, usually between two opponents. The ball must strike the ground before a player may touch it.

 

Drop Pass:  A pass made to a trailing or withdrawn player located nearer to the attackers own goal. Also called a back pass, this strategic or tactical ploy is employed to relieve defensive pressure placed on the first attacker (ball carrier) by opponents.

 

Dummy: Pretend to receive the ball, but allow it to travel past oneself and on to a teammate.

 

Far Post: The goal post farthest from the position of the ball.

 

First Attacker: The player in possession of the ball. The ball carrier.

 

First Defender: The defender closest to the ball whose responsibility it is to provide pressure on the ball.

 

Formation: Refers to how a team positions its players on the pitch. Describes a teams defensive shape.  A 1-4-4-2 formation has one goalkeeper, 4 backs, 4 midfielders and 2 forwards. Often times the goalkeeper designation is assumed and thus omitted resulting in a label of 4-4-2

 

Forward: Also known as a striker. An attacking player whose primary responsibilities are to score goals and be the first line of defense.

 

Foul: An offence against a player or the spirit of the game that results in the use of a free kick to restart the match.

 

Free Kick: A method to restart play. Can be either direct or indirect dependent on the nature of the foul called.

 

Full back: Also known as a defender. Fullbacks are normally the defenders aligned closest to the goal and their goalkeeper.

 

Give-and-Go: Also known as a Wall Pass. This occurs when two attacking players isolate a single defender and work together to get beyond him. The ball carrier passes to a teammate abreast of the defender then advances forward in such a way as to place the defender between himself and the ball before receiving a return pass from his teammate at a point beyond the defender.

 

Goalkeeper: A teams last line of defense and the only player that may intentionally handle the ball inside his own Penalty Area while attempting to deny the opponents a goal. Sometimes referred to as a keeper or a goalie.

 

Goal Kick: A method for restarting play, awarded to the defensive team, after the attacking team has played the ball across the defending teams end line without scoring a goal.

 

Goal Line: The line that stretches the width of the field at each end of the pitch. Also known as the end line.

 

Goal Side: Being in a position closer to the goal than the opponent you are marking.

 

Half Time: The interval of idle time between the two halves of a match.

 

Hammer or Nail?: A coaching phrase used to remind a player to use proper technique when heading the ball.

 

Handling: Intentionally playing the ball with one's hand or arm. Often incorrectly referred to as a Hand Ball.

 

Header: Passing, clearing, controlling or scoring the ball using the head to strike the ball.

Indirect Free Kick:  A method to restart the match after a foul has been committed. The ball may not be played directly into the goal for a score. That is, a second player, friend or foe, must touch the ball before a goal can be scored.

 

Impedance: Also Impeding Play. Formerly known as Obstruction.  The act of preventing an opponent from reaching the ball without actually playing the ball yourself.

 

Instep: Refers to the top part of the foot often associated with the inside metatarsal of the foot or inside portion of the laces of the boot.

 

In-swinging: Or in-swinger. A banana kick that bends or swerves toward goal while in flight.

 

Juggling: Mainly a training technique in which a player or group of players use feet, knees, thighs or the head to keep the ball off the ground between touches on the ball.

 

Laws of the Game: The rules by which a soccer match is governed.

 

Man on!:  A call used by a teammate to inform the ball carrier of impending pressure.

 

Man-to-man marking: A defensive system of play that sees defenders assigned to a specific opponent.

 

Match: A soccer game.

 

Midfielder: A player who generally aligns in front of defenders and behind attackers in a teams formation. Also called a "Mid". 

 

Near Post: The goal post nearest to the position of the ball on the pitch (field).

 

Negative Space: The area behind the back line and in front of the goal keeper.  

 

Obstruction:  The act of preventing an opponent from reaching the ball without actually playing the ball yourself. Now referred to as Impeding Play or Impedance.

 

Off Side: Go to this link as it does a far better job of explain Off Side than I can do here. http://www.dynamic-thought.com/OffsideClicketteLo.html

 

Off Side Position: The situation where an attacking player, on the offensive half of the field, has placed himself in a position where there are fewer than two opponents between him and the goal. Being in this position does not constitute a foul unless or until he becomes involved in the play.

 

Off Side Trap: A defensive tactic or strategy that sees defenders move forward in unison in an attempt to place an attacker in an off side position.

 

One touch: Receiving and playing the ball in one motion.

 

Out-swinger: A banana kick that while in the air bends or swerves outward away from the goal.

 

Over lap: An over lapping run. This occurs when two attacking players isolate a single defender in order to get beyond him.  There needs to be space between the ball carrier and the defender. There also needs to be space behind the defender. The ball carrier engages the defender while a teammate makes a strong run (usually) to the outside before being played the ball in behind the isolated defender.

 

Over time: If the score is tied at the end of regulation and rules call for more time to be played extra periods of play may be called for. Different governing bodies handle this is different ways so a generic description cannot be utilized.

 

Pass: To transfer possession of the ball to a teammate.

 

Penalty Arc: The semi-circle at the top of the Penalty Area. It is used to mark the ten yard restraining distance from the Penalty Mark when a Penalty Kick is taken.

 

Penalty Kick: A Direct Free Kick, taken by an attacking player, from the Penalty Mark as a result of as foul committed by the defensive team in their own Penalty Area. All players except the goalkeeper and the player taking the kick must be outside the Penalty Area and at least 10 yards from the ball.

 

Penalty Mark: The place on the pitch (field) directly in front of the goal and 12 yards from the goal line (end line) from where a Penalty Kick is taken.

 

Pitch: The soccer field.

 

Possession: Having control of the ball. For a goalkeeper, control or possession is having any part of the hand or ball securing the ball.

 

Pressure: A defensive tactic to deny a ball carrier adequate space or time to maneuver with the ball. The focus is to dispossess the opponent(s) of the ball.

 

Punt: A type of goalkeeper distribution after he has collected the ball with his hands. The ball is dropped from the hand(s) and before it touches the ball is volleyed up the field.

 

Red Card: A player is sent off or disqualified from further play and shown a Red Card as a result of committing a foul in a reckless or dangerous manner.

 

Referee:  The person who controls the match and who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match.

 

Restart: The use of a kick, throw-in or drop ball to restart play after play has been stopped to the ball leaving the field of play, a goal being scored, a foul being called, a stoppage for injury, to start the second half of play or any other stoppage in play.

 

Save:  An action that stops a shot on goal from scoring a goal.

 

Second Defender:  There are usually two second defenders. These players provide coverage and balance behind the first / pressure defender. They are typically positioned behind and to either side of the first / pressure defender.

 

Sending Off Offence: Any of seven major infractions of the Laws of the Game that will result in a player being shown a red card and being sent off the play preventing him from further participation in that match and possible succeeding matches as well. The team of the player who is sent off cannot replace that player and will play one man short for the remainder of the match.

 

Shielding: The tactic of the ball carrier putting his body between the ball and the defender.

 

Shin Guards: Protective equipment worn by players to aid in prevention of injuries to the shin.

 

Shot: An attempt to score in the opponent's goal.

 

Shot on goal: (SOG)  The ball must be struck so that it's course of travel will result in it traveling inside the frame of the goal to be considered a shot on goal. A shot on goal can have only two results: 1) a goal is scored. 2) an opposing play (usually the goalkeeper) makes a save.

 

Slide Tackle: An attempt to dispossess the ball carrier by sliding at and either poking the ball away or winning possession of the ball.

 

Step!: Step up!  Step them out!  These are calls made by defenders either when employing an off side trap or to move the off side line further away from their own goal.

 

Stopper: A designation for the Defensive Mid in a man marking system. Also referred to as a screening or picket player as a primary responsibility is to protect the backs.

 

Striker: Also known as a forward. An attacking player whose main responsibilities are to assist on and score goals while also being the first line of defense.

 

Support: This is a term used to describe players being in position to help a teammate. On defense these players back up a teammate pressuring the ball. In the attack they provide options to the ball carrier to help maintain possession of the ball or generate a scoring opportunity.

Sweeper:  A center back who plays behind the other backs in a man marking system. He does not have specific marking responsibilities. His main role is to provide support for the pressure defender and prevent through balls from being successfully completed against his defense.

Tackle: The attempt to dispossess a ball carrier.  Shoulder tackle, Slide tackle and Block tackles are examples.

Throw-in: A method to restart the match awarded to the team who did not play the ball out of play over the touch (side) line.

Trapping: Gaining control of the ball by using any legal part of the body including the feet, chest or head.

Volley: A striking technique used to play a flighted ball before it touches the ground.

Vision: The ability to see the big picture of the game in conjunction with the smaller picture of the ball. the ability of a player to recognize space, where his teammates are and where the opponents are simultaneously.

Wall: A group of defenders aligned shoulder to shoulder 10 yards in front of an opponent taking a free kick.

Wall Pass: A give-and-go combination of passes. This occurs when two attacking players isolate a single defender and work together to get beyond him. The ball carrier passes to a teammate abreast of the defender then advances forward in such a way as to place the defender between himself and the ball before receiving a return pass from his teammate at a point beyond the defender.

Wing: The wide channels on the field. The area of the field along the touch (side) lines. Also a player who plays in the outside channels along the touch line.

Yellow Card: The referee may issue a yellow card as a caution to a player that his infraction of the rules was of a serious nature.  More than a common foul but does not rise to the criteria of reckless of dangerous played required for a red card.

Zonal Defending: A defensive strategy in which defenders guard an area of the field, a channel, and the opponents in that area rather than marking any one particular player.