Soccer Terms 101
Advantage rule:
a clause in the rules that directs the referee to refrain from stopping play for a foul if a stoppage would benefit the team that committed the violation.
Assist:
the pass or passes which immediately precede a goal; a maximum of two assists can be credited for one goal.
Attacking team:
the team that has possession of the ball.
Back header:
a player's use of his head to direct the ball backwards.
Back tackle:
an attempt by a defender to take the ball away from a ball carrier by swinging the defender's leg in front of the ball from behind.
Ball carrier:
a player that has possession of the ball.
Banana kick:
a type of kick that gives the ball a curved trajectory; used to get the ball around an obstacle such as a goaltender or defender.
Beat:
to get the ball through or around an opponent by dribbling or shooting.
Behind the defender:
the area between a defender and his goal.
Bicycle kick:
when a player kicks the ball in mid-air backwards and over his own head, usually making contact above waist level; an acrobatic shot.
Break:
when a team quickly advances the ball down the field in an attempt to get its players near the opponent's goal before the defenders have a chance to retreat; also called an advantage.
Breakaway:
when an attacker with the ball approaches the goal undefended; this exciting play pits a sole attacker against the goalkeeper in a one-on-one showdown.
Bundesliga:
The German professional soccer league.
Cap:
a recognition earned by a player for each appearance in an international game for his country.
Carrying the ball:
a foul called on a goalkeeper when he takes more than 4 steps while holding or bouncing the ball.
Caution:
see Yellow card.
Center:
a pass from a player located near the sideline towards the middle of the field; used to get the ball closer to the front of the goal; also called a cross.
Center circle:
a circular marking with a 10-yard radius in the center of the field from which kickoffs are taken to start or restart the game.
Center line:
see Midfield line.
Center spot:
a small circular mark inside the center circle that denotes the center of the field from which kickoffs are taken to start or restart the game.
Central defender:
a player who guards the area directly in front of his own goal in a zone defense; does not exist in a man-to-man defense.
Charge:
to run into an opponent; legal if done from the front or side of the ball carrier; illegal against a player without the ball or from behind.
Chest trap:
when a player uses his chest to slow down and control a ball in the air.
Chip pass:
a pass lofted into the air from a player to a teammate; used primarily to evade a defender by kicking the ball over his head.
Chip shot:
a kick lofted into the air to try to sail the ball over the goalkeeper's head and still make it under the crossbar into the goal.
Clear:
to kick the ball away from one's goal.
Cleats:
the metal, plastic or rubber points in the bottom of a soccer shoe used to provide a player with traction; term also used to refer to the shoes themselves
Corner arc:
a quarter-circle with a radius of 1 yard located at each of the 4 corners of the field; on a corner kick, the ball must be kicked from inside this arc.
Corner flag:
the flag located at each of the 4 corners of the field, inside the corner area.
Corner kick:
a type of restart where the ball is kicked from the corner arc in an attempt to score; awarded to an attacking team when the ball crosses the goal line last touched by the defending team.
Counterattack:
an attack launched by a defending team soon after it regains possession of the ball.
Creating space:
when a player from the attacking team moves without the ball to draw defenders away from the ball carrier and give him space.
Cross or crossing pass:
a pass from an attacking player near the sideline to a teammate in the middle or opposite side of the field; used to give the teammate a good scoring opportunity.
Crossbar:
the horizontal beam that forms the top of a goal and sits on top of the two posts; it is 24 feet long and supported 8 feet above the ground.
Dangerous play:
when a player attempts a play that the referee considers dangerous to that player or others, such as trying to kick the ball out of the goalie's hands, even if no contact is made.
Defenders:
the players on the team that does not have possession of the ball.
Defending team:
the team that does not have possession of the ball.
Defense:
a team's function of preventing the opposition from scoring.
Defensemen:
the 3 or 4 players on a team whose primary task is to stop the opposition from scoring; also called fullbacks.
Defensive pressure:
when one or more defenders closely mark a ball carrier to harass him into losing the ball.
Deflection:
the ricochet of a ball after it hits a player.
Direct free kick:
a kick awarded to a player for a serious foul committed by the opposition; the player kicks a stationary ball with no opposing players within 10 yards of him; a goal can be scored directly from this kick without the ball touching another player.
Diving header:
a ball struck near ground level by the head of a diving player.
Draw:
a game that ends with a tied score.
Drop ball:
a method of restarting a game where the referee drops the ball between 2 players facing each other.
Fake or feint:
a move by a player meant to deceive an opposing player; used by a ball carrier to make a defender think the ball carrier is going to dribble, pass or shoot in a certain direction when he is not.
Far post:
the goalpost furthest from the ball.
Flick header:
a player's use of his head to deflect the ball.
Foot trap:
a player's use of his foot to control a rolling or low-bouncing ball.
Formation:
the arrangement into positions of players on the field; for example, a 4-3-3 formation places 4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 forwards on the field.
Forward line:
the 3 or 4 forwards who work together to try and score goals; consists of two wingers and 1 or 2 strikers.
Forward pass:
a pass made towards the opposition's goal.
Forwards:
the 3 or 4 players on a team who are responsible for most of a team's scoring; they play in front of the rest of their team where they can take most of its shots; strikers and wingers.
Foul:
a violation of the rules for which an official assesses a free kick.
Free kick:
a kick awarded to a player for a foul committed by the opposition; the player kicks a stationary ball without any opposing players within 10 yards of him.
Front header:
the striking of a ball in the air by a player's forehead; the most common type of header.
Front tackle:
an attempt by a defender to kick the ball away from an attacker by approaching him from a head-on position.
Goal:
a ball that crosses the goal line between the goalposts and below the crossbar for which a point is awarded; also, the 8-foot high, 24-foot wide structure consisting of two posts, a crossbar and a net into which all goals are scored.
Goal area:
the rectangular area 20 yards wide by 6 yards deep in front of each goal from which all goal kicks are taken; inside this area, it is illegal for opposing players to charge a goalie not holding the ball.
Goal kick:
a type of restart where the ball is kicked from inside the goal area away from the goal; awarded to the defending team when a ball that crossed the goal line was last touched by a player on the attacking team.
Goal line:
the field boundary running along its width at each end; also called the end line; runs right across the front of the goal; the line which a ball must completely cross for a goal to be scored.
Goalie:
see Goalkeeper.
Goalkeeper:
the player positioned directly in front of the goal who tries to prevent shots from getting into the net behind him; the only player allowed to use his hands and arms, though only within the penalty area.
Goalposts:
the two vertical beams located 24 feet apart which extend 8 feet high to form the sides of a goal and support the crossbar.
Hacking:
kicking an opponent's legs.
Halftime:
the intermission between the 2 periods or halves of a game.
Hand ball:
a foul where a player touches the ball with his hand or arm; the opposing team is awarded a direct free kick.
Header:
the striking of a ball in the air by a player's head.
Hook:
the curved trajectory of a ball due to spin imparted on it by a kicker, such as in a banana kick.
In bounds:
when a ball is within the boundaries of the field, having not completely crossed a sideline or goal line.
In play:
when a ball is within the boundaries of the field and play has not been stopped by the referee.
Indirect free kick:
a kick awarded to a player for a less-serious foul committed by the opposition; the player kicks a stationary ball without any opposing players within 10 yards of him; a goal can only be scored on this kick after the ball has touched another player.
Injury time:
time added to the end of any period according to the referee's judgment of time lost due to player injuries or intentional stalling by a team.
Instep drive:
a straight shot taken with the instep of a player's foot; usually the most powerful and accurate of shots.
Juggling:
keeping a ball in the air with any part of the body besides the hands or arms; used for practice and developing coordination.
Kickoff:
the method of starting a game or restarting it after each goal; a player passes the ball forward to a teammate from the center spot.
Lead pass:
a pass sent ahead of a moving teammate to arrive at a location at the same time he does.
League:
an alliance of teams that organizes sporting competition.
Linesmen:
the 2 officials who assist the referee in making his decisions; they monitor the sidelines and goal lines to determine when a ball goes out of bounds and they carry a flag to signal their observations.
Loft or lob:
a high-arcing kick.
Man-to-man:
a type of defense where each defender is assigned to mark a different forward from the other team; the most common type of defense for national-level teams.
Marking:
guarding a player to prevent him from advancing the ball towards the net, making an easy pass or getting the ball from a teammate.
Midfielders:
the 2, 3 or 4 players who link together the offensive and defensive functions of a team; they play behind their forwards.
Near post:
the goalpost closest to the ball.
Net:
hemp, jute or nylon cord draped over the frame of the goal and extending behind it; also used to refer to the goal itself.
Obstruction:
when a defensive player, instead of going after the ball, uses his body to prevent an offensive player from playing it.
Offense:
the function of trying to score goals.
Offensive player:
see Attacker.
Offensive team:
see Attacking team.
Officials:
the referee and 2 linesmen who work together to make sure the game is played according to the rules of soccer; responsible for stopping and restarting play, keeping track of the score and the time remaining and citing violations of the rules, called fouls; they wear uniforms that distinguish them from the players on both teams.
Offside:
a violation called when a player in an offside position receives a pass from a teammate; an indirect free kick is awarded to the non-offending team.
Offside position:
an attacking player positioned so that fewer than 2 opposing defensive players (usually the goalie and 1 other defender) are between him and the goal he is attacking; a player is not offside if he is exactly even with one or both of these defensive players.
On-side:
the opposite of offside.
Out of bounds:
when a ball is outside the boundaries of the field, having completely crossed a sideline or goal line.
Out of play:
when a ball is outside the boundaries of the field or play has been stopped by the referee.
Outlet passes:
when a goaltender or defender passes the ball from close to his own goal toward the other team's goal; used to start a counterattack.
Overlap:
when a winger moves away from the sideline towards the center of the field to create space for a teammate to advance the ball undefended along the side of the field.
Overtime:
the extra periods played after a regulation game ends tied; used in collegiate and championship international matches to determine a winner.
Passing:
when a player kicks the ball to his teammate; used to move the ball closer to the opposing goal, to keep the ball away from an opponent or to give the ball to a player who is in a better position to score.
Penalty:
short for penalty kick; also, a punishment given by the referee for a violation of the rules.
Penalty arc:
a circular arc whose center is the penalty spot and extends from the top of the penalty area; designates an area that opposing players are not allowed to enter prior to a penalty kick.
Penalty area:
a rectangular area 44 yards wide by 18 yards deep with its long edge on the goal line; the goalkeeper may use his hands to block or control the ball only within this area.
Penalty kick:
see Penalty shot.
Penalty shot:
a kick taken from the penalty spot by a player against the opposing goalie without any players closer than 10 yards away; awarded for the most severe rule violations and those committed by the defense within its own penalty area; also taken in a tiebreaker to decide a match.
Penalty spot:
the small circular spot located 12 yards in front of the center of the goal line from which all penalty kicks are taken; positioned at the center of the penalty arc.
Pitch:
a British term for soccer field.
Play on:
a term used by referees to indicate that no foul or stoppage is to be called; used by referees when applying the Advantage Rule.
Possession:
control of the ball.
Push pass:
when a player pushes the ball with the inside of his foot to a teammate.
Red card:
a playing card-sized card that a referee holds up to signal a player's removal from the game; the player's team must play the rest of the game shorthanded; presented for violent behavior or multiple rule infractions (two yellow cards = one red card).
Referee:
the chief official; he makes all final decisions, acts as timekeeper, calls all fouls and starts and stops play.
Save:
the act of a goalkeeper in blocking or stopping a shot that would have gone into the goal without his intervention.
Score:
to put the ball into the net for a goal; also, the tally of goals for each team playing in a game.
Scorers:
players who score goals.
Scoring opportunity:
a situation where a team stands a good chance of scoring a goal.
Set play:
a planned strategy that a team uses when a game is restarted with a free kick, penalty kick, corner kick, goal kick, throw-in or kickoff.
Shielding:
a technique used by a ball carrier to protect the ball from a defender closely marking him; the ball carrier keeps his body between the ball and the defender.
Shinguards:
pads that strap onto a player's lower leg to protect the shins should he or she be kicked there.
Shooting:
when a player kicks the ball at the opponent's net in an attempt to score a goal.
Shorthanded:
a team playing with less than its full complement of 11 players.
Shot:
a ball kicked or headed by a player at the opponent's net in an attempt to score a goal.
Shoulder charge:
minimal shoulder-to-shoulder contact by a defender against a ball carrier; the only contact allowed by the rules unless a defender touches the ball first.
Shutout:
preventing the opposition from scoring any goals in a game; for example, a score of 2-0 or 4-0; goalies are often credited with shutouts because they did not allow any goals to get past them.
Side tackle:
an attempt by a defender to redirect the ball slightly with his foot away from a ball carrier running in the same direction.
Sideline or touchline:
a line that runs along the length of the field on each side.
Sliding tackle:
an attempt by a defender to take the ball away from a ball carrier by sliding on the ground feet-first into the ball.
Square pass:
a pass made by a player to a teammate running alongside him.
Stopper:
the defender that marks the best scorer on the attacking team, often the opposition's striker; exists only in a man-to-man defense.
Striker:
a team's most powerful and best-scoring forward who plays towards the center of the field; also, the name of the mascot for the 1994 World Cup.
Substitution:
replacement of one player on the field with another player not on the field; FIFA rules allow only 3 substitutions per game.
Sudden death:
a type of overtime where the first goal scored by a team ends the game and gives that team the victory; most overtime in soccer is not sudden death.
Sweeper:
the defender that plays closest to his own goal behind the rest of the defenders; a team's last line of defense in front of the goalkeeper.
Tackling:
the act of taking the ball away from a player by kicking or stopping it with one's feet; only a minimal amount of shoulder-to-shoulder contact, called a charge, is permitted to knock the ball carrier off balance.
Throw-in:
a type of restart where a player throws the ball from behind his head with two hands while standing with both feet on the ground behind a sideline; taken by a player opposite the team that last touched the ball before it went out of bounds across a sideline.
Tie game:
when two teams have scored the same number of goals in a match; if the game ends tied, it is a draw.
Tiebreaker:
a way to choose the winner of a match when teams are tied after overtime; in FIFA tournament play, a series of penalty kicks are taken by players from both teams, and the team that scores on more of them is declared the winner.
Timeout:
an official break in the action of a sport; the rules of soccer do not allow for any timeouts; timeouts for television advertising breaks are permitted by NCAA collegiate rules.
Touchline:
see Sideline.
Trailing:
running behind another player.
Trap:
when a player uses his body to slow down and control a moving ball, most often using his chest, thighs or feet.
Turnover:
the loss of possession of the ball.
Unsportsmanlike conduct:
rude behavior.
Volley:
any ball kicked by a player when it is off the ground.
Wall:
a line of 2 to 6 defending players pressed together shoulder-to-shoulder to protect their goal against a close free kick; creates a more difficult shot by reducing the amount of open goal area the kicker has to shoot at.
Wall pass:
a pass by a ball carrier who sends the ball to a teammate, then runs behind his own defender and quickly receives a pass back; used to get a player past his defender without having to dribble by him; same as the "give-and-go" in basketball.
Wings or wingers:
the outside forwards who play to the sides of the strikers and whose primary task is to provide them with accurate crossing passes so they can shoot at the goal; often the fastest players and best dribblers on a team.
Yellow card:
a playing card-sized card that a referee holds up to warn a player for dangerous or unsportsmanlike behavior; also called a caution; 2 yellow cards in one game earns a player an automatic red card, signaling his removal from the game.