Master Glossary of American Soccer Terms (MAJOR UPDATE!, Spring ’13)

Like any other sport, soccer in America has its own “language” and terminology. Used by coaches, players, journalists, commentators, and others, Coaching American Soccer hereby presents a Master Glossary of American Soccer Terms.

(THIS IS INTENDED TO BE A “LIVING” DOCUMENT. PLEASE USE THE “CONTACT US” FEATURE TO SUGGEST TERMS AND DEFINITIONS WHICH MIGHT BE INCLUDED.)

Glossary Term	Definition
6	The outermost line of the Goal Area, parallel to the Goal Line, 6-yards out from the goal.
18	The outermost line of the Penalty Area, parallel to the Goal Line, 18-yards out from the goal.
1 v 1, etc.	Practice drill with one offensive player versus one defensive player; number of offensive players listed first; see “v terminology.”
11 v 11	Practice scrimmage with two full teams with full field and full-size goals.
12-cross	A lofted pass from the corner of the field delivered to the area in front of the goal at approximately the penalty spot.
18-cross	A lofted pass from the corner of the field delivered to the area approximately eighteen yards in front of the goal (the top of the penalty area).
18-yard box	The Penalty Area; the goalie box.
4-3-2-1, etc.	Formation (system of play) designated from the goal out; four back defenders, three defensive midfielders, two attacking midfielders, 1 striker; the goalkeeper is assumed; always adds up to ten for full-sides play.
4-3-3, etc.	Formation (system of play) designated from the goal out; four back defenders, three midfielders, three strikers; the goalkeeper is assumed; always adds up to ten for full-sides play.
50-50 ball	A ball which, during the run of play, is equidistant between two oncoming opponents and is likely to result in a collision unless one player is successful in getting to it first or the other player backs off.
6-cross	A lofted pass from the corner of the field delivered to the area approximately six yards in front of the goal (the top of the goal area).
6-yard box	The Goal Area.
a.e.t.	After extra time
Abandoned Match	Law 7 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; a game which has to be terminated before completion, due to such things as loss of daylight or lightning; is to be replayed unless competition rules specify otherwise.
Absorb/absorbing pressure	Ability of a defense to withstand attacks.
Academy programs	“The Development Academy is a partnership between U.S. Soccer and the top youth clubs around the country to provide the best youth players in the U. S. with an everyday environment designed to produce the next generation of National Team players. The Academy’s programming philosophy of increased training, less total games and more competitive games is based on U.S. Soccer’s Best Practices utilized by the U-17 U.S. National Team Residency program.” (U.S. Soccer)
Active	A player who is demonstrating a high energy level and making the most of the minutes made available to him or her while playing in a game.
Added time, allowance for time lost	Law 7 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; at the discretion of the referee, playing time is extended at the end of each half for substitutions, injury, time wasting, or other events.
Administrator	League executive officer.
Advancement	For leagues having multiple divisions, there is a procedure for winning teams to move up from lower divisions to higher divisions after a competition has been completed. Losing teams move down as “relegation.”
Advantage on shots, corners, etc.	In a count or statistic of actions in a game, one team has more than the other team.
Advantage, advantage clause, advantage rule	The referee shall refrain from penalizing an infringement of the Laws of the Game when doing so would result in giving an advantage to the infringing team. Example
Again	(On-field oral communication) Repeat a shot, run, or pass.
Against the run of play, scoring a goal	A team that has been on the defensive for a large portion of a match suddenly scores.
Aggregate	Total goals in a home-and-home series to qualify for advancement in a tournament.
Agility	Ability of a player to react and move quickly.
Air pump	A number of various devices, powered by hand or electricity, used to put air into a ball; requires a ball needle.
Airborne	Leaving ones feet to get to a ball; flying through the air after being undercut.
Allowance	Additional time for time lost; stoppage time; allowance for time lost in accordance with Law 7 of the FIFA Laws of the Game.
All-star	A player selected from among a number of teams by an administrative body for special recognition due to his performance during the course of a season; usually identified by position on an all-star team, which may or may not play in an actual all-star game.
All-star game	An actual match utilizing the all-star designees from the teams in a league; may be played between two teams of all-stars or a team of all-stars against some other team.
Amateur	Any player who is not paid to play the game; or, a player who does not demonstrate professional training.
Amnesty	Wiping out the possible suspension effects of cards prior to the semis in a tournament.
Analysis	Breakdown of a team or individuals into their component parts, such as system of play, re-starts, and tendencies, in order to capitalize on potential defensive lapses or to defend against offensive threats. See also, match analysis.
Anchors	Any number of plastic or metal devices designed to keep the backstays of a goal firmly in contact with the earth.
Angle of approach	The direction a defender takes when running to meet an opponent in possession of the ball.
Angle of pursuit	Direction taken by a defender to obtain a proper defensive position against the offensive player he is marking when the offensive player makes a run.
Angle of recovery	Direction taken by a defender to re-establish a proper defensive position against either, a.) an offensive player with the ball who has just beaten him; or, b.) another offensive player due to a defensive switch.
Anticipation	To successfully analyze a situation, usually involving a specific opponent, and to project in advance what is most likely to happen next, thereby being able to react in advance.
Arc	The semi-circular line just outside the Penalty Area marking 10-yards from the Penalty Spot; also commonly referred to as the “D.”
Area	Commonly, the Penalty Area; less likely, the Goal Area.
Armband	The Captain’s Armband as worn by the team captain.
Arriving late	Mistimed tackle or charge occurring after the ball has gone, resulting in a foul.
Artificial surface, artificial turf	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; a non-grass, synthetic playing surface; “AstroTurf(TM);” must be green.
Assist	Recognizes the player that passed the ball to the teammate who scored. In a common point system for attacking prowess, players are awarded two points for a goal and one point for an assist.
Assistant Referees	Law 6 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; formerly “linesmen;” assist the referee with touchline outs, offside, goalline outs, goals, fouls and other duties.
Association Football	Formal name for soccer; “soccer” is widely recognized to be derived from the word “Association” when it was abbreviated as “Assoc.”
AstroTurf™	Original artificial, synthetic, playing surface used instead of grass.
Athlete	A person who is trained in, or good at, games or exercises that require physical skill, strength, and/or endurance.
Athletic tape	A narrow, adhesive, woven cloth used to help support joints, prevent injury, or secure bandages.
Attack, attacking	Offensive action against the opponent; the team with the ball strives to ultimately obtain a shot on goal by running and passing and getting the ball to a free teammate who can take the shot.
Attacking and defending box-to-box	A team with the fitness and the willingness to effectively and repeatedly get upfield to attack and back to defend, from one penalty area to the other.
Attacking first touch	A player with the vision and the execution to intercept or receive a ball and to immediately direct it or pass it into dangerous offensive space.
Attacking midfielder	A midfielder as designated according to the formation (system of play) who is expected to quickly join the forwards in the offense as soon as the ball is obtained.
Attacking third	The forty yards of the field of play in front of the goal at which the offense is trying to score. (Also call the final third.) Coaches commonly characterize the field as divided into three parts: the attacking third, the middle (or transition) third, and the defensive third.
Attacking-minded players	Individuals who have a philosophy of, or who enjoy, going forward.
Attempts	Shots taken by a player or team.
Awareness	A player’s perception, knowledge, and understanding of how a match is progressing around him and how he fits into it.
Away	(On-field oral communication) goalkeeper is telling the defensive teammate to kick or head the ball out from goal.
Away-and-To	Potential recipient of a pass first moves away from his teammate who has the ball and then moves toward him.
AYSO	American Youth Soccer Organization.
Back and left	(On-field Oral Communication) Player who is open and available for a backpass is telling his teammate who has the ball where his is located.
Back and right	(On-field Oral Communication) Player who is open and available for a backpass is telling his teammate who has the ball where his is located.
Back heel	A Back Pass executed by kicking the ball backward with the heel of the foot.
Back line	Group of back defenders playing just ahead of the goalkeeper.
Back of the net, in the	A goal has been scored, as in, “The ball is in the back of the net!”
Back pass	To pass the ball to a teammate who is behind the player with the ball.
Back post	The upright of the goal farthest away from the ball; the far post.
Back to the goal	Striker facing away from the goal he is attacking, usual as he receives the ball.
Back, Drop, or Drop It	(On-field oral communication) there is a teammate open for a back pass.
Backing in	To move into an opponent instead of going up for an airball, thereby committing a foul.
Backpack	Carrying case to be worn on the back using shoulder straps specifically designed to handle soccer gear, including a mesh attachment to carry a soccer ball.
Backpedal	To retreat or move backward, generally on the balls of the feet, in order to cover the moves or expected run of an opponent.
Backs	Players specifically identified in a formation (system of play) as defenders; back defenders; fullbacks.
Back-side	Weak side; on defense, the side of the field opposite the side with the ball.
Backstays	Supports attached to, and behind, the goal in order to reinforce and maintain the goal’s stability and location; may also be used to support the nets.
Badge	Team emblem worn by players; association emblem worn by referees.
Balance	(1) to shift body mass in order to maintain equilibrium; (2) to ensure defenders in a zone defense are equally distributed across the width of the field.
Ball bag	A net or mesh bag of varying sizes sold by soccer-supply stores for carrying a number of inflated soccer balls.
Ball control	The ability of an individual player to keep the ball close to his body and, by his various actions, to place the ball the ball where he wants to when he wants to.
Ball delivered	A successful pass.
Ball hop	A bounce, often in an unexpected way.
Ball in and out of play	Law 9 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; the ball is out of play when the whole of the ball goes over the touch line or goal line, whether on the ground or in the air, and when the referee blows it dead; the ball is still in play if it rebounds back into the field off the goal, the flagposts or the referees, if they are inside the field.
Ball mark	The impression or bruise made in the skin of a player as a result of being struck by a particularly hard ball.
Ball movement	Successful passes in succession by one team, which maintains possession and probes the defense.
Ball persons	People equally spread outside the perimeter of the game field with extra game balls to be provided when the ball is not easily obtained by players when the ball goes out of bounds.
Ball size	Sizes “1, 2, 3, 4, and 5,” from smallest to largest, with Size 5 having the qualities and measurements as described in Law 2 of the Laws of the Game.
Ball too long	A forward pass, often a through-ball, which is hit too hard and goes beyond the intended recipient.
Ball watching	A player who is observing the action of the game instead of moving into a proper position to react to the dynamics of the match.
Ball, calling for	A player who is not directly covered by a defender yells for his teammate to pass the ball to him.
Ball, the	(Laws of the Game) Defined in Law 2, “The Ball,” including spherical, material, circumference, weight, and pressure.
Ballistic stretching	A flexibility process intended to lengthen muscles and tendons by the use of sharp bouncing or projection movements.
Ballon d’Or	French for “golden ball;” FIFA international recognition as professional player of the year.
Balls of the feet	The front part of the soles of the feet, behind the toes. The actual part of the foot used to support a player’s weight when the player has his heels raised off the ground in order to promote proper balance or increase reaction time. Colloquially, the actual part of the foot used when someone says “be on your toes.”
Banana (…pass, shot or ball)	A kick of the ball which imparts spin (“english”) causing the ball to curve or “bend” in flight, making the path of the ball look like the curve of that of a banana.
Bangboard	A solid structure, often made of wood and usually the size of a goal, which allows a player to kick a ball against it and receive the rebound.
Bar	The crossbar of the goal.
Barge	To awkwardly collide with or run into a player (who usually has the ball).
Baseball throw, baseball release	After having made a save or otherwise receiving the ball, the goalkeeper throws the ball to his teammate using a motion similar to that of a baseball player.
Be creative	To try unexpected dribbling moves or passes.
Be there	(On-field oral communication) Encouragement for a teammate to get to a ball or to a spot on the field.
Beat, beaten	An offensive player with the ball has successfully feinted and gotten around the immediate defender.
Beating the offside trap	Successfully passing behind defenders who have intentionally moved upfield to try to create a violation of Law 11.
Behind	Offensive team gets the ball past the back line; a player who is beyond the next-to-last defender in an offside position.
Behind the ball	A player who is positioned approximately ten to twenty yards closer to his own goal than his teammate who is in possession of the ball.
Behind you	(On-field oral communication) Usually that a trailing teammate is open; sometimes that a defender is arriving.
Bend, bending ball, bending pass	To curve the ball in flight by kicking it in such a way as to add “english” or spin to the ball.
Bending run, bent run	A run that creates a path that looks like a semi-circle, as made by a player trying to get open for a pass, usually made to open space behind an opponent.
Bib	A vest or a pinnie; a cover designating a potential substitute or someone not actively playing in a game.
Bicycle kick	Recently used to describe a “scissors kick.” See Scissors Kick or Overhead Volley. Formerly described a ball move whereby a player pulls the ball up behind his calf using the instep or inside of one foot and then uses the heal of the other foot to kick it over his head, the motion of the feet making it look like that of pedaling a bicycle, this is now commonly called a “rainbow.” See Rainbow.
Bi-line	The Goal Line, from corner to corner, as bisected by the goal.
Bite	To be fooled or to react to a fake, feint, or juke by shifting body weight or stabbing at the ball.
Blind side	The area behind a player which cannot be seen without turning the head.
Blind-side run	A run by an offensive player, hoping for a pass from a teammate, into the area behind his opponent where his opponent is not looking.
Block (blocked)	A defender, either a field player or the goalie, interposes a part of his body into the path of a shot, resulting in the ball being deflected away from goal.
Block tackle	See Front Block Tackle.
Blood rule	Law 5 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; a player who is bleeding must promptly leave the field and not may not return until the bleeding has stopped. (Incorporated after the advent of HIV/AIDS.)
Bomb	A particularly long and strong shot, punt, or clearance.
Booked	Given a yellow or red card; player’s number and offense are recorded by the referee.
Boot (to boot)	To kick the ball.
Boots	Old, traditional, name for a player’s soccer shoes; cleats.
Bounce	The rebound or reflection of a lofted ball after striking the ground.
Bowl, bowling throw, bowling release	After a save or otherwise obtaining the ball, the goalkeeper sends it to a teammate using a motion that looks like that of throwing a bowling ball.
Box, the	The Penalty Area; the goalie box.
Box/boxing	The goalkeeper punches the ball away from the goal.
Brave	A goalkeeper who is willing and able to go into a crowd to save or clear a ball, generally implying a degree of risk.
Brazilian drill, Brazilians	A set of practice skill drills using two teammates where one teammate serves the ball to the other for headers, volleys, etc., either standing or moving.
Break	A counter-attack by an opponent marked by speed or swift action; fast break; fast counter.
Breakaway	A striker with the ball has gotten behind the defense.
Breakdown	A defense loses its ability to mark and defend all of the opponents on attack, usually allowing a player to run free and to shoot and possibly score.
Breaks down	Attack falls apart.
Breakthrough	The first goal of a match, usually after an extended period of scoreless play.
Brick Hands (or Bricks for Hands)	A goalkeeper who has difficulties holding onto the ball or frequently drops it.
Broken up	A defender stops an attack, usually by intercepting a pass.
Bubble	The penalty arc; the “D.”
Buildup	Team on offense uses possession passes while sending more players forward.
Bunch, Bunched, Bunching	Too many players too close together to engage in effective passing.
Bunker	To place a majority of players in defense with little attempt to go on offense or to move the ball forward. (See also Catenaccio.)
Burst	A quick application of speed by an offensive player, usually with the ball.
Call, calling	Generally yelling to a teammate that you are open for a pass; any type of oral communications by players on the field during a game.
Camp	To go to a camp; to attend a program of days dedicated to soccer; summer camp; soccer camp.
Camp, camp out, camping out	Generally a striker setting up at the top of the penalty area with little movement until teammates bring the ball near.
Cannon	A particularly strong leg or shot.
Cap, caps	One “awarded” for each time a player plays for his national team in an international game; old term still in common usage; players used to physically receive caps (hats/headgear).
Captain	The member of the team designated as its leader for a match; usually calls the coin toss for the visiting team; upon approval, speaks for the team to the referees; wears the captain’s armband during the match.
Captain’s armband	Elastic ring of cloth worn on the upper arm during a match by the team captain, usually a contrasting color to the jersey and containing the letter “C” or the word “Captain.”
Carbohydrate loading	A dietary technique which stresses the intake of carbohydrate-rich foods for three to five days before a match in order to try to improve performance.
Card	To issue a yellow card (caution) or red card (ejection) to a player; the actual yellow or red cards themselves as carried by the referee.
Careless	Allowing the ball to go to the other team due to not paying enough attention to the proper execution of a pass or reception.
Carried off	Injured player removed from the field on a stretcher by medical personnel.
Carry	(On-field oral communication) Take the ball (dribble) upfield; i.e., individually attack open space.
Carrying a (yellow) card	A player still playing in a match after having received a Caution.
Catenaccio	Italian for “door-bolt”; an historical approach popularized by the Italian national team which places the majority of field players in defensive positions and looks for a fast break or quick counter-attack for offense. (See also Bunker.); incorporates a “libero” or “sweeper” behind the back line who does not have a direct marking function and double marks or obtains loose balls.
Caution, cautionable offense	Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; a player is cautioned and shown a yellow card for unsporting behavior, dissent by word or action, persistent infringement of the Laws, delaying the restart of play, failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, free kick or throw-in, entering or re-entering the field of play without the referee’s permission, or deliberately leaving the field of play without the referee’s permission.
Center	(On-field oral communication) Send the ball in the air or on the ground to the middle of the field.
Center back	Middle player of the back defenders; center fullback.
Center Circle	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; the ten-yard-radius circle marked in the center of the field of play, with the radius emanating from the center mark.
Center Line	Imaginary line running the length of the field from the middle of one goal to the middle of the opposite goal, used to identify the right side of the field from the left side of the field; sides will be different based on which goal a team is defending.
Center Mark	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; the midpoint of the halfway line in the field of play; where a kickoff occurs.
Center Striker, Central Striker, Center forward	The central or lead striker usually designated as a target player on attack.
Centering pass	Generally, a square pass from the sideline to the middle of the field, usually in the attacking third of the field, and directed to an oncoming striker or attacking midfielder.
Central	In the middle of the field.
Challenge	(On-field oral communication) As a supporting defender, this tells a teammate that support in defense has arrived and that a solid attempt to take the ball away may be made. This generally comes shortly after a Jockey or Contain call.
Challenge (the challenge, a challenge, to challenge)	A defender takes on or engages an opponent with the ball; attempts a tackle.
Chance	An opportunity to shoot or score.
Chances	Opportunities to score.
Change ends	In the second half of a match, teams attack opposite goals from the first half, in accordance with Law 8 of the FIFA Laws of the Game.
Changes	Substitutions; modifications to a team’s lineup, formation, or system of play.
Changing the point of attack	Generally, switching the ball from one side of the field to the other on offense using a series of passes among midfielders and/or back defenders.
Charging (1)	Legal contact, shoulder-to-shoulder, either front-to-front or side-to-side.
Charging (2), charges an opponent	Violation of Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game, Fouls and Misconduct; illegal contact resulting in the award of a direct free kick.
Chase, to give chase	The active and usually proper first response to being beaten by an offensive player.
Chasing	Defensive players constantly running behind the player with the ball or offensive players making runs; indication of a breakdown in the defensive system of play or poor technique by defensive players.
Chasing the game	Down at least one goal, trying to come from behind, generally implying trying to gain possession with some difficulty.
Check	(On-field oral communication) You will likely be a passing option if you move away from your current location (usually toward your teammate with the ball), draw your defender, and then return to the spot you left.
Checking run	Any of a number of runs by a player trying to set up a passing option for a teammate involving moving in one direction to influence the defender to follow and then quickly changing direction and moving into open space.
Chest pass	Use of the chest to re-direct a ball, which has arrived at chest-height, to a teammate.
Chest trap	The skill of receiving a ball in the air, taking the pace off the ball by extending and then deflating the chest, and then collecting the ball at the feet in order to make the next move.
Chip (1)	A variation of the instep drive in which the foot is pointed out to the side like the head of a golf club and then swept under the midpoint of the ball in order to arc the ball over a defender and place backspin on the ball so that it won’t run when it hits the ground.
Chip (2)	(On-field oral communication) Pass the ball over a defender or shoot the ball over the goalkeeper with a chip instep kick.
Chippy	A player or players ticking heals, barging each other and/or jawing at each other.
Chop	The act of a dribbler whereby he pivots slightly on one foot in order to turn a leg at the hip and knee in order to hit the ball from near its opposite side to deflect it beyond a 90-degree angle from its forward path.
Circuit training	The use of a number of stations established around a practice field where each station promotes a different skill or fitness objective; players rotate among the stations.
Clean sheet	No goals allowed during a match.
Clear	(On-field oral communication) Get the ball out of danger, away from the goal, immediately. (Tells the defender to kick the ball as far upfield, toward the sideline, and out of bounds if necessary.)
Clear, to clear, clearance; cleared away	A defender kicks the ball long, far and as wide as possible away from goal to end an immediate threat.
Clearance, clearing	An emergency action to kick the ball away from the defensive goal, as far upfield as possible, toward the sideline, or out of bounds, in order to quickly get the ball out of a dangerous scoring opportunity for the opponent.
Cleared out	Opened up an area for attack.
Cleats	A player’s game shoes with molded or replaceable studs designed to grip the turf.
Cleats Up	A player who makes a tackle with the sole of the foot (showing the cleats) directed at an opponent. Very dangerous; usually results in a card. Sliding at or tackling an opponent with the soles of the shoe facing directly at him; illegal tackle; violation of Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; studs up.
Clinic	A one-time demonstration of soccer skills, tactics, or fitness, to an interested group of players or coaches.
Clinic, to give a	To demonstrate overwhelming skills and tactics, either as an individual or as a team.
Clinician	The coach presenting a clinic.
Closing down space	Defender moves into an open area to prevent the area from being exploited for a pass.
Club	A soccer team or organization supporting or sponsoring a soccer team or a number of teams.
Clumsy touch	An attempt to receive and control a ball that just winds up bouncing off the player.
Coach	A trainer or director of an athletics team, teacher; to provide instruction in a technique or skill.
Coaching ovals	Small, colored plastic discs used by coaches to delineate practice space and drills; saucers.
Coaching posts/flags	The same as, or similar to, corner posts/flags, but used for drills or to represent the positions of players.
Coaching sticks	Short, colored rods or poles used by coaches for fitness routines.
Coerver method (Coerver coaching, Coerver system)	A skill and technique program developed and promoted by Dutch coach Wiel Coerver.
Coin Toss	Law 8 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; prior to match, winner of coin toss by referee chooses which goal to attack first; loser takes opening kickoff; teams change ends at halftime; winner of coin toss takes kickoff to start second half.
Collect, Collecting	Initial receipt of a ball, whether on the ground or in the air, in order to get it under control, often as a result of a pass; trap; receive.
College Cup	Term used for NCAA final four annual championship.
Collision	Two players running into each other, not necessarily involving a foul.
Combination play, combination passes	Multiple passes among players on the same team, usually within a small area, which generally sets up a through pass, a centering pass, or a cross to a teammate in another part of the field.
Come back	(On-field oral communication) When a defender sees a situation where there are too many teammates who have moved forward to cover potential attackers should the ball change teams, this tells defensive teammates that they must return to mark opponents or cover space.
Comes on/Goes off	Player substitution; one player enters the field after another player leaves.
Coming forward	Defender moves into the attack.
Coming off the/his line	Goalkeeper leaves the proximity of the goal to go into the field after the ball.
Commissioner	An official, given the authority to administer the operation of a league or an organization of referees.
Commit (1)	A striker causes the opposing goalkeeper to come off his line and move at the striker.
Commit (2)	A goalkeeper makes the decision and comes off his line in order to cut down the angle or attempt to get the ball from an oncoming striker.
Committing to the challenge	Defender decides to make and then goes in for a tackle.
Communication	Oral or non-verbal interchange between players or coaches to transmit important information regarding the game.
Competing for positions	Second-tier players working as hard as possible to get on the field as a starter.
Complexion	The overall feeling or tenor of a match.
Compliance	Players and administrators abide by team and league rules.
Composure (player), composed on the ball	Individual who handles pressure well.
Composure (team)	As a group, the team doesn’t over-react or lose its cool after being scored upon.
Compression Shorts	A skin-tight undergarment of an elastic nature worn under game shorts generally intended to support the hamstrings; when worn in games, must be the same color as the game shorts; also known as “slide pants;” protect the upper leg and hips during slide tackles.
CONCACAF	The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football. Division of FIFA which contains the United States.
Conceding	Giving up goals.
Conditioning	Physical fitness for playing the sport of soccer.
Conditions	Aspects of the weather or the field which may affect play.
Cone ball	Players getting together to play informal soccer by placing two cones to form small goals at each end of a patch of ground.
Cones	Plastic devices, usually available in different colors, used to delineate practice spaces or for drills.
Confidence	An individual’s self-assurance in their own skills; a team’s self-assurance in its ability to overcome adversity.
Contain	(On-field oral communication) As a supporting defender, this tells a teammate to defend a dribbling opponent by standing ground and confining the opponent to a small space. By not tackling and attempting to take the ball, thereby avoiding the possibility of being beaten, this buys time so the defense can return, reorganize, balance and cover.
Contingencies	Planning in advance for any number of events, from weather to injuries to playing a man short.
Control (1), controlling, controlling the ball	The ability to receive, collect, and manipulate the ball in the way desired.
Control (2)	The ability of a defender to influence an offensive player to go in a direction he does not want to go.
Controlled scrimmage	Either within one’s own team or with agreement of an opponent, setting up and practicing situations such as offensive and defensive restarts, in addition to a period of free play.
Controlling the match	The ability of a team to maintain possession of the ball and dictate the flow of the game.
Converted	Scored on a penalty kick.
Conviction	Individual who makes a decision and does not hesitate when going for a ball or into a tackle.
Cool down	Exercises and drills intended to reduce body temperature and heart rate in a controlled manner after a practice session.
Core conditioning	The overall strength and fitness of the abdomen and chest (torso, trunk) of the body.
Corner	(On-field oral communication) Pass the ball in the direction of the offensive near corner of the field, usually directed toward the corner flag.
Corner	To be awarded a corner kick.
Corner Arc	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; a quarter circle with a radius of one yard from the corner drawn inside the field of play from goal line to touch line.
Corner flags, corner flagposts, corner posts	See Flagposts.
Corner Kick	Law 17 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; a re-start awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line either on the ground or in the air having last touched a player of the defending team (as long as a goal has not been scored in accordance with Law 10); taken from the Corner Arc nearest to the point where the ball crossed the goal line.
Corner kick mark, optional	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; marks may be made just outside the field of play at right angles to the goal lines and touch lines 10 yards from each corner; helps referee and assistant referees ensure that defenders are the proper distance away from a corner kick.
Corner kick options	Tactical choices available to a team or player on how to execute a particular corner kick; includes “near post,” “far post,” etc.
Counter, counter attack	A defending team obtains possession of the ball and swiftly transitions to offense.
Courtesy	Sportsmanship of kicking a ball out when an opponent is injured and then the other team giving it back on the ensuing throw-in.
Cover	(1) To mark an opponent defensively. (2) To get on the goal-line to backstop the goalkeeper when he comes out. (3) To fill open space defensively.
Covered	Marked by an opponent; not open; must make a run to be free for a pass.
Cracker	A particularly strong shot.
Cramp	The involuntary and painful contraction of a muscle, often caused by over-exertion due to lack of proper training or field conditions.
Crash, crashing	To dramatically and forcefully rush to the offensive goal.
Crashing in	An offensive player or players running headlong into an area in front of the goal.
Create, creating chances	To make a move or a run which generates an opportunity to shoot or score.
Creativity	Clever, innovative, or unexpected movement of the ball by a player.
Cross (1)	(On-field oral communication) Send the ball in the air to the center, to the opposite field, or to the opposite outer corner of the penalty area.
Cross (2), crossing	The use of an instep drive kick to pass the ball from an outer area of the field into the middle of the field in front of the offensive goal in order to try to create an opportunity for a shot.
Crossbar	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; horizontal component of the goal; sits atop the two goalposts.
Crown	The height of the middle of the field along its length, with the two sides lower, to allow for drainage.
Crunches	An exercise designed to strengthen the abdominal muscles using fast, intense contractions through a short range of motion.
Curl	Spin or “English” on the ball causing the trajectory of the ball to “bend,” hook, or slice while in flight.
Curls	An exercise designed to strengthen the abdominal muscles using slow, deliberate contractions through a the full range of motion.
Curving pass	Curving, bending, or putting “English” on the ball so that is goes around a defender to a teammate.
Curving the ball	Use of the outside or inside portions the instep during an instep drive kick to impart spin or “English” to the ball so that arcs left or right in flight; see Banana, Bending.
Cut	To make a run or move in a significantly different direction.
Cut it back	To use the “chop” feature in dribbling to direct the ball beyond a 90-degree angle.
Cut it off	(On-field Oral Communication) Tells a teammate to intercept an opponent’s pass (because he has coverage).
Cutting down the angle	The act of the goalkeeper coming off his line toward an oncoming dribbler in order to reduce the amount of the goal available for a shot.
Cutting it back	A dribbler originally going down the touchline turns the ball and heads toward the middle of the field.
Cutting off the passing lane	A defender recognizes the existence of, and moves into, space which the opponent could have exploited to get the ball to a runner.
D	Defense.
D (penalty arc)	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; that portion of a circle with a radius of ten yards marked on the field outside the penalty area from the penalty spot; looks like the capital letter “D” of the alphabet when combined with the intersecting line of the penalty area.
Dangerous	Creating a situation that could result in a possible shot on goal.
Dangerous play	Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; generally kicking too high, heading too low or failing to get up when on the turf, when engaged with an opponent; results in an indirect free kick.
Dead ball	The referee has blown his whistle and stopped play.
Dead-ball situations	The initiation a restart by the offensive team after a stoppage of play, and the response to it by the defensive team, based on the location of the ball and the players on the field.
Decision, no decision	A call, or the lack of a call, given on the part of the referee.
Decisive	Goalkeeper making a quick decision and a strong move to go for the ball; striker making a quick decision and taking a fast shot.
Deck, on the deck	The playing surface; to keep the ball in contact with the ground.
Deep throw in	A long (offensive) throw-in going well into the Penalty Area, usually taken from within 18-yards of the corner flag.
Defective ball, replacement of	Law 2 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; stop match, obtain suitable replacement; if during field play, restart with drop ball; otherwise with appropriate restart, e.g., throw-in.
Defender arriving, closing late	Mistimed tackle, usually resulting in a foul.
Defenders	Any or all of the players trying to stop an attack; generally the goalkeeper, the fullbacks, and defensive midfielders.
Defensive header	A head ball struck by a defender which sends the ball away from the goal.
Defensive midfielder	A player designated in a formation (system of play) who plays in a midfield position but whose primary responsibilities are defensive in nature.
Defensive switch	An offensive player beats a defender, causing a teammate of the defender to have to cover his man, resulting in the original defender covering the teammate’s man, effectively exchanging positions.
Defensive third	The one-third of the field closest to the goal the team is defending.
Defensive transition	The switch to defense that a team must make immediately upon losing the ball to the opponent.
Deflection	The change in the path of the ball after it strikes, rebounds or bounces off of a player, usually a defender.
Deke	To fake, feint or juke while in possession of the ball.
Delivery	A service or pass to a teammate that attempts to optimize his opportunity to shoot.
Denied	A shot which appeared to have a good chance of scoring is stopped by the goalkeeper.
Depth	A team with substitutes who are almost as skilled and talented as its starters.
Development	An unexpected occurrence during a match; player progress.
Development Academy	U. S. Soccer program to identify and school youth players for national teams.
Developmental team, B team	An organization’s group of feeder players, usually younger, who are working to be promoted to the top team.
Diagonal ball	An angled pass which is neither perpendicular (“square”) to the sideline nor parallel to (“down”) the sideline.
Diagonal run	An angled run by an offensive player without the ball which is neither perpendicular (“square”) to the sideline nor parallel to (“down”) the sideline.
Diamond formation	Certain shape of midfielders within a system of play, sometimes designated as the lead, trail, right and left.
Dictating play	A team which is consistently retaining possession and winning the ball such that the opponent has few opportunities to go on attack.
Dig	A defender’s attempt to dislodge the ball from an opponent, usually by trying to get under it with the toes of the foot and pulling it upward.
Dip	As a result of top-spin being applied to be ball at the time of a shot, the ball drops or dives in flight as it approaches the goal.
Dipping, ball dipping	The flight of a shot taken with topspin which causes the ball to dive down toward the ground.
Direct Free Kick	Law 13 of the FIFA Laws of the Game. A re-start taken as a result of certain fouls. A goal may be scored directly from the kick, without the ball being touched by any other player. If a direct free kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team.
Disallowed goal	An apparent score called back by the Referee due to an infraction.
Disappointed	A player’s frustration in not successfully scoring on a shot.
Disc holder	A strap or device for stacking and carrying practice discs.
Discipline	Maintaining defensive shape.
Discs	Markers, usually made of pliable plastic, used to delineate spaces or locations for particular movements during practice; also known as saucers.
Dispossess	To take the ball away from a opponent, usually by tackling.
Dispossess or Depossess the ball	When an opponent is able to steal the ball from the team with the ball.
Dispossessed	Had the ball taken away by a defender.
Distributing	Midfielders and back defenders conducting the flow of the attack by passes to the left and right and up the middle of the field.
Distribution	The goalkeeper’s selection of the player and part of the field to start an attack after receiving or saving a ball.
Dive, diving (1)	Goalkeeper jumping outward and landing on the ground in order to make a save.
Dive; to take a dive (2)	Faking a foul by going headlong into the turf after a supposed trip, in an attempt to draw a penalty call by the referee.
Diving header	A head ball performed around the level of the knees by launching the body parallel to the ground.
Diving pit	An area, often filled with foam blocks or sand, used by goalkeepers to practice diving saves.
Domes	Half-spheres, usually made of hard plastic approximately six inches in diameter, to mark practice spaces or for drills.
Dominant foot, Dominant leg	A natural preference for one extremity over the other, such as being right-handed or left-handed.
Double	Player scores two goals in a game.
Double pass	Two give-and-go passes performed one right after the other.
Double team	Two defenders marking one offensive player.
Doubling back	A player who made a run and was not rewarded with a pass, returns toward the ball.
Down	Player on the ground.
Down	Losing by one goal or more; having one or more fewer players than the other team; psychologically or emotionally discouraged.
Down a goal	Team is losing by the difference of one goal scored.
Down a man	Team has one fewer players on the field due to injury or ejection.
Down the line (1)	To kick or pass the ball upfield parallel to and just inside the touch-line.
Down the line (2)	(On-field oral communication) Kick the ball upfield, parallel to the sideline.
Draw	a.) Law 10 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; game resulting in a tie. b.) procedure for establishing seedings in a tournament.
Drawing the foul	A player puts himself in an optimizing position where illegal contact is likely to be made by an opponent.
Dribble, Dribbling	The skill of moving the ball around the field by use of the feet, unassisted by other players.
Drifting around	Forwards that make moves at the top of the area, but aren’t decisive about making runs or taking on a defender.
Drills	Practice routines designed to introduce or reinforce skills, tactics, or techniques which are expected to be used properly in games.
Driven in	A strong, hard, offensive, usually diagonal, pass directed toward a group of forwards in front of the goal.
Driving the ball	A particularly hard and straight instep kick, low to the ground and usually a shot.
Driving the service	A particularly hard and straight instep kick, low to the ground, which is a pass to a teammate, usually trying to set up a shot.
Drop ball, Dropped ball	Law 8 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; if the referee has to stop play for any reason not involving a re-start as identified in the Laws, play is resumed with a dropped ball at the point where the ball was when play was stopped; the ball is in play as soon as it hits the ground.
Drop kick	An instep drive performed by the goalkeeper by releasing the ball from his hands to the ground and then kicking it a split second after it bounces; intended to remove the friction of the turf to increase distance and accuracy.
Drop, drop the ball	A backpass to a trailing (following) teammate; see “Back.”
Dropping	Making a back pass.
Dropping back	Retreating to play defense.
Duffle. duffle bag	Bag used for balls or equipment.
Dummy	(On-field oral communication) Do not touch the ball. Run over it or near it to create a distraction and let it continue on its path to a following teammate nearby, ready to receive/shoot the ball.
Dummy run	Sprinting to an area to distract an opponent’s attention from a pass going to a teammate.
Dumped it back / played it back	A back pass, often to the goalkeeper, usually employed because a clear opportunity to pass the ball forward did not materialize.
Durability	1.) the ability of a player to play many games over a long period of time; 2.) quality or feature used in the evaluation of a goalie glove.
Early service	Passing a ball quickly for a possible shot, not waiting for a build up.
Earns the corner	A forward has forced the ball off an opponent over the end line.
Economic (or economical) training	Effectively combining two or more aspects of the game in a practice drill or exercise; example involving shooting and sprinting combines skills with fitness.
Edge of the area	Just outside the 18-yard line of the penalty area.
Effective range of defender	The space a defender can cover in the time allowed before a pass goes beside or over him.
Efficiency of training	Making the best use of the time available during practice; examples, no standing around, no lines, no gaps between drills or exercise.
Efficient	One- and two-touch; simple, keeping the ball on the turf; calm possession; a comfort zone.
Eighteen (1)	The outermost line of the Penalty Area, parallel to the Goal Line.
Eighteen (2)	(On-field oral communication) Send the ball to the outer line (top) of the penalty area. Generally, this is a specific target location for a cross.
Ejection	To be shown a red card and sent off the field of play.
Eleven	A full team of players for a regulation match.
Embellishment, embellishing	Acting to make a foul appear worse than it was.
Emergency defending	Players having to sprint back to cover their own goal due to an unexpected loss of the ball or quick counter-attack.
Empty net	The goalkeeper is out of position to defend his goal due to a.) moving far away from the goal to try to make a stop, or, in rare cases, b.) joining the attack in a desperate attempt to score.
Encroachment	Defenders are less than 10 yards away prior to a re-start; sneaking up.
End (1)	The half of the field a team is defending.
End (2)	Termination of a match.
End Line	The Goal Line from corner to corner, at each end of the field of play.
End-line cross	A forward or midfielder dribbles the ball almost to the goal line, usually near the corner, and then passes it in the air to the front of the goal.
Energy	Team demonstrating play with vigor and confidence.
English	Spin on the ball, usually causing it to curve in flight.
Enter, entering	Going onto the field as a substitute player.
Entry pass	A pass to an on-running attacker who has the potential to shoot and score.
Equalizer	A goal is scored that ties the game.
Equipment, basic	Law 4 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; a player must wear jersey, shorts, socks, shinguards and shoes.
ET, ET1, ET2	Extra Time, Extra Time first period, Extra Time second period; overtime.
Euro (year), Euros	European Championship; example: Euro 2016
European Championship	Competition held every four years, alternating with the FIFA World Cup, between the mens national teams of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) members.
Exercises	Lessons, problems, or drills, designed to people in particular functions or skills.
Exhibition	A full game between two teams which is not counted as part of any competition.
Extension	The straightening out of a limb of the body at a joint due to muscle contraction.
Extra time	Overtime.
Eye contact	Conscious recognition of the direct view between two people.
Facing/faced up	The body is directed forward with the eyes looking at the goal.
Failed Clearance	Miskick by a back defender, often allowing the ball to be recovered by an opposing striker, sometimes resulting in a goal being scored.
Fair charge, legal charge	See Charging (1).
Fake	To feign or simulate an action in order to obtain a reaction from an opponent; deke, juke; usually associated with dribbling.
Faking a foul	Simulation; attempting to illegally draw a call by the referee; flopping; diving.
False pressure	Mental pressure applied internally by a player with the ball who thinks that there will be imminent contact by a defender, but it is not happening yet.
Far post (1)	(On-field oral communication) Pass or shoot the ball toward the part of the goal farthest from you.
Far post (2)	The upright of the goal farthest away from the ball; back post.
Far side	The other part of the field or sideline away from the ball; opposite post; far post; opposite side.
Fast break	A counter-attack by an opponent marked by speed or swift action; fast counter.
Fast counter	A counter-attack by an opponent marked by speed or swift action.
Fast restart	To quickly take a direct or indirect free kick, thereby not allowing the defense to recover or set up.
Fatigue	Weariness or exhaustion on the part of players during a match causing reduced performance.
FC	Football Club
Feed	To pass a ball to a teammate who has an opportunity to shoot.
Feeding	Passing a through ball on to a running teammate.
Feel	The perception, sensory impression, or touch of the ball to a player.
Feet	(On-field oral communication) Pass the ball directly to my feet; do not lead me.
Feint	A movement intended to divert attention or modify the balance of the opponent; juke, deke, fake; usually associated with dribbling.
Feisty	A colloquialism for a player whose demeanor and actions are just on the edge of committing fouls.
Field	The field of play; the pitch; Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game.
Field bag	Kit bag carried by players that contains shoes, outer clothing, back-up shoelaces, etc.
Field conditions	Status of the turf and weather that must be taken into consideration during a match; includes such things as wind, rain, mud, puddles, slickness, and hardness.
Field markings	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; defines the field of play in accordance with the plan of the field; lines are part of the areas they bound; lines must all be the same width, no greater than five inches.
Field player	Any player other than the goalkeeper.
Field player gloves	Tight-fitting, non-goalkeeper gloves designed to provide warmth but allow for a proper grip during throw-ins.
Field surface	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; natural grass or artificial turf.
Field, field of play	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; must be rectangular; long side is bounded by “touch lines,” short side is bounded by “goal lines;” touch line minimum 100 yards, maximum 130 yards; goal line minimum 50 yards, maximum 100 yards.
FIFA	Federation Internationale de Football Association (French); International Federation of Association Football (English); world authority of soccer; headquartered in Switzerland.
FIFA Laws of the Game	See Laws of the Game.
FIFA World Cup	FIFA conducts the largest international soccer competition in the world. Held every four years, with play-ins conducted in the two years leading up to the event, every country on earth with a FIFA-recognized soccer governing body is eligible to apply for entry to this competition in order to determine the best national team.
Fifty-Fifty ball	A ball which, during the run of play, is equidistant between two oncoming opponents and is likely to result in a collision unless one player is successful in getting to it first or the other player backs off.
Figure 8 drill	Two cones set approximately 10-feet apart allow a dribbler to control a ball in a full turn using only the inside of the left foot and then only the inside of the right foot.
Filling space	(1) a defender moves to cover open ground; (2) an offensive player makes a run into open ground; (3) [derogatory] a player stands around doing nothing.
Final third	The one-third of the field closest to the attacking goal; attacking third.
Find an opening	To discover and take advantage of attacking space within a defense.
Fingertip touch/save	A goalkeeper stretches out to just barely reach the ball and deflect it away from the goal.
Finish, finishing	The ability of a striker to complete the last action of shooting to score.
First aid	To provide immediate treatment for an injury before full medical care can arrive.
First aid kit	A container inclosing supplies and equipment for providing first aid; often includes such items as bandages, topical disinfectant, and chemical cold packs.
First half	Playing time of a soccer match prior to halftime; Law 7 of the FIFA Laws of the Game, the Duration of the Match.
First three steps	The critical reaction of a player on offense or defense regarding the direction and speed to take in response to an opportunity with the ball or the need to defend.
First time	A one-touch scenario for a player to kick, pass, or play the ball.
First touch	Initial contact by a player with the ball that likely determines the degree of success of his next move.
Fist	Goalkeeper punch to clear the ball.
Fitness	A player’s level of ability to run and perform.
Fixture date	A day or block of days established by a soccer administrative body matches to be held outside of a competition. See also, “International Fixture Date.
Flag is up	Phrase used to denote that the assistant referee has raised his flag to identify to the referee that offside should be called.
Flag, assistant referee’s flag, linesman’s flag	Device used by assistant referees to indicate a foul, offside, or that the ball has gone out of play; Law 6, The Assistant Referees.
Flagposts	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; posts with a rounded top, a minimum of 5 feet tall, with a flag are required at each corner of the field.
Flagposts, optional	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; posts may be placed 1 yard or more outside the touchline to mark the halfway line.
Flanks	The right or left sides of the field closest to the touch lines, either on the attacking or defending ends of the field.
Flat	Uninspired play.
Flat (back line)	All defenders in a row from sideline to sideline.
Flat back four	A defensive system which has the back defenders starting in a position which has them in a straight line from touchline to touchline.
Flat ball	A kick which imparts no spin on the ball.
Flat footed	The full soles of both feet in contact with the ground; not “on your toes” (balls of the feet); implies an inability to react quickly to a change of direction.
Flats	Training shoes with no cleats and a rubber or composition sole; “tennis shoes.”
Flexion	To bend a body part at a joint as a result of contraction of a muscle.
Flick header	A head ball characterized by a subtle or glancing touch designed to only slightly alter the flight of the ball.
Flick, flick on	A minimal kick to a ball, or header, characterized by a subtle or glancing touch designed to only slightly alter the path of the ball.
Flip, flips, flip-flops	Sandals.
Floor, on the floor	The playing surface; to keep the ball in contact with the ground.
Flop, flopping	To fake having been fouled by falling or diving to the ground, often in the Penalty Area to illegally try to draw a Penalty Kick. Dive.
Flow of play, free flow of play	The usual, ongoing, performance of a match; not a re-start.
Fluid	Smooth, easy movement by a player, usually with the ball.
Follow	(On-field oral communication) A reminder that attackers must continue to follow-up shots on goal in order to play rebounds or loose balls. This includes the original shooter.
Follow-through	The continuing motion of the leg after making contact with the ball when kicking.
Follow-up	Continuing to run at goal after a shot to possibly collect a rebound.
Foot race	Two opponents running full speed trying to be the first to catch up to a ball.
Football	Soccer; the soccer ball.
Football Club	An administrative organization which fields soccer teams in organized competitions; FC.
Footwork	The ability to quickly maneuver the ball with the feet, as desired.
Footy	Slang, British; football; soccer; often when speaking about children playing the game.
Forced pass	An attempt to squeeze the ball between defenders which has little chance of successfully reaching a teammate.
Forcing the issue	A team in an attacking mode, dynamically taking the attack to the opponent.
Formation	System of play designating the number of back defenders, midfielders and strikers, e.g., 4-3-3 from the goal out; the goalkeeper is assumed; always adds up to 10 for full-sides play.
Fortunate bounce	A player gets lucky when the ball deflects or caroms off a defender such that it is easily controlled.
Forward (1), forwards	Player or players positioned to lead the attack; strikers.
Forward (2)	To advance upfield; to move into the attack.
Foul	Generally recognized as any illegal body contact made with an opponent in violation of the provisions of Law 12, “Fouls and Misconduct,” as contained in the FIFA Laws of the Game.
Fouled	General term for player playing a mostly-defensive position closest to his own goal.
Fouls and Misconduct	Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; specific major and minor offenses which, when performed, result in direct and indirect free kicks for the other team.
Fourth official	Law 5 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; when appointed, assists in such duties as identification of substitutions and amount of added time.
Frame	The physical goal itself, including the uprights and the crossbar.
Framework	The uprights and crossbar of the goal.
Free	Open for a pass; not covered.
Free flowing	Match play which exhibits a lot of running and passing with few tackles or collisions.
Free Kicks	Law 13 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; certain types of re-starts defined as “direct” or “indirect.” A direct free kick may result in a goal without having to touch another player. An indirect free kick may result in a goal only after having been touched by at least one additional player other than the original kicker.
Free oneself	To get away from a marking defender in order to be available to receive a pass.
Free-kick specialist	A player who has demonstrated a unique ability to bend or swerve a dead-ball restart kick from within approximately 25-yards of the goal such that he has a significant chance of scoring; the player on a team designated to try to score on a direct free kick.
Freshman team	Developmental squad; in college, a squad of incoming first-year players.
Freshmen on the team	First-year players with the top-level squad.
Friendly	A full game between two teams which is not part of a competition.
From range	Long-distance shot.
Front block tackle	A defender coming to meet an opponent in order to contact the ball between the insides of their feet and then win it (dispossess the attacker of the ball).
Front line	The group of strikers or forwards playing for a team.
Frustrated, getting	A player or team so stymied by a defender or defense that they begin acting out or start to commit fouls.
Full fitness	A player’s ability to run and perform for an entire match and extra time.
Full sides	Eleven players on both teams participating in a match.
Fullback	General term for player playing a mostly-defensive position closest to his own goal.
Functional training	Practice training or training under match conditions which stress skills that are position-specific.
Fundamentals	The basic skills of soccer.
Futsal	FIFA-recognized indoor soccer.
Game	Soccer match; practice activity.
Game jersey	A player’s shirt, worn during a match, that must otherwise conform to recognized administrative standards; Law 4 of the FIFA Laws of the Game.
Game plan	A formal or semi-formal approach to attack and defend a specific opponent, often based on scouting.
Game shorts	A player’s pants, worn during a match, that must otherwise conform to recognized administrative standards; Law 4 of the FIFA Laws of the Game.
Game situation	To create in practice a scenario that which would be encountered in a match.
Game socks	A player’s hose, worn during a match, that must otherwise conform to recognized administrative standards; Law 4 of the FIFA Laws of the Game.
Gaps	Space between defenders which could be exploited by the team on offense.
Garbage, Garbage goal	A player following up a rebound and scoring after a shot has been taken by a teammate resulting in the ball deflecting off a defender or the goal.
Garters	Elastic or cloth ties used to hold soccer socks up to a position just below the knee.
Gassed	A player who is noticeably tired, not performing skills well, and not able to run or recover position.
Gave it up	Lost the ball; dispossessed.
Get a foot on	Did not successfully complete a tackle, but deflected the ball; stretched out and was able to reach the ball with little effect.
Get back	(On-field oral communication) When the defense is in desperate need of help, this tells teammates to return and play defense immediately.
Get free, get open	To loose, or separate from, one’s defender and move or run into space in order to be available to receive a pass.
Get there	(On-field oral communication) Encouragement to get to the open spot on the field where the ball is arriving; encouragement to win a 50/50 ball.
Get turned / can’t get turned	The ability, or inability, to manipulate the ball so that one is facing the attacking goal, after having received the ball or being forced to have one’s back to the goal.
Get/getting involved	An individual who makes active runs, usually into the attack; not ball watching.
Gets by	Beats a defender.
Getting beaten	A player in a defensive position who allows an attacker, who usually has the ball, to get around or behind him.
Getting behind the defenders	Running into open space between the defenders and the attacking goal.
Getting into it	Two players escalating the game challenges between them into something personal.
Getting into position	A player, particularly a goalkeeper, who properly recognizes and anticipates the flow of play and moves in advance to a spot that best benefits his team.
Getting some minutes	A substitute receiving some playing time in a match, usually after the outcome of the match has been decided.
Getting under it	Unintentionally lofting a ball, usually causing it to go high and over the crossbar on a shot.
Gift	An easy, uncontested, goal, often occurring as a result of a defensive error.
Give it	(On-field oral communication) Go ahead and pass the ball to the open teammate you see.
Give it away	A player or team making a bad pass or no challenge such that the ball is easily obtained by the other team.
Give it up	To lose the ball.
Give the ball to	To pass to a teammate.
Give up a corner (throw-in, etc)	To provide an out-of-bounds restart to the opponent.
Give-and-go	A combination of two passes where a player passes to a teammate and then runs around a defender and immediately receives the ball back with a return pass; wall pass; one-two.
Giveaway	Lost the ball to an opponent due to a misplay.
Giving ground	Defenders back-peddling, jockeying or controlling an opponent, using up space in the defensive end to obtain additional help or to prepare for a tackle.
Glancing header	Use of the head to create a minor deflection of a ball in flight.
Glove bag	A container specifically designed to hold goalkeeper gloves.
Gloves	Commonly refers to the gloves specifically designed for use by goalkeepers. Sometimes refers to the gloves worn by field players to keep their hands warm in cold weather.
Go	An individual player is to make a run; a team is to transition quickly to attack.
Go at	A player with the ball intentionally takes on a defender to try to beat him.
Go up for	Jumping for a head ball; goalkeeper jumping to catch or punch a ball.
Goal (equipment)	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; consisting of two goalposts and a crossbar and centered on the goal line, must have an inside dimension of eight-feet high and eight-yards across; material, dimensions and color stated in Law 1.
Goal (to score)	Law 10 of the FIFA Laws of the Game: “A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided no infringement of the Laws of the Game has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal.”
Goal Area	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; a rectangle at each end of the field of play formed by the goal line and lines drawn six yards into the field from a point six yards from each goal post and the parallel line connecting the two ends.
Goal Kick	Law 16 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; a re-start awarded to the defending team when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, whether on the ground or in the air, when last touched by an attacking player (as long as a goal has not been scored in accordance with Law 10); kick is taken from within the Goal Area in accordance with the procedures identified in Law 16.
Goal line	Common-use term for the line between the two goal posts.
Goal Lines	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; the shorter lines of the rectangular field of play; the full end lines of a soccer field from corner to corner, including the part of the line between the goal posts; must be the same width as the goalposts and crossbar of the goal.
Goal mouth	The plane of the goal inside the uprights, under the crossbar, and above the goal line.
Goal posts	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; vertical components of the goal; two upright posts equidistant from the ends of the goal line.
Goal safety	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; goals must be securely anchored to the ground, especially true for portable goals.
Goalie	See Goalkeeper.
Goalie Box	The Penalty Area; 18 x 44-yard space where the goalkeeper is allowed to use his hands.
Goalie gloves	Specifically-designed handware to help goalkeeper’s catch soccer balls; oversized mitts usually incorporating some type of synthetic rubber or other material that aids in gripping the ball.
Goalie headgear	A soft helmet designed to provide some protection to a goalkeeper’s head in the event of a collision with an opponent or a goalpost.
Goalkeeper change	Law 3 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; the goalkeeper may be substituted according to the provisions for the match, or a player on the field may switch with the goalkeeper, either upon informing and receiving permission from the referee, during a stoppage in the match. Law 4 jersey color must be followed.
Goalkeeper, Goal Keeper	Player position specifically designated under Law 3 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; must wear contrasting jersey; has unique handling privileges within his own Penalty Area under Law 12.
Goal-less	No goals scored by a team or individual.
Goal-less draw	Zero-to-zero; nothing-to-nothing tie at the end of a match.
Goals allowed	A statistic which aggregates the number of goals scored by opponents against a team during the course of a competition.
Goalscorer	Player who just scored a gaol; player who consistently scores goals.
Goal-side (1)	The position of a defender which places him on an imaginary line between the goal he is defending and the opponent he is defending.
Goal-side (2)	(On-field oral communication) This is a defensive reminder to position your body between the ball and the goal or between an opponent and the goal. (Recognize that there may be occasions where you may think you are properly aligned but are not and this lets you know.)
Goes off/Comes on	Player substitution; one player enters the field after another player leaves.
Going in/coming off	Substitutions; one player leaves the field of play and one player enters.
Going inside	Making a run from near the sideline into the middle of the field.
Going on	Team advancing from a group stage to the second or knockout round of a tournament.
Going through	Team advancing from a group stage to the second or knockout round of a tournament.
Golden Boot	Award to player scoring the most goals in a tournament.
Golden Goal	Where provided for by game or tournament rules, the first team to score in an overtime wins and the game is over.
Good ball	A player has made an excellent pass to a teammate which has set up an opportunity for a scoring chance.
Good run	Movement into open space that sets up the option of receiving a pass.
Got me	(On-field oral communication) I’m open for a pass.
Grabbed	Goalkeeper caught the ball with his hands; player held an opponent.
Greasy	A slick surface due to rain.
Great ball	An excellent pass or service.
Grid	A confined area designated by discs or cones delimiting a space used for a practice drill.
Grip	Quality of a goalie glove as determined by the goalkeeper’s feeling of how well he can hold onto a ball.
Group of Death	Teams in a division of a tournament deemed the hardest from which to advance.
Guard	Mark an opponent.
Hackers	Players who consistently foul with unnecessary contact, poorly-timed tackles, inappropriate play, or intentional kicks into opponents that are just short of fouls.
Hacking	Consistently kicking an opponent’s feet or legs without contacting the ball.
Halfbacks	Midfielders; “middies;” players positioned between back defenders and strikers.
Halftime changes	Substitutions or tactical modifications made by the coach at the half-time interval to try to correct deficiencies or improve the chances of scoring, as identified by the play observed in the first half of a match.
Halftime, half-time interval	Law 7 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; halftime interval may not exceed 15 minutes; duration based on competition rules and agreement of referee.
Half-volley	An instep kick of an airborne ball just as it bounces.
Halfway Line	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; joins the midpoints of the two touch lines of the rectangular field of play; the midline which divides the field into two equal halves; the “50.”
Hand signals	On-field, non-oral, visual communication which identifies such things as the type of corner kick to be taken, or that a player is open for a pass.
Hands, Handling, Handles the ball, Hand ball	Violation of Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game, “Fouls and Misconduct,” which is the deliberate act of a player making contact with the ball with his hand or arm; resulting in a direct free kick.
Harsh call	The referee gives a card when it is apparently undeserved.
Has/having position	In a better space on the field than an opponent to play the ball.
Hat trick	Player scores three goals in a game.
Head	Header; head ball; contacting the ball with the head.
Head trap	Player receives a ball in the air and takes the pace off the ball by contacting it with his forehead and relaxing his neck so the ball drops toward his feet.
Headband	String, piece of cloth, or other soft device wrapped around the head, usually used to keep long hair away from the eyes.
Head-butt	A player intentionally striking an opponent with the part of the head usually used in heading; violation of Law 12, Fouls and Misconduct, subject to caution or ejection.
Header, heading	Player aggressively strikes a ball with his head to shoot, pass, or defend.
Headgear, protective	A soft helmet worn most by goalkeepers to minimize the possible effects of collisions.
Heat exhaustion	Heat related illness due to exposure to high temperatures, often accompanied by fatigue, nausea, or vomiting, which requires stopping exercise, getting out of the heat, and replacement of fluids.
Heat stroke	An extremely serious elevated body temperature, often accompanied by the lack of the ability to sweat, which can cause systemic failures and needs immediate medical attention.
Heavy contact	Colliding with an opponent forcefully, often to the point of committing a foul.
Heavy traffic	A lot of players concentrated in a small area, usually defenders through which a player with the ball is trying to navigate.
Heel pass	A Back Pass executed by kicking the ball backward with the heel of the foot; back heel.
Helicopter parent	A mother or father constantly hovering over their child, sometimes hovering over the coach.
Here	(On-field oral communication) You are open and calling for the ball. (Generally a short-pass option to a specific spot. The teammate with the ball likely has an imminent challenge and needs to get rid of the ball quickly.)
Here’s your help	(On-field oral communication) You are open and available for a pass. (Generally a short-pass option to a specific spot. Lets the teammate with the ball know that you are a passing option.)
Hermann Award	Trophy presented to the top men’s and women’s college player in the United States each year.
Hesitation	A pause, faltering, or delay to act decisively, usually to a split-second doubt in decision-making, which often results in a missed opportunity to score or block a goal, or in the loss of the ball.
Hesitation move	A dribbling feint where the ballplayer stops momentarily, in order to unbalance his defender, and then starts dribbling again.
High (1)	A shot over the crossbar.
High (2)	Playing/player closest to the attacking goal.
High ball	Intentionally sending a ball arcing up and into the area in front of the attacking goal, not necessarily to a specific teammate, to see if something dangerous might occur.
High catches	Goalkeeper has to jump, stretch and reach out in order to obtain possession.
High kick	Common usage for a form of dangerous play (Law 12) where a foot is raised above the waist into an oncoming opponent.
High line	Back line staying far upfield.
Higher	Forward play where a striker stays as close to the farthest back defender as possible and tries to force the defense to play closer to its own goal.
Hitch kick	A ball skill whereby the non-kicking leg is thrust into the air in order to raise or alter the path of the kicking leg as it is thrust in the air to strike the ball immediately thereafter, before the first leg comes back to the ground.
Hitting the 30- to 40-yard bomb	A shot from great distance which scores.
Hitting the ground	A field play is tripped or fouled in such a way as to land hard or awkwardly; a goalkeeper goes for a save and is undercut, or otherwise lands badly.
Hobbling	A defender running behind an opponent with the ball nips at his heels or feet with the front of his shoes.
Hold him/them there	(On-field oral communication) Keeper or defensive organizer asks defender(s) to stop backpedaling and stand their ground.
Hold, hold at the 18	(On-field oral communication) Keeper or defensive organizer asks defender(s) to stop backpedaling and stand their ground at the top of the penalty area.
Hold/Held/Holding onto the ball	Maintaining possession of the ball, usually while being challenged.
Holding a (yellow) card	A player who may still be playing in a match after having received a Caution; or, a player who may be playing in a match who had received a Caution in the immediately preceding match of a tournament.
Holding ground	A defender or defenders stop backpedaling.
Holding midfielder	Position designation for a midfielder whose primary responsibility is to maintain possession of the ball as an attack is developed.
Holding on	A team struggles to keep the ball away from the opponent long enough for a match to end with a favorable result.
Holding onto the ball	An individual player maintaining possession of the ball while dribbling; a team maintaining possession of the ball by passing.
Holding the ball in the midfield	A team tactic designed to maintain possession of the ball either as a desired type of attack is developed or simply to keep the ball away from the opponent.
Holding their line	The back defenders of a team have taken a stand and are not retreating.
Holding, holds an opponent	Violation of Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game, Fouls and Misconduct, resulting in the award of a direct free kick.
Hoodie/hoody	A hooded sweatshirt.
Hook	An “inward” curve of the ball after it is struck, right-to-left, when coming off the right foot, and left-to-right when coming off the left foot; often used to describe an unintended result.
Hospital ball, hospital pass	A pass leading a teammate directly into a likely collision with an opponent.
Hostile Environment	Generally, an away game where tensions, for whatever reason are running high among the spectators.
Hunger/Hungry	Demonstrated desire on the part of a player or team to move forward, attack, score, and/or control a match.
Hurdles	Training devices used to improve quickness, stamina, or jumping ability; generally not more than a foot off the ground (i.e., not track hurdles).
Hydration	Maintaining the proper level of fluids within the body; ensuring that players drink enough.
I’m back	(On-field oral communication) Usually, you have help behind you for a back pass; sometimes, returning to a position after a switch or overlapping run.
I’ve got (#)	(On-field oral communication) Tells teammates who you are marking. This is used to assist in organizing the defense.
I’ve got two	(On-field oral communication) When a defender finds they are marking two players, this tells teammates that someone needs to come back and cover the opponent farthest from the goal of the two.
I’ve got your spot	(On-field oral communication) Tells a player that their position is covered if a natural switch has occurred (one during the normal course of play which was not announced with a call of switch). Generally, this call is made after a player goes forward and the teammate is telling them that they have the position covered until the player gets back.
Ice	Frozen water (or chemical cold packs) to be applied to the site of an injury; to apply ice to reduce swelling.
Icing	To go up by two goals with little likelihood that the opponent has enough time left in the match to get more than one.
Impeding	A player blocks or obstructs an opponent’s path to the ball without the ball in playing distance; Violation of Law 12, Fouls and Misconduct, resulting in the award of an indirect free kick.
Improvisation	A dribbling move or a pass made by a player which is unexpected or unique. May not always have the desired outcome.
In the back of the net	A goal has been scored; the ball is in the net.
In the net	A goal has been scored; the ball is in the net.
In touch	The ball is within the field of play and is playable.
Indirect free kick	Law 13 of the FIFA Laws of the Game. A re-start which requires that the ball be touched by another player other than the kicker for a goal to be scored. If the ball goes into the opponent’s goal without touching another player, a goal kick is awarded. If the ball goes into the team’s own goal without touching another player, a corner kick is awarded.
Indirect free kick signal	Law 13 of the FIFA Laws of the Game. When an indirect free kick has been awarded, the referee is to raise his arm above his head.
Indoor ball	A soccer ball specifically designed to be used for indoor soccer played on a hard-court service, like a basketball floor; often covered with felt.
Indoor soccer	Soccer played on a court, such as wood or artificial turf, under a roof, using modified rules.
Infringement	A violation of any part of the Laws of the Game.
Injury time	Part of the extra time added at the end of the first or second halves to compensate for the playing time lost while an injured player was accommodated during a match; Law 7.
Injury/Injuries	Damage to the body; a team having to deal with players who are not 100% fit; justification for removal or substitution of players from the field.
Inside forwards	A pair of central strikers, designated as “left” and “right,” usually operating within a four- or five-forward system of play.
Inside of the foot	That part of either foot that easily conforms to the shape of the ball.
Inside of the foot pass	Pass made by turning the foot and the leg outward at the hip and striking the ball with the inside of the foot, like a golf putter, so that the ball goes to a teammate.
Inside of the foot trap	Use of the inside of the foot to receive and take the pace off the ball.
Instep	The top of the foot, otherwise covered by the shoelaces of a tie shoe.
Instep drive, instep kick	The main kick of soccer, using flexion generated from the hip and knee and then the force of the quadriceps extending the lower leg to strike the ball with the part of the foot covered by the shoelaces (the instep).
Instep trap	Use of the top of the foot to receive and take the pace off the ball.
Instinct	A natural or innate tendency to recognize and react to a situation which winds up being beneficial to the player or his team.
Instruction	Coaching, teaching, demonstrating or otherwise presenting soccer information to players.
Inswinger	A type of corner kick marked by the path of the ball in the air which starts into the field of player from the corner arc and then, due to spin imparted to the ball, curves back toward the goal.
Intended for	The player to whom a pass was supposed to go before the ball was intercepted, deflected, or went out of bounds.
Intensity	High degree of concentration and performance.
Intercept, interception	A defender cuts off and collects an opponent’s pass.
Interchangeable parts	Coaches having the ability to move players to different positions without loss of effectiveness.
Intermission	Halftime.
International	Any game between two national teams representing their country; a player who has played for his national team.
International fixture date	Dates on the calendar set aside by FIFA for matches between national teams. Clubs must release their players if called up to participate.
International friendly	A game played between two national teams which is not part of a competition.
Isometrics	A form of strength training marked by applying force to an immovable object.
Jacket	Windbreaker, zippered sweatshirt or warm-up top intended to retain heat or keep weather away from the body.
Jersey swap	Players exchanging game shirts with opponents after a match, as a courtesy to provide a souvenir or memento.
Jersey, colors	Law 4 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; players on a team must wear the same shirts; the two teams must wear different colors; all must be different than the referees; the goalkeeper must wear a shirt that is a different color from the other players and the referees.
Jockey	(On-field oral communication) As a supporting defender, this tells a teammate to defend a dribbling opponent by slowly giving ground. By not tackling and attempting to take the ball, thereby avoiding the possibility of being beaten, this buys time so the defense can return, reorganize, balance and cover.
Jockeying	Movements by a defender intended to delay an opponent with the ball from advancing, allow time for move defenders to arrive, force the player toward the sideline, and/or create an opportunity to make a tackle.
Juggle, juggling	Generally, as a practice activity, to repeatedly strike the ball to keep it up in the air; may be done as an individual or in groups.
Jugs soccer machine	Electric device designed to project soccer balls in a variety of directions with different pace and spin; often used in goalkeeper training.
Juke	To fake or feint, causing an opponent to be set off balance.
Jump header	A head ball performed in the air at the peak of jump off the ground.
Jump rope	Traditional, a single rope for an individual to skip over for fitness and agility.
Jumping, jumps at an opponent	Violation of Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game, Fouls and Misconduct, resulting in the award of a direct free kick.
Junior varsity	In the United States, members of a secondary team below the main team; “B” team; JV.
Just behind	Pass intended for a running teammate did not lead him enough.
Keep (short for Keeper)	(On-field oral communication) Goalkeeper is going to get the ball, leave the ball alone.
Keep it alive	Field player saves a ball from going out of bounds such that it can be played by a teammate.
Keep playing	(On-field oral communication) The Referee did not blow the whistle, play on.
Keeper (1)	(On-field oral communication) Used by the goalkeeper only, the goalkeeper is calling all defenders off in order to get the ball (or otherwise wants the ball).
Keeper (2)	See Goal Keeper.
Keeping shape	The right players in the right place at the right time within a formation or system of play; can refer to attacking or defending.
Keeping the ball	An individual or a team maintaining possession of the ball.
Keeping the ball in front	Given the inability to make a clean trap, a player is at least successful in blocking the ball forward with his body.
Kept in play	Saved the ball from going out of bounds.
Kick	To strike with the foot.
Kicking around	Two small-sided teams playing an informal game.
Kicking, Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent	Violation of Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game, Fouls and Misconduct, resulting in the award of a direct free kick.
Kickoff	Law 8 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; a place kick taken at the center mark to start play, after a goal is scored, at the start of the second half, and to start each period of extra time.
Kineseo Tape	Elastic cotton strip with acrylic adhesive which, when applied to athletes when stretched, is intended to pull back to support the movement of muscles and joints; Physio tape.
Kit	Originally, a player’s game uniform, including jersey, shorts and socks; commonly a player’s full set of equipment, including shoes, shinguards, and everything else necessary for a practice or game.
Kit bag	Gym bag, game bag or other device designed to hold a player’s equipment.
Knee pad	Soft, protective device allowed to be worn by players to cover the patella, designed to try to prevent bruising or cuts; often recommended for growing girls.
Knocked away	A defender, unable to make a clean tackle, dispossesses an opponent of the ball by kicking it out of reach.
Knocked out	The ball is kicked out of bounds.
Knocking balls down	Due to the pace of a shot, the goalkeeper redirects the ball to the ground instead of trying to catch it directly.
Knowing where the defense is	Situational awareness on the part of players in order to attack a defense’s weakness or space which is undefended.
Knuckle ball	The wavering and unpredictable flight of a shot which resembles the flight of a specific type of pitch thrown in American baseball.
Laces	String devices to help shoes conform to and stay on the foot; must be properly tied so as to not come untied during a match.
Laces kick	See Instep Drive; term often used with young children who may not understand the word “instep.”
Lacking possession	During the course of a match, a team fails to control the ball for any length of time.
Late	Very little time left in a match, especially to try to score a tying goal.
Late (coming in late)	Mistimed tackle that occurs just after the ball is gone, usually resulting in a foul.
Lateral pass	A pass made by a player to a teammate directly to his left or right such that the path of the ball is parallel to the halfway line; square pass.
Law 1	(FIFA Laws of the Game) The Field of Play
Law 2	(FIFA Laws of the Game) The Ball
Law 3	(FIFA Laws of the Game) The Number of Players
Law 4	(FIFA Laws of the Game) The Players’ Equipment
Law 5	(FIFA Laws of the Game) The Referee
Law 6	(FIFA Laws of the Game) The Assistant Referees
Law 7	(FIFA Laws of the Game) The Duration of the Match
Law 8	(FIFA Laws of the Game) The Start and Restart of Play
Law 9	(FIFA Laws of the Game) The Ball In and Out of Play
Law 10	(FIFA Laws of the Game) the Method of Scoring
Law 11	(FIFA Laws of the Game) Offside
Law 12	(FIFA Laws of the Game) Fouls and Misconduct
Law 13	(FIFA Laws of the Game) Free Kicks
Law 14	(FIFA Laws of the Game) The Penalty Kick
Law 15	(FIFA Laws of the Game) The Throw-In
Law 16	(FIFA Laws of the Game) The Goal Kick
Law 17	(FIFA Laws of the Game) The Corner Kick
Laws of the Game, FIFA	The 17 rules of soccer as controlled by FIFA; new rule book issued annually in July for the upcoming competitive year (fall/spring); available on FIFA’s website.
Laying it off	Generally, passing a ball to an open teammate on attack instead of taking on a defender.
Lazy ball	A pass struck with insufficient speed, power or pace which results in the ball being intercepted.
Lead	To place a pass in the space in front of a teammate so that he can run onto it.
Learning progressions	A teaching technique designed to impart skills which build upon one another from the simple to complex.
Leave (it)	(On-field oral communication) You are calling off a teammate to let him know that you are taking the ball.
Leave/Leaving	Coming off the field for a substitute player.
Left side	That part of the field to the left of the imaginary center line down the middle of the field of play, when facing away from the goal one is defending.
Left-hand side (left side)	For the team facing the goal being attacked, the entire part of the field from endline to endline on the left side of the imaginary midline.
Let it ride	(On-field oral communication) Let the ball roll over the end-line or side-line. This is used to let you know that your team will have possession of the ball after it goes out of play.
Let it roll (same as Let it Ride)	(On-field oral communication) Allow the ball to go over the line.
Letdown	A reduction in effort due to discouragement or disappointment.
Letter of the Law	The FIFA Laws of the Game as specifically printed in the text; contrast with the Spirit and Intent of the Law.
Level	Onside; forwards are in a position that is even with the back defenders.
Libero	Free-roaming defender, without a marking assignment, usually active behind the main group of back defenders; sweeper.
Lift over	To slide the instep under the ball and then scoop it up and over a defender.
Lift, lifted	Generally, to scoop the ball over the goalkeeper’s head to score a goal.
Line (1)	(On-field oral communication) Kick the ball upfield on a diagonal toward the sideline.
Line (2)	Commonly refers to the touchline (sideline); any of the lines laid out on the field of play under Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game.
Line of offside	An imaginary line that runs through the body of the next-to-last defensive player, moves with him as he moves, and is used to determine if an offensive player is in an offside position. See also Offiside Line.
Linesmen	Outdated term for Assistant Referees, see Law 6 of the FIFA Laws of the Game.
Lineup, Starting Lineup	The group of players designated to be on the field at the start of a match.
Lob	A high chip pass from a field player; a high, arcing throw-in; a high, arcing release from a goalkeeper.
Local rules	Changes to FIFA Law for a specific league or competition, usually based on age group.
Lofted pass	A pass sent in the air from one teammate to another which takes it over the heads of defenders; does not necessarily impart backspin to the ball like a “chip.”
Long (1)	(On-field oral communication) Pass the ball far upfield to a teammate who is making a run.
Long (2)	A pass which was struck too hard is is going to go over (or went over) the end line.
Long ball, long pass	Generally, a pass beyond approximately 20 yards which requires an instep kick.
Look at goal, getting a look, getting a good/great look	More than the usual time available to a striker to see a place to shoot before looking back at the ball to take the shot.
Look left	(On-field oral communication) A teammate from behind is telling the ball handler that there is an open teammate available for a pass on the left.
Look right	(On-field oral communication) A teammate from behind is telling the ball handler that there is an open teammate available for a pass on the right.
Looking for help	Player with ball seeks a teammate to pass to who is open.
Loses it	Player with the ball has it taken away by a defender, usually due inability to obtain or maintain control.
Lower 90	The bottom-right or bottom-left corner of the goal, just inside the goal post.
Lower line	A defensive back line which tends to stay closer to its own goal during the normal course of play.
Maintain width of the field	Players positioned outside who remember to operate closer to the sidelines, open up attacking space for their entire team.
Major League Soccer (MLS)	First tier of professional soccer in the United States.
Make a move	Free oneself from an opponent; juke, deke, or feint while dribbling.
Make a run	Sprint or move into open space to set up receipt of a possible pass.
Make a run	(On-field Oral Communication) Tells a teammate that he need to join the attack (and appears to be standing around).
Making the most (of one’s chances)	Getting off shots that have a chance of scoring.
Making the most of it	Embellishment upon potentially illegal contact in an attempt to ensure that the referee calls a foul.
Man (short for Man-on)	(On-field oral communication) A defender is arriving.
Man defense, man-to-man defense	A system of defense based on individual defenders covering specific opponents every time the opposing team is on attack.
Man down, man short	Due to injury or ejection, a team has fewer than 11 players on the field.
Manager	(International usage) coach; (American usage) team administrator.
Mannequin	A full-sized cut out or silhouette of a player, usually positioned to represent part of a defensive wall.
Man-on	(On-field oral communication) An opponent who is probably outside your field of vision is about to challenge you for the ball.
Mark (#)	(On-field oral communication) When the defense is organizing, the defensive leader may assign who is responsible for each attacker, especially if the defense has broken down. This tells a defender to stay with a particular attacker until directed otherwise.
Mark, marking	A defender identifying, covering, getting goal-side, and staying with a specific individual opponent during an attack.
Marked	Covered one-on-one by an opponent.
Marking assignment	The person or space that a player is responsible for on defense.
Marking backs	The defense’s backs, ahead of a sweeper, designated to cover opposing strikers.
Marking the Posts	On corner kicks, and some free kicks near the goal, a defensive player is assigned to an upright. They are not to leave the post until the ball is cleared from the penalty area. The main reason for placing defenders on the post is to try to “shrink” the size of the 8-yard goal to 6 yards, which is much less space for the goalkeeper to cover, and also provide coverage if the goalkeeper comes out to collect the ball and misses.
Match	A regulation game played between two teams.
Match analysis	Post-game evaluation of the play of the team, individual players and responses to situations.
Match conditions	To practice in situations that replicate those of an actual game.
Meeting	The two teams in a match scheduled to play each other.
Meg	Short for nutmeg; to kick the ball between a player’s legs as a dribbling move to beat a defender.
Men’s National Team	Top-level men’s team representing the United States in international competition; United States Men’s National Team; MNT; USMNT.
Men’s Olympic Team	Age-restricted team, with exceptions, representing the United States in Olympic competition.
Micro goals	Very small goals used in practice or for indoor games.
Middle third	The middle of the field, approximately 20-yards on either side of the halfway line typically used to identify transition play from defense-to-offense or offense-to-defense.
Midfield gap	Space between midfielders and strikers which may appear due to fatigue on the part of midfielders.
Midfield play	Successful soccer by the midfielders, particularly in the area approximately 20-yards on either side of the halfway line, in support of the attack and in initiating the defense.
Midfielders, Middies	Players in positions between the back defenders and the strikers.
Midpoints	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; the intersections of the touchlines and the halfway line.
Mini goals	Typically, smaller-than-regulation goals used on game fields which are less than full-sized.
Minute	The time of the game; often identified with an apostrophe; ex., the goal was scored in the 40th minute (40’).
Minutes	A player’s amount of playing time in real matches; particularly important for non-starters.
Misconduct	Inappropriate behavior subject to penalization under Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game.
Miscue	Misplayed ball.
Miss	Errant shot.
Mixer	A group of offensive and defensive players congregated in front of the goal awaiting a cross or free kick.
MNT	United States Men’s National Team; USMNT.
Molded cleats	Gripping studs, made of rubberized or synthetic material specifically formed as one unit with the sole of the shoe; non-replaceable; contrast withold replaceable/screw-in cleats.
Momentum	Increasing progress toward scoring a goal, controlling a match, or dominating the other team.
Movement (1)	The ability of a team to proceed forward and back on the field as an organized unit.
Movement (2)	Effectively passing the ball around to maintain possession and to probe the opponent defense.
Moves	Fakes, feints, dekes or jukes performed by a player with the ball in order to beat a defender or create space for a shot or pass.
Moving the ball (around)	A team’s ability to pass the ball quickly and accurately to various parts of the field in order to create space or probe a defense for weaknesses.
Moving to open space	A player making a run to an unoccupied area.
Moving, ball moving, ball movement	The wavering and unpredictable flight of a shot taken with no follow-through; resembles the flight of a specific type of pitch thrown in American baseball, the “Knuckle Ball.”
Muscle memory	A conditioned response by a muscle or group of muscles due to repetitive training.
MVP	Most Valuable Player.
NAIA	National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Name take #	(On-field oral communication) The person organizing the defense tells a teammate, by name, which opponent to mark.
Name’s ball	(On-field oral communication) Used in a situation where two teammates are both likely going for an un- possessed ball, you are calling the other teammate off, using your name. (There must be no hesitation on the part of the caller and the other teammate is obligated to back off.)
National Association	A country’s governing body authorized by FIFA to represent and administer soccer. The national association for the United States is the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).
National Coaching Schools	Training classes and on-field coursework provided by the United States Soccer Federation which, upon the successful completion of testing, may result in licensing.
National team	A group of players, made up of natural born or naturalized citizens, authorized by a country’s soccer governing body to represent the country in international competition.
Natural surface	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; grass field.
NCAA	National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Near post (1)	The upright of the goal closest to the ball.
Near post (2)	(On-field oral communication) Pass or shoot the ball to the part of the goal nearest you.
Near side	Whichever side of the field, left or right of the imaginary midline, the ball happens to be in at any given moment. This constantly changes.
Near-post corner	A corner kick directed to a teammate usually situated approximately two yards inside the closest goalpost to the kicker and six yards into the field as the kick is taken.
Neck bridges	A form of strengthening exercise marked by only having the toes and the forehead in contact with the ground.
Needle	Device used with an air pump to be placed in a valve within a ball in order to inflate it.
Nervous	A player affected by game pressure such that they exhibit poor ball skills.
Net clips, net ties	Devices used to securely connect the net to the goal.
Net minder	Archaic for goalkeeper.
Nets	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; optional under Law 1, are designed to help the referees determine if a goal has been scored; can be any color; must be of small enough weave to trap a ball, with no gaps; must be securely attached to the goalposts and the crossbar of the goal and the ground behind the goal; must not interfere with the goalkeeper.
NFHS	National Federation of State High School Associations.
Nil	Zero; nothing; no goals scored.
Nil-Nil	A zero to zero game score resulting in a draw or tie.
NISOA	National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association.
NJCAA	National Junior College Athletic Association.
No angle	Striker takes a shot from so close to the end line (goal line, bi-line) that it has essentially no chance of going into the goal.
No Man’s Land	Area in front of the goal where a goalkeeper comes out from goal, may stop or hesitate, but is in a position where he may not be able to get to the ball or a forward may be able to chip the ball over his head and into the goal.
No shot	(On-field oral communication) Keeper asks defender to tackle the opponent with the ball in order to keep him from shooting.
No turn	(On-field oral communication) Asks the defending teammate to challenge the opponent with the ball, who is facing away from the goal, in such a way as to let the opponent turn and face the goal.
No whistle	(On-field oral communication) The Referee did not blow the whistle, play on, keep playing.
Nod the ball down	To use the head to, generally softly, redirect the ball to the ground, often while on the run.
Nod, nodded	Header, not necessarily overly forceful.
Non-kicking foot	The foot in contact with the ground which allows the kicking foot and leg to swing freely; plant foot.
Non-verbal cue	A visual observation taking many forms, such as a defensive teammate indicating someone to be covered or a goalkeeper “leaning the wrong way,” indicating to which side of the goal a striker should shoot.
North American Soccer League	Defunct top professional league in the United States and Canada; NASL; Currently, a second-tier professional league.
Nothing over	(On-field oral communication) Don’t allow the opponent to make a chip or create a bounce of the ball that would go over a defender’s head.
NSCAA	National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Numbers	(On-field Oral Communication) A player is telling his teammates to move forward into the attack, or to “build numbers.”
Numbers	One team has a numerical advantage over the other. This occurs in the attacking thrid of the field.
Nutmeg	To kick the ball between a players legs as a dribbling move to beat a defender.
Nutmeg Pass	Player is able to pass the ball to a teammate by sending the ball between the legs of a defender.
NYSCA	National Youth Sports Coaches Association.
Obstruction, obstructing	Older terminology for impeding the progress of an opponent; see Impedes.
ODP	Olympic Development Program.
Off target	A shot which misses the goal entirely and has no chance of going in.
Off the line, off his line	The goalkeeper has moved away from the goal, out into the field of play, possibly exposing more of the goal to a shot.
Off- the-ball	Play or movement of a player, players, or an entire team when not in possession of the ball.
Off their game	Team is not playing well.
Offensive switch	An offensive player runs into the space occupied by a teammate and the teammate runs into the space vacated, effectively exchanging positions.
Offensive transition	Rapid change from defense to offense as soon as the ball is obtained from the opponent.
Offside	Law 11 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; a player shall be called for an offside penalty if, at the moment the ball is played to him by a teammate, he is in an offside position and, in the opinion of the referee, he is interfering with play, interfering with an opponent or gained an advantage.
Offside line	An imaginary line which, assuming the presence of a goalkeeper at the goal line, runs through the body of the last defender playing in the field closest to the goal and parallel to the goal line. During the normal run of play, this imaginary line moves up and back on the field of play with the defender and switches defenders as these players move ahead of or behind each other.
Offside position	Law 11 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; a player is in an offside position if he is in the opponents’ half of the field of play and he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-to-last opponent.
Offside trap	Defensive maneuver where all of the defensive backs step upfield, just before the opponent passes the ball forward, causing a striker to be caught in an offside position.
Olympic Team	Men or women selected to represent the United States in Olympic competition. Age-restricted, with exceptions, for men. No age restrictions for women.
On a (yellow) card	A player still participating in an ongoing match who had received a caution earlier in the contest.
On frame	A shot which, with no intervention by a goalkeeper or defender, would go into the goal; on goal.
On goal	A shot which, with no intervention by a goalkeeper or defender, would go into the goal; on frame.
On target	A shot which at least has a chance of going into the goal.
On the attack	A team has possession of the ball.
On the ball	Offensive player in possession of the ball.
On the break	A team is executing a “fast break” scoring opportunity.
On the foot	A pass was made directly to the feet of a player, as opposed to leading him; a player has particularly good control of the ball while dribbling.
On your back	On-field oral communication) An opponent is coming up fast from behind to challenge you for the ball.
One touch	A player passes or shoots with only a single contact of the ball, as opposed to trapping it first.
One up	One goal ahead of the opponent.
One-Two	(On-field oral communication) Teammate is asking to perform a give-and-go passing combination.
Onside	A player is not in an offside position; in accordance with Law 11 of the FIFA Laws of the Game, a player has at least one defender between and another defender even with him at the moment his teammate passes the ball to him.
Onside run	A player making a run for a pass is not offside at the moment his teammate passes the ball to him.
Open	Player is unmarked or has freed himself from a defender.
Open space	A part of the field which is not occupied by a defender.
Open up	(On-field oral communication) Move wide, create space, run to open space.
Open up the game	To play less defensively; to attack using all options, generally faster with quick counter-attacks, long ball, and switching fields often.
Open; or, I’m Open; or, (Name) is Open	(On-field oral communication) You are open or a teammate is open and available for a pass. (Generally a mid-range or long-pass option into space.)
Opening the angle	A striker with the ball makes a move that causes the goalkeeper to change his position such that more of the goal is exposed.
Opponent	The individual or team representing the adversary in a match.
Opportunities, making the most of	Either a team or a player getting a shot on goal, or actually
Opportunity	A chance to shoot and score.
Opposite field	The other side of the field from the location of the ball; the left side if the ball is on the right; the right side if the ball is on the left.
Opposite number	The other goalkeeper; opponent playing the same position; attacker – defender.
Optional Mark	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; marks may be made just outside the field of play at right angles to the goal lines and touch lines 10 yards from each corner; helps referee and assistant referees ensure that defenders are the proper distance away from a corner kick.
Options	Choices of potential recipients to whom a player may pass the ball.
Options away from the ball	Choices of places to which a player may run who does not have the ball.
Organize	To prepare a proper defense, with defenders in the best positions.
Organizer	The player responsible for organizing the defense.
Out	The ball has gone beyond the field of play; a player is unavailable.
Out of play, out of touch	The whole of the ball has passed outside of the field of play and is not playable.
Outfielder, Outfield player	A player who plays in the field; a player other than the goalkeeper.
Outlet	A player set up to receive a pass to start an attack right after a goalkeeper save or the ball is taken away by the defense.
Outside backs, outside fullbacks, wing backs	Back defenders playing closest to either touchline.
Outside of the foot	The lateral portion of the instep.
Outswinger	A type of corner kick marked by the path of the ball in the air which starts into the field of player from the corner arc and then, due to spin imparted to the ball, curves toward the field of play, away from the goal.
Over (1)	(On-field oral communication) Called by the goalkeeper when the ball is going to go over the top of the goal. Do not attempt to play the ball.
Over (2)	The ball has passed fully beyond the endline (goalline), without going into the goal.
Over the back	A player charges illegally in the air from behind, contacting a player who has position, while attempting to go for a head ball in front of them.
Over the top	A shot that goes above the crossbar.
Overhead volley	A ball skill whereby the non-kicking leg is thrust into the air in order to raise the path of the kicking leg as it is thrust in the air to strike the ball immediately thereafter above the original level of the head, before the first leg comes back to the ground, with the player landing on his shoulders; scissors kick. Recently called a “bicycle kick.”
Overlap	(On-field oral communication) Make an overlapping run. Tells a defender or midfielder that the situation is acceptable for them to go beyond the midfielder or attacker, respectively, in front of them without a switch.
Overlap, overlapping run	Defensive player runs beyond his midfielder or striker, without a switch of positions, to go into the attack.
Overtime	Competition rules state the amount of time and other conditions to extend play beyond regulation time if the game ends in a tie (draw). Usually two 15-minute periods in international matches.
Own goal	A defender inadvertently sends the ball into his defensive goal, giving a score to the opponent.
Pace	The speed of the ball.
Pace (of the game)	Team speed while in possession of the ball, ranging from slow, as demonstrated by multiple back passes and moving the ball from side-to-side among the back defenders, to fast, with energetic runs and passes being sent forward.
Pack it in	When a team puts most of its players in the defensive third of the field or in the penalty area and makes it very difficult for the other team to score. The defensive team will then generally attempt to score on a fast break.
Pair of goals	Two goal scored by the same player.
Panicked	A player has over-reacted to a ball or a situation, sometimes creating a dangerous situation on defense or resulting in a goal.
Parried	The goalkeeper redirected a shot so that it didn’t score, usually outside the upright or over the crossbar.
Partial block	Goalkeeper or defender deflects the ball instead of cleanly sending it back in the direction from which it came.
Pass, passing	Intentionally kicking the ball to a teammate in order to advance the ball around the field or get the ball beyond an opponent.
Passing angle	The degree from straight ahead that a ball must be kicked in order for it to not be intercepted by a defender.
Passing lane	Space between two defenders which can be exploited to get the ball to a teammate.
Patience	Maintaining possession of, holding onto, the ball and not trying to force it into well-defended space; waiting and probing on attack.
Penalties (1)	Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; fouls and misconduct resulting in direct and indirect free kicks.
Penalties (2)	Common usage for penalty kicks when used to determine the winner of a match; see penalty kicks.
Penalty	Usually used in the context of the award of a Penalty Kick.
Penalty Arc	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; that portion of a circle with a radius of ten yards marked on the field outside the penalty area.
Penalty Area	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; a rectangle at each end of the field of play formed by the goal line and lines drawn 18 yards into the field from a point 18 yards from each goal post and the parallel line connecting the two ends.
Penalty Box	The Penalty Area.
Penalty Kick	Law 14 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; awarded if, in the normal course of play, a defender within his own Penalty Area, commits kicking, tripping, jumping, charging, striking, pushing, tackling, holding or spitting against an opponent, or handles the ball.
Penalty Kick Procedure	Law 14 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; ball on penalty mark; kicker identified, goalkeeper must remain on goal line, facing the kicker, and between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked; all other players must be inside the field of play, outside the penalty area, behind the penalty mark, and outside the penalty arc.
Penalty Kicks	Process for determining the winner of a match, usually alternating five players from each team.
Penalty Mark, Penalty Spot	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; a marking on the field 12-yards directly into the field from the center of the Goal from which a Penalty Kick is taken.
Penalty Shootout	Penalty Kick tiebreaker procedure.
Pendulum trainer	A tall, “T”-shaped pole from which tethered ball may be hung, with an adjustable-length rope, mostly used to teach and practice proper heading.
Pendulum training	Use of a device for holding a freely-moving ball hung from a rope used mostly to teach heading.
Penetrating run	An offensive player sprints into space between back defenders.
Penetration	The amount of movement of an attack into defensive space in proximity of the goal.
Performance	Successful execution and implementation of skills, tactics, and fitness.
Periods of Play	Law 7 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; two equal halves of 45 minutes each unless agreed upon by the teams and the referee to be less; based on competition rules.
Personal Pass	Ball-handler is both the passer and the receiver, in effect passing the ball to himself.
Personal trainer	An individual hired to provide one-on-one skills and fitness instruction or coaching.
Philosophy	A coach’s approach to the conduct of his program, team, and individual players.
Physical challenge	A hard or harsh tackle.
Physical, get a	Obtain a medical review to certify the ability to participate in sports.
Physio Tape	Elastic cotton strip with acrylic adhesive which, when applied to athletes when stretched, is intended to pull back to support the movement of muscles and joints; Kineseo tape.
Pick	Scraping off a defender to free oneself by using a teammate (or sometimes an opponent) to block the defender’s path. Mostly used on free kicks. Same as a pick in basketball.
Pick up (1)	A technique used to get the ball off the ground to start juggling.
Pick up (2)	To take a man; to cover an opponent on defense.
Pick-up game	Players meeting in an informal, unstructured setting to play soccer for fun.
Pinnies	Scrimmage vests.
Pitch	The field of play; soccer field.
PK, PKs	Penalty kick(s).
Place kick	Any dead ball start or restart to a game within the field of play.
Plant foot	The foot in contact with the ground which allows the kicking foot and leg to swing freely; non-kicking foot.
Play it wide	To pass the ball toward the sideline, touchline, flank or wing.
Play on	a.) To continue to play when a foul was expected to be called, but wasn’t; b.) Application of the advantage rule.
Play or Play On	(On-field oral communication) Keep playing, don’t hesitate because the referee is not going to blow his whistle or call a foul.
Player dropping back	Midfielder or forward joining the defense or any defender retreating toward his own goal.
Players	Law 3 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; teams consist of not more than eleven players; a match may not start or continue with a team of few than seven players.
Players rested/resting	Players not on the roster or available to play as substitutes.
Playing a man down, Playing a man short	Competing with 10 players instead of 11, usually due to an ejection but sometimes due to injury.
Playing it back	To pass the ball from forwards to midfield, from midfield to back defenders, or from back defenders to the goalkeeper.
Playing it in	Passing the ball from near the sideline to the middle of the field, usually in front of the goal.
Playing it out of the back	Usually a long pass sent forward from the defensive third of the field.
Playing narrow	Consistently attacking up the middle of the field; not generating or utilizing space on the wings.
Playing short	Competing with 10 or fewer players in a match.
Playing tight	Tight-mark defending.
Playing up	A team of a certain age-group of players competing against a next-older age group.
Plays in a dangerous manner	Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; generally kicking too high, heading too low, or failing to get up when on the turf, when engaged with an opponent; results in an indirect free kick.
Plyometrics	A fitness regimen intended to increase explosive power.
Poach	To hang around the opponents’ back defenders in search of a misplayed ball.
Poaching	Forwards that always seem to get into the penalty area and wind up with the ball.
Point of attack	Location of the ball and general concentration of offensive players as a team heads for the opponents’ goal, generally described as right, middle, or left.
Point system (for scoring)	Players are awarded two points for a goal and one point for an assist.
Point system (for standings)	Teams are awarded three points for a win and one point for a tie.
Portable goals	Any number of small to full-sized soccer goals which can be moved from one place to another; soccer goals which are not fixed or permanently set in the ground.
Position of free kick	Law 13 of the FIFA Laws of the Game. Upon infringement of the Laws of the Game, the resulting free kick is to be taken from the spot where the infringement occurred.
Positions	The assignment of players to particular areas of the field in order to facilitate tactics and strategy; commonly goalkeeper, back defenders, midfielders, and strikers.
Possession	An individual in control of the ball; a team, through dribbling and passing, controls the ball for a period of time; the goalkeeper has the ball in his hands.
Possession pass	A pass intended to retain possession of the ball for the team; usually a back-pass or square-pass to a clearly-open teammate, not necessarily intended to further any specific type of attack.
Possession-style soccer	A strategic emphasis on the part of a team to make a lot of short, quick passes to keep the ball away from the opponent. Attackers are then expected to make runs to receive an entry pass to score.
Post	One of the uprights of a soccer goal.
Post, or, Post up	(On-field oral communication) Attacker to run toward teammate coming upfield with the ball, stopping before the passing distance between the two becomes too short. Ball may be received and then passed back or flicked and turned.
Power	The physical faculty of applying strength or force.
Practice	A training session; instruction, repetition or exercise of a skill.
Practice games	Small-sided activities during practice; scrimmages, full-sided games against an opponent; controlled scrimmages; exhibitions; pre-season matches.
Practice vests	Scrimmage vests, pinnies; colored outer garments that can be pulled over existing clothing, used to visually designate members or a side, team or group.
Precision football	A style of play marked by crisp, short passes, ball possession and calculated, strategic thrusts at goal; contrast with “kick-and-run.”
Predictable, too predictable	A player or a team that does the same thing each time they get the ball.
Preliminaries	Law 8 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; see Coin Toss.
Preliminary	A game before an official match.
Pre-season	Training, practice sessions and scrimmages before the start of actual competition.
Press	Trying to force the level of play by running at opponents in an attempt to create errors. Often occurs near the end of regulation time.
Pressing	Bringing more players forward into the attack in an attempt to get a tying or go-ahead goal; often leaves the team vulnerable in the back, especially to quick counter-attacks.
Pressure (1)	(On-field oral communication) Man on.
Pressure (2)	(On-field oral communication) In the defensive end, player is telling teammate, who is taking on an opponent with the ball, that he either has support or can no longer give ground and must force the opponent to stop or make a move; in the offensive end, player is telling a teammate to take on the opponent with the ball in order to try to force an error.
Pressure skills	The ability to perform techniques with the ball while under extreme duress.
Pressure, under pressure	A team is constantly having every move challenged all over the field and is having difficulty getting the ball out of their own end.
Probe, probing	Offensive thrusts into a defense to try to find a weakness that can be exploited.
Procedures to Determine the Winner of a Match	Away goals, extra time and kicks from the penalty mark are the three approved methods in a supplement to the FIFA Laws of the Game.
Professional	A player who is paid to play the game.
Professional attitude	Taking on the proper demeanor and approach to training and the game of that of a player who is paid to play.
Professional foul	A last defender intentionally trips, kicks, charges or otherwise brings down an attacker who has broken free and is about to go one-on-one with the goalkeeper and has a high chance of scoring.
Progression, learning progression	Moving from fundamental, basic components to more advanced skills; e.g., moving from the alphabet to writing an essay.
Progressions, passing progressions	Generally a player with the ball would look for a long-ball, fast break option; then intermediate; then short; and then back options to pass.
Promotion	Advancement from a lower division to a higher division in a league as a result of a team’s record after the end of a competition season.
Protection	Local rule allowing pubescent girls or women to tightly hold their arms over their chest and contact the ball. (Movement of the arms toward the ball would constitute handling.)
Protective gear	Any number of products allowed by the Laws of the Game used to cover body parts to reduce the chance of injury; usually shinguards, sometimes elbow, knee, ankle or hip pads; cups for male goalkeepers; rarely headgear.
Pull the goalie	Send the goalkeeper into the attack in a desperate attempt to score; substitute for the goalkeeper
Punch, punching	The use of the fist or fists by the goalkeeper to knock the ball away from the goal.
Punt	To kick the ball upfield by the goalkeeper releasing the ball to his foot directly from his hands.
Push pass	Inside of the foot pass.
Push up	More players move toward the attacking end of the field, particularly the defensive midfielders and back defenders; strengthening exercise for the triceps and upper chest.
Pushing the line	Forcing defenders back; testing offside.
Pushing, pushes an opponent	Violation of Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game, Fouls and Misconduct, resulting in the award of a direct free kick.
Qualify, Qualifying	To advance from a group stage in a tournament competition.
Quarter circle	The Corner Arc.
Quick counter	A fast counter attack.
Quick play	A fast restart.
Rain gear	Foul weather jackets, pants or coats made available to players and coaches.
Rainbow	A ball skill whereby a player pulls the ball up behind his calf using the instep or inside of one foot and then uses the heal of the other foot to kick it over his head, the motion of the feet making it look like that of pedaling a bicycle.
Rattled (1)	The goalkeeper, defenders or team are being constantly bombarded with shots.
Rattled (2)	The post or crossbar literally shakes after being hit with a particularly hard shot.
Reaction	The response by a player to the movement of another player; the response of a whole team to the tactics of an opposing team.
Reaction save	Goalkeeper makes a stop on a hard, close-in shot without having time to think.
Reaction time	The quickness with which a goalkeeper can respond to a shot.
Real corner	A traditional corner kick from the corner arc to the front of the goal; contrast with “short corner,” “near-post corner,” “skip-header corner,” etc.
Real pressure	Hard pressure and even contact by a defender as an offensive player is trying to work with the ball; contrast with “false pressure” perceived by the player with the ball, but not necessarily happening.
Rebound	The ball bouncing off a field player, the goalkeeper, or the goalpost and returning in the direction from which it was kicked.
Receiving	To take possession of the ball, usually as the result of a pass.
Recover	(On-field oral communication) Get back on defense.
Recovery	1.) During a game, the ability to get back on defense after the ball changes possession; 2.) During a game, the ability to regain normal breathing and fitness to continue play at the highest possible level; 3.) Between games, the ability to regain full fitness for the next game of a tournament.
Red card	Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; shown to a player who has committed violations of the Law for which he is being sent off the field. (See Sent off.)
Redirected	The ball strikes anything in flight after being kicked and heads off in another direction. This can include a teammate, an opponent, and the referee.
Ref, 10-yards, please	(On-field oral communication) Kicker before a restart asks the Referee to move defenders back who are encroaching.
Referee	Law 5 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; enforces the Laws of the Game; performs all associated powers and duties as contained in the FIFA Laws of the Game book; authority exists from the moment of arrival until departure.
Reflex save	Goalkeeper makes an instantaneous move to save a hard, close-in, shot based on instinct and repetition rather than thought.
Regulation time	The full 90 minutes of a match.
Release	After obtaining possession of the ball, the goalkeeper throws it to a teammate
Relegation	For leagues having multiple divisions, there is a procedure for losing teams to be moved from higher divisions to lower divisions after a competition has been completed. Winning teams move up as “advancement.”
Reorganize	To return to positions in the base formation after being disrupted by the run of play.
Repetition	Practicing a skill properly over-and-over until it becomes ingrained.
Re-possession	Violation of Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game, Fouls and Misconduct, resulting in the award of an indirect free kick; goalkeeper inside his own penalty area touches the ball again with his hands after he has released it from his possession and before it has touched another player.
Reserve, reserves, reserve player	Pool of available players to use as substitutes.
Resistance (1)	Defensive ability to withstand attack.
Resistance (2)	Form of strength training.
Responsibility (1)	Duties of a player in a system of play.
Responsibility (2)	Marking assignment; the opponent to be covered by a player on defense.
Restarts	Any of a number of procedures for putting the ball back into play after a stoppage, including throw-ins, corner kicks, goal kicks and free kicks; commonly refers to free kicks.
Resubstitution	The ability to return a player to a game who has already been substituted; determined by competition rules.
Retaliation	Striking an opponent after having (perceived to have) been fouled by him; subject to sanctions of Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game.
Return	As an individual or a group, to get back into a defensive position after having gone on attack.
Return pass	A pass which is made right back to the player from whom an initial pass was received.
Rhythm	Consistency with which a player or a team defends or attacks during a match.
Ricochet	Rebound of a shot off the uprights or crossbar.
Right of Way	Two players on the same team going for the ball must determine who has precedence. Generally, the person heading toward the attacking goal, the person heading toward the sideline, or the person otherwise headed away from the defending goal has priority on the ball.
Right side, Right-hand side	That part of the field to the right of the imaginary center line down the middle of the field of play, when facing away from the goal one is defending.
Rival	An opponent met for years on end which engenders special competitive fervor among players and fans with ensuing match
Rocket	An extremely fast, well-struck, straight-line shot.
Roof of the net	The inside of the top of the goal net as held back from the crossbar by the backstays; usually referenced when hit by a shot that scores a goals.
Rookie	An inexperienced player; someone new to a team or in their first year of participation.
Roster	The list of names of the players on a team.
Route 1	An attack straight up the center of the field, directly to the goal.
Run at him	(On-field Oral Communication) Goalkeeper, defensive organizer, or defensive support player is telling a defender to go directly at the opponent with the ball in order to force the action, hopefully creating an error, dispossession, or a successful tackle.
Run of play	Normal free flow of a match in progress; not dead-ball situations or set pieces.
Run, or, Make a run	(On-field oral communication) Generally, this means you are standing and need to move promptly into open space in order to receive a pass or to open up space for the attack.
Run, running	Keeping up with play; moving into open space; covering a defender; not standing around.
Running free	Offensive player moving on the field without a defender marking him.
Running shoes	Shoes designed for running; not cleats.
Runs	Players moving into open space to set up a passing opportunity.
Safe handling	Goalie cleanly catches and holds on to the ball.
Safe play, make the	Passing the ball to an open teammate in a way that retains possession.
Safety	Law 4 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; a player may not wear anything that is dangerous to himself or others, including jewelry.
Sanction	The award or penalty resulting from a violation or infringement of the Laws of the Game.
Sanctions, administrative	The penalty for failure to comply with team or league rules.
Sandals	An open foot covering, usually consisting of one sole, for soccer generally made of synthetic, water-proof material; slides, flip-flops
Saucers	Small, colored plastic discs used by coaches to delineate practice space and drills.
Save	Goalkeeper stops a shot from going into the goal, either by securing or deflecting the ball.
SAY	Soccer for American Youth.
SC	Soccer Club.
Scarves	Clothing worn by fans showing support for their team, printed or sewn with the team’s colors, town, name and/or nickname.
Scissors kick	A ball skill whereby the non-kicking leg is thrust into the air in order to raise the path of the kicking leg as it is thrust in the air to strike the ball immediately thereafter above the original level of the head, with the player landing on his shoulders; the motion looks like a pair of scissors cutting; overhead volley. Recently called a “bicycle kick.”
Score (1)	The number of goals made by each team during a match; the score, the halftime score, the final score.
Score (2), Scoring	To score a goal
Scorebook	Official written record for the statistics and outcome of matches.
Scoreline	Results of a match; internationally, home team is listed first.
Scoring chance	An opportunity created during the run of play in a match that allows a shot to be taken.
Scout, Scouting	To observe an opponent to ascertain their strengths and weaknesses; to observe a player to be considered for acquisition.
Scramble	A number of players contesting for a ball with no one in clear possession.
Screamer	A ridiculously high-speed shot.
Screening	Keeping one’s body between a defender and the ball while dribbling; taking a position in front of an opponent to discourage a pass or to keep him from seeing the ball.
Scrimmage	A practice session or unofficial game between two teams.
Scrimmage vests	Colored outer garments that can be pulled over existing clothing, used to visually designate members or a side, team or group; pinnies, practice vests, vests.
Scuffed	Hitting the toe of the shoe into the turf while trying to kick the ball.
Seam	Space between two defenders which may be exploited with a run or a pass.
Season	A designated timeframe to complete a schedule of competition against a set of opponents.
Second ball	The opportunity to shoot again due to a rebound from a first shot.
Second half	Playing time of a soccer match after halftime; Law 7 of the FIFA Laws of the Game, the Duration of the Match.
Securing	The goalkeeper takes firm and complete possession of the ball in his hands.
Self confidence	Confidence in oneself and ones abilities.
Self-control	The ability of a player to retain composure, particularly to not retaliate after being fouled.
Sell the dummy	To run over or near the ball to create a distraction to make it look like it is going to be played, but to let it continue on its path to a following teammate nearby who is ready to receive and shoot the ball.
Send it	(On-field oral communication) Send the ball upfield. Kick the ball out of the defense into the attack. (Generally, this is used to tell a defender that there is immediate danger OR that there is a fast-break opportunity.)
Send it in	To cross the ball into the Penalty Area. (“…to the box.”)
Sending players forward	More player move upfield to join the attack.
Sent off, sending off offences	Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; a player is shown a red card and ejected from the game for serious foul play, violent conduct, spitting at a person, denying a goalscoring opportunity by deliberate handling of the ball, denying a goalscoring opportunity by a person with a foul punishable by a free kick or penalty kick, offensive language or gestures, or receiving a second caution in the same game.
Serve, service	To pass the ball to a teammate in a specific way designed to facilitate or maximize a specific skill, such as a header or a volley.
Serves	Goalie releases, other than a punt, sent to a teammate following a save.
Set pieces, set plays	Designed actions for players to perform, including how the ball is to be served or shot, on a restart.
Set play situations	A restart location close enough to the goal that a set piece should be used.
Settle	(On-field oral communication) Player has time to settle the ball look up and figure out what to do with the ball. This the same as “Time.”
Settle down	(On-field oral communication) Players are to stop getting overly excited and making mistakes.
Shackled	Forward marked so tightly as to be unable to get the ball, let alone to turn around and shoot.
Shadow	To mark an opponent man-to-man and go wherever he goes.
Shape	The proper positioning of defenders in a system of play.
Shelled	The goalkeeper or a defense has been under constant attack with numerous shots being taken.
Shield, shielding	Keeping one’s body between a defender and the ball while dribbling.
Shin	Front part of the lower leg; tibia.
Shinguards	Law 4 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; must be worn by all players and fully covered by the socks; to be made of rubber, plastic or similar material; must provide a reasonable degree of protection.
Shirt	Player’s jersey; Law 4 of the FIFA Laws of the Game, The Player’s Equipment.
Shoe accessories	Products designed to keep leather supple or waterproof; heavy rubber bands that can be slipped over the shoe to keep the shoe laces tied.
Shoe bag	A player’s small tote designed specifically to hold a pair of cleats.
Shoes	Soccer shoes; cleats.
Shooting	Kicking the ball in an attempt to score a goal, generally using an instep kick.
Short corner	A corner kick which is directed to a teammate standing within approximately 25-yards of the kicker or closer.
Short, short a man, playing a man short	A team has ten rather than eleven players on the field due injury or ejection.
Shorts	Player’s pants; Law 4, The Player’s Equipment.
Short-sided games	Any scrimmage or match with teams of fewer than eleven players.
Shot	(On-field oral communication) Shoot the ball on goal immediately. Don’t hesitate; take one set-up touch at most.
Shot	To have kicked the ball at the goal in an attempt to score.
Shoulder charge	Making legal contact, shoulder-to-shoulder.
Shove	Push, pushing, pushes, violation of Law 12; an attempt to create separation.
Show	(On-field oral communication) You will likely be a passing option if you move left or right from being on a direct line with a defender between you and your teammate with the ball.
Showing	Moving to a position which lets a teammate who has the ball see that you are available to receive a pass.
Showing leadership	Providing credible instruction and motivation by word or deed.
Shutout	To have kept the other team from scoring at the conclusion of a match; no goals allowed.
Shutting down the angle	The goalkeeper moves out toward a striker who has the ball in order to reduce the amount of the goal at which to shoot.
Side	Team.
Side netting, side panel	Those portions of the nets on the left and right behind the goal posts.
Sideline	Unofficial term for the touch line; see touch line; field marking delineating the right and left sides of a game field to identify the ball being in and out of play.
Sides, ‘sides	(On-field oral communication) Tells a teammate to watch out to not go into an offside position.
Simulation	Faking being fouled.
Sitting out	Player not participating in a match due to card, injury or non-selection.
Situational awareness	The ability of a player to identify, process, and comprehend the critical elements of information about what is happening to the team; an example would include knowledge of the amount of time remaining in a match in order to try to score or to effectively defend.
Six	The outermost line of the Goal Area, parallel to the Goal Line.
Six-second rule	Violation of Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game, Fouls and Misconduct, resulting in the award of an indirect free kick; goalkeeper inside his own penalty area controls the ball with his hands for more than six seconds before releasing it from his possession.
Size 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5	Recognized ball sizes from smallest to largest, with the largest being the standard for adult play; see Law 2 of the FIFA Laws of the Game, The Ball.
Skied	a shot that went very high over the crossbar.
Skill on the ball	A players’ level of ability to manipulate the ball, in the way he pleases, quickly and under pressure; contrast with movement off the ball.
Skills	Usually, technique and abiliy to manipulate the ball.
Skip	The bounding or skimming of a ball such that it does not take a usual bounce, generally on a wet surface.
Skip-header corner	The ball is kicked directly from the corner arc to the head of a player close to the near post who flicks it on with his head to a teammate near the far post.
Skipper	Coach (trainer, manager)
Slalom dribble	A dribbling drill where cones or discs are placed in a straight line, a number of feet apart, and the player advances forward by weaving around them with the ball.
Slice	An “outward” curve of the ball after it is struck, left-to-right, when coming off the right foot, and right-to-left when coming off the left foot; often used to describe an unintended result.
Slide pants	See Compression Shorts.
Slide tackle	To propel oneself along the ground feet first in an attempt to increase momentum to reach the ball out in front of an opponent who has gone past.
Slide, sliding	To propel oneself along the ground; slide tackle.
Slides	An open foot covering, usually consisting of one sole, for soccer generally made of synthetic, water-proof material; sandals, flip-flops.
Sling	Variation on goalkeeper’s “baseball-style” release.
Slope	Angle of a field due to its design for water drainage.
Slot, Slot the ball	To score a goal by placing the ball on the ground in the narrow space between the goalkeeper and the post.
Small goals	Anything other than regulation goals as mandated in Law 1; commonly discs or cones set approximately two yards apart.
Smothered	The ball is covered up completely by the goalkeeper’s body as a result of a save.
Snapping at the heel	A defender running behind an opponent with the ball nips at his heels or feet with the front of his shoes.
Soccer	A game played with the feet using a ball and two goals; football; Association Football; commonly accepted that the word “association” was first abbreviated to “assoc” which then became “soccer.”
Socks	Commonly, game socks; player’s stockings; Law 4 of the FIFA Laws of the Game, The Player’s Equipment.
Soft free kick	A referee award of a free kick for a perceived foul or a foul that didn’t really appear to happen.
Space	An area of ground on the playing field not otherwise occupied by anyone.
Space to create	A player with the ball does not have a defender in close proximity, given him the time to chose what he want to do next.
Speed	Rate of movement or swift progression.
Speed kits	Devices sold by sports-products companies designed to try to increase a player’s speed.
Speed of the game	Generally, the pace at which a match is being contested, from slow-possession-style to fast-end-to-end running; a substitute acclimating to the pace of the game.
Spilled it	Goalkeeper stopped the shot, but did not cleanly catch or hold on to the ball, thereby putting the ball in a position where it might be followed-up by an opponent.
Spinning move	A dribbling feint whereby the ballplayer drags the ball with the sole of the foot while turning his body 180- to 360-degress in order to beat a defender.
Spirit and Intent of the Laws of the Game	The real meaning behind the written words, recognizing that language doesn’t always capture thought; see Interpretations of the Laws of the Game.
Spitting, spits at an opponent	Violation of Law 12 of the FIFA Laws fo the Game, Fouls and Misconduct, resulting in the award of a direct free kick.
Spot kick	Penalty kick (from the penalty spot).
Sprawling save	The goalkeeper was scrambling along the ground before capturing the ball securely.
Spreading the ball around	Offensive attacks which use the majority of attacking players and the majority of the space in the attacking end of the field.
Sprint	To run at top speed, usually for a short distance.
Sprint ahead	To run at top speed into the attack.
Sprint back	To run at top speed to get back into the defense.
Square (1)	(On-field oral communication) You are open directly to the left or directly to the right of the ball-handler.
Square (2)	Flat defensive backs, all in a line.
Square pass	A pass made by a player to a teammate directly to his left or right such that the path of the ball is parallel to the halfway line; lateral pass.
Stanchion	Goal post.
Standing, standing around, stationary	Player(s) not making runs or otherwise actively participating properly in a game.
Starters	Players designated by the coach to take the field to begin a game.
Statement, making a statement, statement game	Virtual domination of one team over another in a match.
Static stretching	A flexibility process intended to lengthen muscles and tendons by the use of an expand and hold technique.
Statistics	The collection, tabulation and manipulation of data for analysis; for example, for a team in a tournament the total of “Goals For” minus the total of “Goals Against” equals “Goal Differential;” for example, for an individual player in a game the total number of passes received by teammates divided by the total number of passes attempted equals the percent of successful passes.
Stay with him (her)	(On-field oral communication) As a supporting defender, this tells a teammate who, during the flow of play, has taken on an opponent that may be making a crossing run or offensive switch to continue to defend that opponent.
Staying in the keeper’s range	The teammate setting up for a throwing release by the goalkeeper must not exceed the distance the goalkeeper can throw the ball (or be so far away that the ball is likely to be intercepted).
Staying with	As a defender, running with an opponent to ensure that he remains marked; as a team, playing up to the level of a stronger opponent.
Steal	To intercept or take away the ball in a way that was unexpected.
Step Out, Move Out, or, Move Up	(On-field oral communication) Goalkeeper or central back is telling the defenders to move upfield.
Step-over	A dribbling feint (move) whereby the player with the ball literally steps over and places a foot in front of the ball in an attempt to cause the defender to shift his weight in one direction so the dribbler can then proceed in the other direction.
Stick it in the back of the net	To score a goal.
Stolen	To have intercepted or taken away the ball in a way that was unexpected.
Stop	A goalkeeper save.
Stoppage time	Part of the extra time added at the end of the first or second halves to compensate for the playing time lost while an injured player was accommodated during a match; Law 7 of the FIFA Laws of the Game, Duration of the Match; allowance for time lost.
Stopper	Primary central defender; center fullback; first to challenge in the back middle of a “Stopper/Sweeper” defensive scheme.
Straight back	(On-field Oral Communication) Player who is open and available for a backpass is telling his teammate who has the ball where his is located.
Strapping Tape	Athletic tape when specifically applied for joint support.
Strength	Muscle power; durability; toughness.
Stretch them out	Spreading the defense from touch line to touch line across the width of the field due to the placement and movement of attackers.
Stretch, stretching	To reach out or extend one’s body or limbs to lengthen muscles and tendons.
Strike	A quick, almost unexpected shot, often resulting in a goal being scored.
Striker	A forward in a system of play whose primary duty is to score goals.
Strikes from distance	To score from far away from the goal.
Striking, strikes or attempts to strike an opponent	Violation of Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game, Fouls and Misconduct, resulting in the award of a direct free kick.
Strong foot	The natural preference of which leg to use for a right- or left-handed person.
Strong side	The area of the field to the left or right of the imaginary midline that contains the most attackers or defenders at any given moment.
Stud key, stud wrench	Devices used to insert and remove different-length studs in the days shoes had replaceable, screw-in, cleats.
Studs	Projections, grips, or knobs on the bottom of shoes; cleats.
Studs showing	Making an illegal tackle with the sole of the foot directed at the opponent.
Studs up	Sliding at or tackling an opponent with the soles of the shoe facing directly at him; illegal tackle; violation of Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; cleats up.
Style	Manifestation of the overall type of play exhibited by a team; e.g., short-passing possession, long-ball, defensive with quick counter-attacks.
Submarines	A player undercuts and “takes the legs out” from under another player who has jumped in to air to go for a head ball.
Subs	Substitutes.
Substitutes	Players who do not start the game and replace starters or other substitutes as the match progresses; must conform to Law 3 of the FIFA Laws of the Game.
Substitution procedure	Law 3 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; With the approval of the referee, one player out and then one player in, at the halfway line. Ability and the number of players who may be substituted (or resubstituted) are determined by the competition rules.
Success	A high level of achievement with certain types of attack which result in good shooting opportunities; e.g., down the middle, crosses.
Support	Offense: players who are behind the ball who are available for a backpass; Defense: players who are behind the defender who is taking on the offensive player with the ball who can come to the ball if the first defender is beaten.
Support in defense	Position of the next defender to the defender taking on the offensive player with the ball such that he is behind and nearer the goal in order to come to the ball if the first defender is beaten.
Support, or, You have support	(On-field oral communication) Tells defensive teammate that you are in a proper defensive position that if an unsuccessful challenge for ball is made, you have it covered.
Surface	Type of playing field: natural grass or artificial turf; status of field: hard or soft, rocky or bumpy, wet or dry.
Suspension	Player not allowed to participate in a match due to a prior (red card) ejection or an accumulation of (yellow card) cautions.
Swarming	Many players moving to the ball.
Sweeper	Last central defender, another center fullback directly in front of the goalkeeper, without a marking assignment; moves left to right, to challenge anything that gets past the back defenders; usually in a “Stopper/Sweeper” defensive scheme.
Swing the Ball	The process of moving the ball from one side of the field to the other. In a direct style of soccer this is generally accomplished with a long cross or diagonal ball. In a possession style of soccer this is generally accomplished by passing the ball through the center midfielders.
Swing, or, Swing the ball	(On-field oral communication) Defenders are open in the back to use two or more passes to get the ball from one side of the field to the other.
Switch	(On-field oral communication) Tells a player to assume their position. There are generally two types of switches, offensive and defensive. The offensive type usually starts with a player dribbling at a teammate and the teammate moves into that player’s position. The defensive type is usually made by a player that moves to cover an opponent expected to be covered by another teammate and the teammate now needs help to cover the space vacated.
Switch back	(On-field oral communication) This is the formal acknowledgement that a switch which has occurred is being undone and the players are resuming their normal positions.
Switch fields	(On-field oral communication) Kick the ball from one side of the field to the other or get it there via a mid-field player.
Switch, defensive	An offensive player beats a defender, causing a teammate of the defender to have to cover his man, resulting in the original defender covering the teammate’s man, effectively exchanging positions.
Switch, offensive	An offensive player runs into the space occupied by a teammate and the teammate runs into the space vacated, effectively exchanging positions.
Switches	Substitutions.
Switching fields, switching the ball	Sending the ball from the right side of the field to the left side of the field, or vice versa, often via midfield players, in order to change the point of attack.
System of play	(1) Formation; a structure designating the positions of players on the playing field, establishing a basis for the strategy and tactics of a team’s play; in common usage (with a goalkeeper assumed), identifies the players from the goal, outward, signifying the total number of back defenders (fullbacks), midfielders (halfbacks) and strikers (forwards), e.g., 4-3-3; always adds up to 10 for full sides. (2) Basic strategies to be employed within a formation.
Tackle, tackling (legal)	To attempt to, or to actually, take the ball away from an opponent who has the ball; to dispossess; may involve legal contact; takes a number of forms, such as “front block” tackle and “slide” tackle.
Tackling, tackles an opponent (illegal)	Violation of Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game, Fouls and Misconduct, resulting in the award of a direct free kick; fails to legally contact the ball between himself and the opponent.
Tactics	The approaches that will be used to attack and defend an opponent.
Take a strike	To shoot.
Take a tumble	Fall as a result of a collision.
Take away	Get the ball from an opponent; dispossess.
Take him (her)	(On-field oral communication) When the defense is organizing, the defensive leader may assign who is responsible for an attacker. In comparison to Mark #, this is generally associated with the closest attacker, often coming with the ball.
Take him on	(On-field Oral Communication) Goalkeeper, defensive organizer, or defensive support player is telling a defender to stop backpedalling/jockeying/controlling and to go ahead and tackle the opponent with the ball.
Take it	(On-field oral communication) Shoot.
Take it forward	A player or a team moves the ball decisively upfield to attack.
Take off	To sprint upfield.
Taken off	Generally, a player removed from a match due to injury.
Taking	Receiving the ball against pressure.
Taking a dive	A player faking a foul, usually a trip, by stretching out and falling forward, landing sprawled on the ground, in an attempt to draw a penalty, usually within the Penalty Area. Illegal and often ignored by the Referee.
Taking a peek	Striker takes his eye off the ball for a split-second look at the goal just before shooting.
Taking on	Coming to meet an opponent with the intent of making an immediate tackle.
Taking the pace off the ball	Reducing the ball’s momentum, as in part of the act of trapping.
Talk	(On-field oral communication) Players have stopped using proper oral communications and must do so.
Tangled up	Two opponents going for the ball who get their legs, arms, or both intertwined.
Tapped out	A player or players physically exhausted; a team unable to find any way to break down an opponent’s defense; frustrated.
Target	Often, a specific spot to shot at on-goal.
Target player (target)	A player specifically designated to receive a pass in a given situation, often at a specific spot on the field; post-up player.
Teaching	Coaching.
Team	Law 3 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; a group consisting of seven to 11 players while on the field, one of whom is designated as the goalkeeper; otherwise, all of the individuals collectively in the group, including possible substitutes.
Team bag	A player’s equipment (kit) bag, which matches all of the other players’ bags on a team, to be used at games.
Team shape	Ability of players to maintain the team’s formation during play, especially on defense. A team will attempt to cover certain areas of the field based on where the ball is located. When they are able to cover these area’s a team is keeping their shape or is in balance.
Teammate’s name	(On-field oral communication) To get the teammate’s attention for a pass or to recognize a situation.
Technical	Player’s ability.
Technical Area	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game, Board Decision; coaches’ box(es) near midfield outside the playing field.
Technique	Ball skills.
Tempo	Team speed while in possession of the ball, ranging from slow, as demonstrated by multiple back passes and moving the ball from side-to-side among the back defenders, to fast, with energetic runs and passes being sent forward.
Tentative	Uncertain or indecisive; hesitant to make a move for the ball or to take a shot.
Testing the keeper	How shots or crosses are handled by the opposing goalkeeper during a match can be evaluated to determine if he has any weaknesses which can be exploited.
Thigh trap	Receiving the ball with the inside, top, or outside of the upper leg.
Thrashing	A team is being thoroughly outplayed and outscored by an opponent.
Threaded pass	A pass which splits through defenders to reach a teammate such that anything other than a perfect path for the ball would have resulted in it being intercepted.
Through	(On-field oral communication) Pass the ball from the midfield between defenders into the open space behind the defenders so an attacker can run onto the ball.
Through	Team advancing from a group stage to the second or knockout round of a tournament.
Through ball, through pass	The ball is sent from the midfield between defenders into the open space behind the defenders so an attacker can run onto the ball.
Through the legs	Usually due to bad luck, but sometimes due to poor skills, a shot or a pass by an offensive player finds its way between the legs of a defender.
Throw-in	Law 15 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; re-start awarded to a team when an opponent who last touched the ball and the whole of the ball has crossed the touch line, whether on the ground or in the air; put back into play at the point where the ball went out, according to a strict procedure.
Tie Breaker	A procedure to decide a winner; penalty kicks, sudden death, golden goal.
Tied	The number of goals is or was equal for both teams in a match.
Time	The status of the game clock.
Time Wasting	See Wasting Time.
Time, or, You’ve got time	(On-field oral communication) There is no immediate pressure from nearby and you have the time you need to settle or collect the ball and then look up to see your options.
Timeout	The game clock is not running; local rules permit stoppages; only the referee can “stop the clock” (by adding time later); unlike American football, coaches may not call timeouts in soccer.
Timing	The ability to send a pass at the proper moment to beat defenders and connect with the teammate making a run.
Timing runs (into the box)	Players sprinting into the Penalty Area in such a way as to permit teammates to pass them the ball to them just before they may go offside.
Tired	Inability to perform at peak level; unable to run well due to physical exhaustion.
Toe kicking, toeing the ball	Using the front tip of the shoe to kick; discouraged in favor of the instep drive.
Toe poke	Generally, stretching the leg out as far as possible to tap the ball with the front tip of the shoe in order to get it away from an opponent or to score a goal.
Token pressure	Defender stays goalside of the opponent with the ball, but only slows him up without attempting to tackle, taking the ball only if the opponent makes an error.
Too central, getting or playing too central	A team or individual keeps the ball in the middle of the field a lot, at the expense of exploiting other space.
Top of the box	At the eighteen; the 18; the outermost line of the Penalty Area; the “D.”
Topped	Kicking over top of the ball; kicking the ball into the turf.
Total Football	Introduced in the late 1960s and advanced by the Dutch in the 1970s, all players learned all skills and interchanged on the field as if there were no positions. Difficult to sustain due to fitness requirements; some of its features, such as all players learning all skills, and use of the overlap, remain.
Touch (1)	To contact the ball.
Touch (2)	Light control; to exert the minimum force to the ball to make it do what you want.
Touch Lines	Law 1 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; the two long sides of the rectangular field of play from corner to corner; side lines.
Touch pass	A short, one-touch, pass that is little more than a deflection of the ball to a teammate.
Touches on the ball	Number of times an individual player contacts the ball, usually in a game. In practices, it is assumed that an increased number of touches by a player increases his success rate at ball skills.
Tough tackling	Hard or harsh tackles; difficult tackles; illegal tackles.
Tournament	A limited-timeframe competition involving a small number of teams.
Trail, trailing	A player behind a player with the ball; or, team is behind in the score.
Trailing	(On-field oral communication) You have a backpass option.
Trainer	Person who helps prevent, or promotes recovery from, injury (American); coach (foreign).
Training	All of the work and practice, including skills, tactics, fitness, and scrimmages, that go into preparing for games.
Training jacket, jersey, pants, shoes, suit, top, clothes, outfit	Clothing used at practice, usually matched sets for members of the same team.
Transfer fee	Money paid from one professional club to another when a player switches teams.
Transition	The switch from offense-to-defense or defense-to-offense when the ball changes hands.
Trap	Short for offside trap.
Trap, trapping	To receive the ball and get it under control; receiving, collecting, controlling.
Triangles	Three players on the same team coming together in a way that promotes open, short-passing opportunities; the position of three players on the same team that looks like they are at the points of the three-sided geometric shape.
Tricks	Clever ball skills, usually as a part of juggling.
Tripping, trips or attempts to trip an opponent	Violation of Law 12, Fouls and Misconduct, resulting in the award of a direct free kick.
Trying to squeeze it through	Attempting to force a pass between two defenders.
Trying to trick his way around the defender	Using a dribbling feint to beat an opponent.
Turf	Playing surface, usually a grass field; shorthand for artificial turf; AstroTurf.
Turn	(On-field oral communication) As you receive the ball facing away from the attacking goal, it is safe to turn the ball upfield without an immediate challenge from an opponent.
Turns	While dribbling, the ability to quickly change direction.
Tussle	Two opposing players staying in contact with each other, usually hand and arm checking.
Two touch	A player receives or traps the ball with the first contact and then passes it to a teammate or shoots with the second contact.
UEFA	The Union of European Football Associations; the governing body of football in Europe.
Under pressure	A player with the ball is being challenged aggressively by one or two defenders trying to thwart a move, pass or shot.
Under socks	First, usually thin, socks placed on the feet, followed by the shinguards, with the game socks on top.
Undercut	To submarine an opponent or otherwise hit him low when he has jumped for a ball, usually causing him to crash to the ground.
Underneath	Trailing strikers or midfielders.
United Soccer League Pro Division	Third-tier professional soccer in the U. S.
Unlucky	A good attempt at a pass or shot that just misses the intended target.
Unorganized	A defense that lacks the discipline, control, communication, and/or coordination to cover an attack properly.
Up top	A player positioned in a lead or central striker position.
Up, up by # goals	The goal differential during a match; example, team leading 3 -1 is up by 2.
Up-downs	A fitness exercise during which a standing player goes prone to the ground and then immediately returns to a standing position.
Upfield	In the direction of the goal a team is attacking.
Upper 90	The top-most corner of the goal, either left or right, just inside the upright and under the crossbar.
Upright	Goalpost.
Urgency (or lack thereof…)	The need to score a goal. Contrast with the lack of urgency shown when a team needs to score a goal but does not appear to be applying the effort necessary to do so.
usclubsoccer.org	U. S. Club Soccer is a national organization and sanctioning body for amateur soccer under the United States Soccer Federation.
Use him	(On-field oral communication) Pass the ball to the open teammate you see.
USMNT	United States Men’s National Team; MNT.
USSF	United States Soccer Federation.
USWNT	United States Women’s National Team; WNT.
USYSA	United States Youth Soccer Association.
v terminology	Versus; against; common usage during practice to denote squad or team strength in drills or scrimmages; e.g., 2 v 1 generally represents a drill utilizing two offensive players against one defensive player.
Varsity	Top competitive team in high school or college. Implies the existence of a junior varsity.
Verbal cue	On-field oral communication either given by one’s own team or overheard from an opponent.
Versus	Against; opposing; v.; v; see “v terminology.”
Vests	Scrimmage vests; colored outer garments that can be pulled over existing clothing, used to visually designate members or a side, team or group; pinnies, practice vests.
Vision	The ability of a player to see as much as possible of what is happening on the field.
Visual cue	Non-verbal communication by a teammate indicating what he is going to do; an action by an opponent which tips off what he is going to do.
Volley, volley kick, volleying	An instep kick of an airborne ball.
Vulnerabilities	An individual’s or a team’s defensive weaknesses which can be exploited in attack.
Walking	A player demonstrating tiredness or lack of endurance or fitness at a time when they should be running.
Walking it off	A term for a player who is able to stretch or warm an injury by exercising the area in order to return to a game.
Wall	A group of defenders lined up shoulder-to-shoulder to block the goal from a nearby free kick.
Wall building, wall placement, wall setting	The process of putting a wall in place based on the angle and distance from which the free kick will be taken.
Wall pass	A give-and-go; “one-two”; a pass resembling kicking a ball into a wall at approximately a 45-degree angle and then running to receive the rebound.
Wall, (number)	(On-field Oral Communication) The goalkeeper calls for the defense to build a wall in response to an upcoming free kick and announces how many players he wants to be in the wall.
Warm down	A brief period of light exercise and/or stretching after a strenuous practice, designed to gradually decrease the heartrate and promote a return to a resting state.
Warm up	A period of gradually more challenging exercises designed to increase the heartrate and promote a level of activity appropriate for a strenuous practice. Must include stretching.
Warm up suit	Training clothes designed to retain body heat.
Warm ups	A systematized approach to ensure that appropriate exercises and stretching are performed to prepare the body for a practice or match.
Warning	The referee verbally admonishes a player that his foul or misconduct is just short of a yellow card.
Wasting Time	The deliberate act on the part of a player of not putting the ball back into play promptly in order to run the clock down. Cautionable offense under Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game.
Watch wide	(On-field oral communication) Keeper or defensive organizer tells a defender that there is an opponent between him and the nearest sideline.
Watch your ‘sides	(On-field oral communication) Warns a teammate that he is in, or is about to go into, an offside position.
Weak foot	The opposite leg of a naturally right- or left-handed person.
Weak side	The area of the field to the left or right of the imaginary midline that contains the least number of attackers or defenders at any given moment.
Weather conditions	Part of overall field conditions, such as wind or rain, which will affect play.
Weight of the pass	The speed or strength of a pass. If the pass is too hard or goes long, you might say the weight of the pass was too heavy. If the pass is too soft or is short, you might say that the weight of the pass was too light.
Well-timed challenge	A tackle which is performed at the correct moment to get the ball, not too early and not too late.
Well-weighted ball	A pass which is performed with the correct speed or strength put to the ball to ensure that it reaches the intended receiver at the proper moment.
What you see	(On-field oral communication) There is no pressure from your back or sides and what you see in front of you as a dribbler is all you have to be concerned about for the time being.
Whistle, the	A whistle has been sounded, usually denoting the beginning or ending of the of half or the match.
Whistle, to whistle	A foul has been called.
Whistling	Showing displeasure; International form of “booing” in the United States.
Wide	(On-field Oral Communication) Play the ball out toward the sideline.
Win it	(On-field oral communication) Encouragement to get to the open spot on the field where the ball is arriving; encouragement to win a 50/50 ball.
Win the ball	To come away with the ball after a successful tackle.
Wing backs	Outside fullbacks; back defenders playing closest to the touchlines.
Wing, wings, winger, wing forwards	Player(s) in a traditional attacking or striker position playing forward and nearest the touchline as either a “right” or “left” wing.
Wings	The sides of the field nearest the touchlines.
Winning Team	Law 10 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; the team scoring the greater number of goals during a match.
Wiped out	A defender tackles or fouls an opponent so severely that the player’s legs are taken out from under him and he is sent sprawling to the ground.
W-League	In the absence of a professional league, the highest level of women’s soccer (semi-pro) in the United States.
WNT	United States Women’s National Team.
Women’s National Team	Top-level women’s team representing the United States in international competition; United States Women’s National Team; WNT; USWMT.
Women’s Olympic Team	Team representing the United States in Olympic competition.
Woodwork	The face of the goal, including the uprights and the crossbar; common usage, “[his shot] hit the woodwork”; from when the goals were made of wood.
Work rate	The pace or level at which a players runs, attacks, defends, recovers, or pursues opponents during the course of a match.
World Cup; FIFA World Cup	International competition held every four years by the world governing body of soccer, FIFA, to determine the best national team.
Worthless	An extremely poor shot or pass.
Wrap, protective	Soft covering over an injury or device to protect the wearer and others.
Yellow card	Law 12 of the FIFA Laws of the Game; shown to a player who has committed a cautionable offense. (See Caution.)
Yes	(On-field oral communication) Go ahead and pass the ball to the open teammate.
YNT	United States Youth National Team(s).
You got it	(On-field oral communication) On offense, when two teammates could equally go for a ball, tells the teammate that the ball is theirs.
You’ve got a drop	(On-field oral communication) There’s a teammate behind you who is available and open for a backpass.
You’ve got me back	(On-field oral communication) I’m available and open for a backpass.
Your help is back and left	(On-field Oral Communication) A player is telling his teammate the location of a backpass option.
Your help is back and right	(On-field Oral Communication) A player is telling his teammate the location of a backpass option.
Your help is straight back	(On-field Oral Communication) A player is telling his teammate the location of a backpass option.
Yours	(On-field oral communication) You are telling your teammate that THEY must play the ball. (This is NOT a very good call and should only be used in case of injury or odd circumstance.)
Zonal, zone defense	A type of defense which starts with the defensive players assigned to an area of the field in front of the goal and first covering any attacker who comes into their area; contrast with man-to-man defense.

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