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- 1 + 1 (2 + 2, 3 + 3, etc.)
- A training situation in which both sides have the given number of players and the coach makes suggestions as play continues
- 1 v 1 (2 v 2, 3 v 3, etc.)
- A competition or game in which both sides have the given number of players
- 1-2
- Essentially, a give-and-go back to and-again
- 1-Man System
- A system of refereeing in which a single official controls the game from within the field, without use of assistant referees
- 1-Touch
- A style of play in which the ball is passed on or distributed without touching the ball more than once
- 12th Man
- The fans, supporters, and crowd that helps the home team gain an advantage over the visiting team
- 18 (The) - See "18-Yard Box"
- 18-Yard Box - (British)
- The penalty area; the large box adjacent to the goal mouth, extending 18 yards out into the field from the goal line and 18 yards in each direction from the goal posts to towards the corners
- 2-Man System
- A system of refereeing in which two officials control the game from the sidelines
- 2-on-1 Break
- 2 attacking players breaking against 1 defensive player
- 2-Touch
- A style of play in which the ball is passed on or distributed after only two touches
- 2-3-5
- Formation featuring 2 fullbacks, 3 halfbacks and 5 forwards, developed by the British in the 1890's and used until the 1940s; also known as the Pyramid Formation
- 2LD
- second-to-last defender
- 3 Blind Mice
- A derogatory term referring to the game officials
- 3 D's of Defense
- Delay (the attack), Destroy (the attack), Develop (the counter-attack)
- 3-Man System
- A system of refereeing in which the game is controlled by a center referee with two assistant referees (i.e., lines(men))
- 3 Stripes
- Three rings around the top of a sock signifying a referee (e.g., "Here come the three stripes.")
- 3-Touch
- A style of play in which the ball is passed on or distributed after only three touches
- 3-on-1 Break
- A break with 3 attacking players against only 1 defensive player
- 3-on-2 Break
- A break with 3 attacking players against 2 defensive players
- 3-5-2
- A formation featuring a goalkeeper, a sweeper and two marking backs, five midfielders and two forwards
- 3-4-3
- A rarely played formation, most often employed when a team is behind in a game and needs a goal. It features a goalkeeper, 3 defenders, 4 midfielders and 3 forwards.
- 360
- (pronounced, "three-sixty") - a complete turn around
- 4th Official
- see “Fourth Official”
- 4-2-4
- A formation that consists of 4 defenders, 2 midfielders and 4 forwards. Made famous by the lighting-quick World Cup champion Brazilians in 1958. The two deep wing backs initiated attacks along the touchlines, transforming the team into 2-4-4.
- 4-3-3
- A formation that consists of 4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 forwards
- 4-4-2
- A formation that consists of 4 defenders, 4 midfielders and 2 forwards, one of the most popular formations currently used by teams
- 4-5-1
- A formation that consists of 4 defenders, 5 midfielders and 1 forward
- 50-50 Ball
- A ball that neither attacker nor defender have an advantage of winning; a loose ball that both players have an opportunity to acquire
- 6 (The) - See "6-Yard Box"
- 6-Yard Box - goal box
- The small box adjacent to the goal mouth, extending 6 yards out into the field from the goal line and 6 yards in each direction from the goal posts to towards the corners
- 6's and 7's (British)
- A state of disarray and total confusion. Can be used with various prepositions ("at" is the most common, but "on" is also used) or without. ("The defense was at sixes and sevens." Or, "The defense was sixes and sevens.")
- U8, U9, (etc.)
- Not having achieved the designed age (e.g., 8, 9, etc.)
A
- A gong
- To have a shot at goal
- Abandon the game
- A situation where the referee leaves the field due to weather or a serious situation that makes continued play intolerable.
- Abuse
- verbal (nonphysical) questioning, criticism, mockery, disagreement, or characterization
- AD
- Athletic director (high school usage)
- Add (n)
- A player added to the team’s roster after publication of the goldenrod
- Adrift (British arcane)
- Apart (different) in goal scoring ("the two teams were two goals adrift")
- Advantage
- (1) When play is permitted to continue by the referee following an infraction but the team on whom the foul is committed maintains possession of the ball, and the official feels that the team which has been fouled would be punished further by stopping play;
- (2) When a team quickly advances the ball down the field in an attempt to get its players near the opponent's goal before the defenders have a chance to retreat;
- (3) Where a team has possession of the ball and outnumbers the opposition near the opposing goal
- Advantage Rule
- A clause in the rules that directs the referee to refrain from stopping play for a foul if a stoppage would benefit the team that committed the violation.
- AFC
- The governing body of soccer in Asia; acronym stands for Asian Football Confederation; based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; founded in 1954; membership of approximately 41 nations
- African (British)
- Passing the ball one way around a defender and running the other way and retrieving the ball.
- A play in which the ball is passed on one side past an opponent with the passing player running around the other side of the opponent to retrieve the ball
- Against the Run of Play
- (1) Describing a particular play or outcome occurring in favor of the less dominant team (e.g., "They scored against the run of play.");
- (2) Describing a counterattacking play launched by a defending team soon after it regains possession of the ball
- Age Pure
- A condition where all players on a team have been born within the same 12 month period
- Aggregate Goals
- the total number of goals scored by a team from more than one match
- AGM
- Annual General Meeting
- Air mail (British)
- A shot or chip sent way over the intended target.
- Slang for a ball sent way over the head of an intended recipient
- All Ball
- A phrase meaning that a tackling player got the ball first and then tripped the opponent second, usually implying that the tackle was properly made. (Even "all ball" tackles can be whistled for dangerous play.)
- Ambitious (British)
- A description of a ball (or player) that is played recklessly and with little chance of success
- Ambitious ball
- An overly aggressive pass which had little chance of success.
- Ambush
- 2 or more players corner a player thus not allowing them to get the ball out.
- American (Rules) Football
- What the rest of the world calls U.S. football (with the quarterback, first down, and dozens of referees throwing yellow handkerchiefs); "pointy" football
- Anaerobic
- without oxygen (without breathing, over a relatively short period of time, such as less than 5 seconds)
- Anchor
- Outside player who attacks from the flank
- And-Again
- See Wall Pass, 1-2
- Answer (slang)
- Star player (e.g., "He's the answer."), possibly facetious depending on the intonation
- Appeal
- An action or administrative filing used to contest the administrative action of a ruling body to the next higher level
- AR – see “Assistant Referee”
- Arc
- the half circle at the top of the penalty box; alternatively, the quarter circle at each corner of the field in which the ball is placed for a corner kick
- Ardiles Flick
- running or standing: roll the ball to your heal with the other leg. Then you kick it up and over your head.
- Area (The)
- The penalty area (box), aka "The 18 yard box" .
- Assault
- Physical contact (direct or indirect), restraints, or threats thereof
- Assignor (or Referee Assignor)
- The person in charge of assigning officials to games
- Assimilated
- Slang for captured, picked off, or intercepted ("His pass was assimilated.")
- Assist
- The pass which leads to a goal.
- A pass to a teammate that ultimate results in a goal.
- One or two passes prior to a goal may be considered assists.
- The pass or passes that immediately precede a goal.
- Only the last pass or the last two passes can qualify as an assist to go in the record book.
- Assistant Referee
- The referee's assistants; one each 2 of the touchlines lined up to the second to the last defender. One of the two game officials who work the sidelines. Previously referred to as "linesman." ARs signal out of bounds, goal kicks, corner kicks, and offside positions, and they assist the Center Referee (CR) Prior to 1996, ARs were known as linesmen/lineswomen/linespersons.
- Association (The)
- (1) The organization sponsoring a competition, tournament, or league.
- (2) What CYSA N is sometimes referred to as.
- Association Football
- traditional term for the game in England to distinguish it from rugby football. (This was abbreviated "assoc". Over time, the prefix was dropped and in English custom, "er" added to the end to form the word soccer.)
- ATR
- Advice to Referees (on the Laws of the Game)
- Attack
- An attempt to score
- Attacker
- (1) a player who is moving into position to score;
- (2) any player on the team that has possession of the ball
- Attacking Cone
- A (roughly) triangular portion of the field starting with where you are and pointing (with the apex) at the opponent's goal
- Attacking Half
- The half of the field containing the opponent's goal
- Attacking Midfielder
- The most forward playing midfielder, playing right behind the forwards
- Attacking Team
- The team that has possession of the ball
- Attacking Third
- The third of the field containing the opponent's goal
- 'Ave It !
- Shoot already!
- Away
- Tells a defender to get the ball out their end of the field.
- A command, as yelled by the goalkeeper meaning, "Clear the ball out of the area!"
- Away (Game)
- A game not played on a team's home field
- Away Strip
- The strip used for away games
- AYSO
- American Youth Soccer Organization
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B
- B International
- An international game in which the teams are not the true national teams (e.g., are U23 players or second string)
- Back
- (1) Fullback;
- (2) A communication term used by a supporting player to let the ball handler know he/she has support from behind
- Back to Goal
- A stance or orientation where a player's back is towards the opponent's goal (i.e., the player is facing his/her own goal)
- Back and Face
- A request to the advanced players (who have just lost possession) to get behind the ball, face the opponents, and play defensively
- Back and Face
- Following an attack, when midfield players are in advanced positions, this is an instruction to return to their positions and face the opponents ready for the counter attack.
- Back Door
- The area on the opposite side of the goal mouth from where a cross or corner kick is taken
- The furthest goalpost from the ball. (UK)
- Back Four
- A formation of deep defenders comprised of the left and right outside fullbacks and two other central defenders, often called a stopper and a sweeper. (Also, see "Flat Back Four".)
- Back Header
- A player's use of their head to direct the ball backwards.
- Back Heel (Pass)
- See "Heel"
- Back of Square
- A location just behind where a direct square ball would be passed
- Player is just behind a square ball to allow space in case of a bad pass.
- Back Pass
- A pass made to a player behind
- Back Post
- The post supporting the goal's crossbar that is farthest from the ball;
- A position or location directly next to the post farthest from the ball;
- a position or location that is directly in front of, but some distance removed, from the post farthest from the ball;
- someplace in the general vicinity of the post farthest from the ball.
- Back Side
- See "Weak Side"
- Back Swing
- The distance a kicker brings their kicking foot behind himself before kicking the ball
- Back Tackle
- An attempt by a defender to take the ball away from a ball carrier by placing the defender's leg in front of the ball
- Back to Pressure
- A stance or orientation where a player has turned so that his/her back is towards the nearest (usually, very near!) opponent
- Backdoor burglar
- A player that comes from behind and steels the ball from the opponent
- Bad Foot (Leg)
- Referring to the foot (leg) that is not dominant; weak foot (leg)
- Badge
- The symbol used to represent a club or team and to distinguish itself from others.
- The patch worn by a referee.
- a reference to authority ("You can interpret the laws of the game any way you want when you have the badge.")
- Baggio (Named after Roberto Baggio's World Cup shootout performance)
- A slang term referring to a shot that goes far over the goal
- Balance
- The positioning of players in such a manner that the team maintains its shape and effectiveness.
- Balance
- Used to describe the concurrent presence of coverage by a team in important areas on the pitch.
- Ball
- Short for "I got ball.", meaning that the speaking player is going for the ball
- Ball Carrier
- A player that has possession of the ball
- Ball Denial
- Defensive player positioning in order to keep the ball away from an opposing player
- Ball Playing the Hand
- See "Ball to Hand"
- Ball Side
- A location that is between the ball and another player
- Ball to Hand
- An unintentional handling of a ball by a player other than the goal keeper in the penalty area
- Ball Watchers
- Players that focus on the ball exclusively, losing track of attacking players and the movement of those attackers to get into position to receive the ball
- Ball Watching
- Focusing on the ball, not opponents
- Defender loses site of his mark (ex. forward) because he is looking at just where the ball is.
- Banana Kick
- A kick (usually a long corner kick) that curves so much that the path takes the shape of a banana
- A kick that makes the ball bend or swerve in the air instead of going straight. back to bending ball
- Bangoo
- A crossed ball from the endline that is sent to the penalty spot
- Baseball Throw
- A type of throw used by goalkeepers to move the ball over medium distances
- Beauty
- Reference to anything beautiful. Example nice goal , great play.
- Beckenbauer Sweeper
- Defensive position named after Franz Beckenbauer who, in the late 1960's as part of the NASL New York Cosmos' , was one of the most complete players ever, transforming the sweeper position into both an attacking and defensive position
- Behind the Defender
- The area between a defender and their goal
- Bench
- The area or structure in which the coach and substitutes remain during a game
- Bend (Bending) Runs
- Runs made by players on the team with the ball that are not straight
- Bend the Ball
- Make the ball curve (around a wall)
- Bending ball
- See Banana Kick
- Bib
- See "Pinafore"
- Bicycle Kick
- A play made famous by Pele of the New York Cosmos (but invented in Chile) where a player kicks the ball in mid air backwards and over their own head, usually making contact above waist level
- A spectacular backwards kick that ends with the player on his back and the ball going the other direction.
- Bifurcate
- To separate into two (or more) groups
- Bite
- A phrase spoken by a supporting defender instructing the closest defender to strip the ball from an attacker
- Blank (v)
- To shut out the other team. ("Chelsea blanked Arsenal 2 to 0.")
- Blast
- A hard hit, quick paced shot
- Blind Side
- The side of the player away from the ball
- Block
- Setting a pic for another player illegally
- Block Tackle
- A way of tackling an opponent head on and gaining possession of the ball while still standing
- Blow (n)
- A breather or chance to rest
- Bob or B.O.B.
- Body on ball
- Boil (n)
- A condition of being effective. ("Jimmy has gone off the boil.")
- Bolt
- Center back (archaic), which later evolved into a sweeper
- Bomb
- A hopeless, long, wild, desperation shot from a long distance that remarkably results in a goal
- Boodles
- When your leg gives out and fall to the left side but still get the kick to your other teamate
- Book; Booked; Booking
- A term referring to a player's name being written down by a referee for either a yellow or red card infraction. ("His name goes in the book.")
- Boom Ball
- A derogatory term used to describe a style of soccer in which the players just kick the ball without any attempt to connect with anyone or anything.
- Boot It
- Clearing the ball from danger by kicking it up field or or out of bounds. The kick usually has no intended receiver and is usually done to relieve pressure in the goal area. Usually yelled by parents (and, some coaches!) who believe that soccer is a game of boom ball and who get frantic during a game.
- Boots (British)
- Soccer shoes or cleats
- Box
- See "18 Yard Box"
- Box it
- Cross the ball into the 18 yard box
- Brazilian Bunkup
- A celebration performed by Brazilians after scoring.
- Brazilian Soccer's
- Term used to describe the Brazilian way of playing (i.e., creative, highly technical, and passing oriented)
- Break
- When a team quickly advances the ball down the field in an attempt to get its players near the opponent's goal before the defenders have a chance to retreat.
- Breakaway
- When an attacker with the ball approaches the goal undefended; this exciting play pits a sole attacker against the goalkeeper in a one on one showdown
- Brilliant (British)
- Well executed, difficult play
- Broadway
- Slang for down the middle ("His run was straight down Broadway.")
- Build from the Back (to)
- (1) to start an offensive play with the goalkeeper or defenders, who subsequently pass possession on to the midfielders, and finally to the forwards.
- (2) to select players (for a team or for a game) to ensure that the defense is exceedingly competent.
- Bulge in the Old Onion Bag
- Phrase used to describe a scored goal
- Bulls Eye
- A direct goal or it went straight in
- Bump
- When goal keeper uses fist to block a goal
- Bunch ball
- When too many players crowd around the ball
- Bunker Defense
- A defensive style of play used by weaker teams which puts the majority of a team behind the ball, making scoring by the opponents very difficult
- Bunny Ball
- Playing a ball to another player in a terrible position in order to make that player look bad .
- By-Kick (Scottish)
- A kick taken from the by line (i.e., a goal kick).
- By-Line
- The field boundary running across its width at each end; what Americans call the goal line. (An infrequent misuse, noted among television commentators, is to refer to the touch line (i.e., the sideline) as the by line.)
- Bye
- A normal game date (i.e., weekend) on which a team has no game
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C
- CAF
- organization representing African soccer; acronym stands for Confederation Africaine de Football; based in Cairo, Egypt; founded in 1956; membership of approximately 51 nations
- Calcio
- Italian word for soccer
- Call
- a decision made by the referee
- Calling
- communication on the field between teammates
- Candy League
- a league (e.g., for very young players) that has special rules that would normally not be used in soccer
- Cap(s)
- recognition earned by a player for each appearance in an international game for their country. In the "old" days (e.g., 1900), when a team would go (i.e., sail) to another country to play, the hosting team would give each member of the visiting team a brimmed hat as a symbol of goodwill. Today, caps are not exchanged, but the term "cap" continues to represent games against foreign teams, where you represent your country. There are no formal rules that say you must be playing on foreign soil when you represent your country or that you must be a member of the country's national team in order to get "capped". When used with youth teams, a cap is loosely interpreted as a game against a team from another country, regardless of the game location.
- caps
- great defender. no one can capitaiize over the mad defence skill.
- Captain
- an individual, usually designated by an armband, that is usually selected by the coach to control the team, communicate with the game officials, and to represent the team at selected functions
- Carbs; Carbos; Carbohydrates
- any of a large group of compounds in which hydrogen and oxygen, in the proportions in which they exist in water, are combined with carbon; the formula of most of these compounds may be expressed as Cm(H2O)n. As used in sports drinks, "carbohydrate" usually means "sugar".
- Card; Carding a player
- showing the card as symbol of booking
- Carpet (British)
- grass or turf
- Carry
- to dribble the ball
- Catenaccio (Italian for "chain")
- A defensive playing style (formation, etc.) developed by the Italians, often using a sweeper, that gives up few goals while degrading the game to boredom.
- Caught Flat Footed (being)
- a situation where a defender is standing still or is too slow to react to a play because he/she was not mobile when the play began
- Caught in Possession (being)
- a situation where a ball handler is displaced of the ball after being stopping or being stopped
- caught square
- When two or more defenders have been beaten by a through ball because they were positioned in a straight line or square to one another.
- Caught Square (being)
- a situation where two players (e.g., backs) are equidistant from the goal (i.e., parallel with the goal line) and between which a through ball is passed or dribbler proceeds
- Cauldron (as in a witch's cauldron)
- the turbulent area, replete with offensive and defensive players "bubbling" though it, in front of the goal. Also, see "Mixer".
- Caution
- A disciplinary action (yellow card) taken by the referee against a player or a coach for misconduct
- CCS
- Central Coast Section of the CIF
- Celebration (after a goal)
- any action (removing one's jersey, running to the sidelines, doing a flip, or the entire team making a snake or chain) which is performed after the scoring of a goal
- Center (to)
- A lateral pass to the inside, similar to a "square pass.
- to pass the ball from a player located near the sideline towards the middle of the field
- Center Circle
- a circular marking with a 10 yard radius in the center of the field from which kickoffs are taken to start or restart the game
- Center Forward
- the middle forward (striker) in a three across formation
- Center Half
- Central Defender, played flat with the defensive line.
- Center Line
- the line that divides the field in half along its width, parallel to the goals
- Center Mark
- the exact center of the field, on the half way line, equidistant from the sides
- Center Pass
- to pass the ball from the sides to the center of the field
- Center Referee (CR)
- the official on the field in the Diagonal System of Control
- Center Spot
- the small mark inside the center circle that denotes the center of the field from which kickoffs are taken to start or restart the game.
- Central Defender
- a player who guards the area directly in front of their own goal in a zone defense
- Central Forward
- a team's most powerful and best scoring forward who plays towards the center of the field
- Central Midfielder
- the midfielder most responsible for organizing play in the midfield area
- Ceremonial Free Kick (or Ceremonial Restart)
- a free kick or other restart for which the referee has instructed the players to wait for his signal before taking the restart. Often used in free kick situations when the referee has to manage the setting of the defensive wall at the minimum distance.
- Certification
- a credentialing process whereby a coach or referee is given formal recognition and credit for having achieved some level of training
- Chaining
- combining several moves, steps, procedures, or actions into a larger, more complex action
Challenge
- To "challenge" the player with the ball.
- an attempt to strip an opponent of the ball
- Championship Game
- final game used to determine the overall winners
- Change of Pace Move
- a move in which the speed of play (e.g., dribble) is varied between fast and slow (or, stopped)
- channel
- Space between centre half and full back into which a pass can be played for an attacking player to run onto.
- (1) (as a verb) to guide, drive, or force a dribbler to the outside or another location more advantageous to the defense;
- (2) (as a noun) an imaginary alley or lane running lengthwise through the field to which a player confines him/herself
- Charge (to)
- to make contact with an opponent
- charge the ball
- Not waiting for the ball to come to you, but instead running up on the ball and taking it from your opponent.
- Charging
- a method of unbalancing (using one's shoulder and arm) the player who has possession or is attempting to gain possession of the ball
- check
- To come back to recieve a ball from a teammate.
- Check (Run)
- a run towards, away from the ball handler, or both made to receive the ball
- Check Away
- a movement away from the ball handler
- Check To
- An offensive player running towards the ball carrier and usually calling for a pass.
- a movement towards the ball handler
- Cheeky (British)
- risky and technically difficult (move or play)
- Chest Trap
- use of a player's chest to slow down and control an air ball
- Chip
- A pass made by a stabbing motion of the kicking foot to the lower half of the ball to loft it over the heads of opponents.
- a high soft kick used to lift a ball over another player's heads
- Chip Pass
- a pass lofted into the air from a player to a teammate
- Chip Shot
- a kick lofted into the air to try to sail the ball over the goalkeeper's head and still make it under the crossbar into the goal
- Chop
- A deliberate change of direction with the ball usually using the inside of the foot.
- a rapid, powerful redirection of the ball with the foot; more forceful than a cut
- Chunking
- the awareness of other players existence and positions; vision
- CK
- corner kick
- Classic soccer
- a classification used in youth soccer synonymous with "competitive soccer" or "select soccer", to distinguish it from "recreational soccer"
- Clean Sheet
- A shutout for the goalkeeper.
- Clear (Clearing) (v)
- the action of moving the ball out of the vicinity of one’s own goal area by throwing (goalkeeper only) or kicking it (generally up the sideline or out of play)
- Clear (prep.)
- ahead ("2 points clear")
- clear or clearance
- Usually used in the defensive 1/3 of field. To play the ball out of the area taking away the opponents chances of offense.
- A ball that is kicked rapidly away from the danger area
- Cleats
- (1) the metal, plastic or rubber points in the bottom of a soccer shoe used to provide a player with traction;
- (2) the shoes themselves
- Climb the ladder
- jumping up very high to head the ball
- Clinic (putting on)
- "Putting on a [scoring] clinic" during a game implies that there was a notable difference in skill or performance between one team, and that the winning team dominated.
- Clinical Goal
- a textbook goal scored that was shot and scored perfectly
- Clogged Midfield
- when the defense has made it virtually impossible for the offense to attack up the middle of the field by sheer numbers and high pressure
- Close Down (to)
- When a defender gets close to the attacker without letting the attacker get by him with the ball.
- to pressure the player with the ball immediately by getting at close as possible, without letting the attacker get past
- Club
- Professional International Definition) A formal business organization whose specific purpose is the development of individuals with extremely high soccer skills, fitness, and knowledge of tactics and strategy for the professional soccer industry.
- Common U.S. definition) An assemblage of individuals with a common interest in the sport of soccer that looks to the outside (e.g., an association such as CYSA) for its league play.
- Club Lines(man; person)
- an individual (e.g., parent) related to one of the players by blood, marriage, or association that has come to watch a game and who is subsequently “drafted” to serve as an AR in the game
- Club Referee
- see “Club Lines”
- Club Team
- A team that is organized and trained by a club or independent coach, not the (association providing the) league of play. A "club team" does not necessarily have to belong to a club. The adjective is used to distinguish club semi permanent teams from seasonal recreational teams.
- Coachable Moment
- a quick freeze of the action during a drill
- Coat of Arms
- a collection of heraldic symbols (e.g., a shield, crest, helm, etc.) used to identify a soccer club or team
- Coerver Method
- Dutch coach Weil Coerver's philosophy of soccer moves and total soccer concepts that rely on repetition to develop footwork and ball handling skills
- Coin Toss
- a method used by the referee to determine which of two teams kicks off and the respective directions of the two teams
- Collapse
- see "Compress"
- Collecting
- the technique of catching a soccer ball with some part of the body and bringing it under control
- Combination (Play)
- a play in which two or more members of the same team pass the ball amongst themselves
- Come off (your man)
- getting away from the opponent marking you
- Comeback Win
- (1) a game victory that comes only after previous losses, and sufficient to prevent relegation or being dropped from the competition, or
- (2) a game victory in a home away pair of games with a single opponent that comes after previously having lost the first game
- Commit
- to decide (usually, unconsciously) on a direction or action, followed by action
- Commit the opponent
- inducting an opponent to commit to a (wrong) direction of motion or action by use of a move or feint
- Committee
- a group of players in one place, as in "On the free kick, a committee formed around the ball to shield it from the goalkeeper."
- Comp
- see “Competitive”
- Complex (the)
- (northern California usages) may refer to either the Belmont Sports Complex or the Morgan Hill Soccer Complex
- Compress (v)
- the process of defensive players (and, a majority of the team) coming closer around an attacking player, reducing the area in which attacking forwards can move without being offside.
- CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Football)
- represents the region of North and Central America and the Caribbean basin
- Concentrate (v)
- to place more players in a particular location
- Cone (slang)
- a useless player on the field
- Conference
- a grouping of teams or organizations (typically, universities) that by virtue of some commonality (e.g., geographical location) have elected to schedule common competitions; a “league” of play
- CONMEBOL
- organization representing South American soccer region; acronym drawn from full name Confederacion Sudamericana de Futbol; based in Asuncion, Paraguay; founded in 1916; membership of approximately 10 nations
- Consolation Game; consolidation round
- a “final” game between two teams to determine 3rd and 4th place rankings.
- Consolation Match
- a tournament game played between the losers of the 2 semifinal matches to determine the third place team
- Contain (to)
- Do not allow a person with ball to beat you on the dribble.
- to slow down an attacker in order to get adequate defense in place; to not permit an attacker to get by you
- Cool Down
- a low energy workout following a period of high intensity (e.g., a game) that is designed to increase the subsequent recovery rate of the players
- Copa (Spanish)
- cup
- Copa America
- one of the oldest international soccer events, the Copa America pits the national soccer teams of the CONMEBOL; first held in 1917 and has been played at least every four years but often special editions are scheduled in off years; the tournament takes place in a host country
- Copa Libertadroes
- a club competition that matches the winners of the 10 South America soccer associations; the tournament began in 1960 but has undergone several format changes
- Copa Mundial (Spanish)
- World Cup
- Corner
- see "Corner Kick"
- Corner Arc
- a quarter circle with a radius of 1 yard located at each of the 4 corners of the field; on a corner kick, the ball must be kicked from inside this arc
- Corner Area
- see "Corner Arc"
- Corner Flag
- the flag located at each of the 4 corners of the field, inside the corner area
- Corner Kick
- kick by the attacking team from the corner
- a direct free kick taken by an attacking player from the corner of the defending team's end of the field in an attempt to score
- Corridor of Uncertainty
- Space between the goalkeeper and defence, particularly when crossing the ball.
- Counterattack
- an attack launched by a defending team soon after it regains possession of the ball
- Cover
- To provide defensive cover to the defender pressuring the ball.
- defensive support, usually from behind;
- the word a supporting player calls to a player ahead indicating support from behind;
- the act of supporting a player nearby.
- COY
- coach of the year
- CR
- center referee
- Cracker (British slang)
- a hard shot
- Crafty Play
- starting a play that many players and spectators would not have thought of
- Crank it
- strike the ball sharply, smartly, and strongly
- craw
- this is when you rip of the shirt after you score the golden goal in overtime. its a total snipe. a total craw.
- Create space
- move into a new area, sometimes taking opponents with you, allowing a teammate to use the open space just vacated. (Space can also be created for yourself by moving away from an opponents or teammate.
- Creating Space
- a player creates space by drawing an opponent away from his/her teammates or away from the area that is wanted open
- Creative Midfielder
- the central midfielder responsible for creating scoring opportunities for the attackers and other players
- Creative Play
- a play that many players and spectators would not have thought of
- Crest
- see "Coat of Arms"
- Cross
- Pass or kick the ball across the mouth of the opponent's goal.
- a kick into the middle of the goal box,
- a pass from an attacking player near the sideline to a teammate in the middle or opposite side of the field
- Cross Fields
- an offensive movement of the ball from one side of the field to the other, to set up an open attack on the other side of the field
- cross in
- when a player passes the ball from the side of the park to the middle.
- Crossbar
- the horizontal beam that forms the top of a goal and sits on top of the two posts
- Crossing Pass
- a kick into the middle of the goal box, a pass from an attacking player near the sideline to a teammate in the middle or opposite side of the field
- Crossover Runs
- a series of runs, typically performed by two outside forwards, wherein players simultaneously exchange sides of the field
- Cruyff (Turn)
- a footwork move named after Dutch player Johann Cruyff who used it in the early 1970's with great success
- Cryuff Cut
- when you cut the ball back between your legs
- Cuauteminha (Cuauhteminha)
- a ball trick introduced at World Cup France '98 by (and, named after) Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Mexico) in which the dribbler jumps over intended tacklers with the ball trapped between his/her own feet.
- Cup
- a tournament
- Curving the ball
- kicking the ball so it curves as it travels through the air
- Cushion layoff
- see "Layoff"
- Cushioning
- see "Deadening the Ball"
- Cut
- a small change of direction while carrying the ball, less dramatic than a chop
- Cut Back
- A pass back up the field esp in frount of goal or where the defenders are running and therefore unable to quickly respond.
- dribbling the ball backwards, away the goal, in an attempt to keep possession of the ball
- Cut Down the Angle
- movement by the goalkeeper coming out of the goal several feet to make him/herself closer and larger to an attacker, leaving the attacker less open net to shoot at
- Cut Off
- when a defensive player keeps his/her body between an attacker and the defender's goal, forcing the attacker out towards the sidelines, making the attacker less dangerous
- Cut Off the Line
- a defensive tactic against teams that throw "down the line" on throw ins
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D
- D (the)
- see "Dee"
- dangerous kicking
- when you kick the balll in the air and your foot is over your shoulder
- Dangerous Play
- when a player attempts a play that the referee considers dangerous to that player or others
- Dangle
- to deek out the opposing player. Many players seem to think they can dangle. But usually just end up looking like a idiot. Stick to being a plumber if ya can't pull the moves.
- Darby
- see "Derby"
- DB
- drop ball
- Dead Ball
- stationary (stopped) ball after the official signals an infraction, and requiring a restart such as a free kick or corner kick
- Deadening the Ball
- a method of taking away the balls momentum and making it easier to control;
- stopping the ball against a part of the body when it comes to a player
- Deck
- the packet of cards (i.e., the red and yellow cards) that the referee carries in his pocket during a game
- Decoy Run
- creating a diversion for your teammate by running off the ball
- Dee
- the curved arc (of 10 yard radius) just outside the 18 yard box, used to "restrain" attacking players during prior to the taking of a penalty kick. Also, see "Penalty Arc."
- Deep
- close to the penalty area or goal (e.g., "The ball was kicked deep into the opponent's field of play.")
- Defender
- a player who functions primarily in the defensive third of the field and whose major role is to repel attacks on the goal by the opposing team
- Defending Team
- the team that does not have possession of the ball
- Defense
- a team's function of preventing the opposition from scoring
- Defensemen
- the 3 or 4 players on a team whose primary task is to stop the opposition from scoring
- Defensive Midfielder
- the player positioned just in front of their team's defense
- Defensive Pressure
- close marking by a defender
- Defensive Stance
- Defensive positioning in which a defender stays an arm's length from the ball handler, knees bent and weight on the balls of the feet
- Defensive Third
- The third of the field closest to one's own goal
- Deflection
- the ricochet of a ball after it hits a player (including the goalkeeper) or a referee
- Delaying
- a defensive tactic which allows members of one team to get into a stronger position which may stop the attack from getting any farther
- Denying an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO)
- a foul committed against an attacker who is close to the goal (and heading towards the goal) with only one defender (typically the goal keeper) in front of him.
- Depth
- a defensive methodology in which two or more players support each other and form successive "layers" through which an attack must penetrate
- Derby (as used in soccer)
- an encounter, contest, fight, or game against a longtime rival (e.g., Manchester City v. Manchester United). Pronounced "darby" by the British.
- DFK
- See "Direct Free Kick"
- Diagonal Run
- a run made diagonally across the field, usually without the ball
- Diagonal System of Control (DSC)
- 3 man officiating system with a center referee and two assistant referees (linesmen). The Center Referee usually moves in a diagonal fashion across the field while moving from end to end.
- Dicked (to be) (British; slang)
- to lose a game with a very mismatched score (e.g., 15 - 0)
- Direct Free Kick
- a free kick that is awarded for substantial infractions of the laws of the game
- Direct Kick
- See "Direct Free Kick"
- Direction Play
- see "Possession Play"
- Disguise Run
- see "Decoy Run"
- dispossess
- To take the ball away from a dribbler.
- Dissent
- Disagreement with a decision made by the referee
- Distribute(distribution)(as referring to the goalkeeper)
- to give the ball to another teammate
- Dive
- To fall down deliberately with the intention of fooling the referee into giving a foul.
- to fall to the ground, sometimes feigning injury, in an effort to draw a foul or penalty kick on an adjacent player
- Dive in (to)
- approaching an opponent rapidly without slowing down, usually resulting in the opponent side stepping and easily avoiding the approach
- Diving Header
- a ball struck near ground level by the head of a diving player
- Division (NCAA)
- university athletic classification system
- DOB
- date of birth
- DOGSO
- see "Denying an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity"
- DOGSOH
- "Denying an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity by Handling"
- Dolly
- take the ball and bounce at an angle off player to another player
- Dominant Foot
- the foot that a player tends to be a stronger kicker with
- don't dive
- Telling a defender to stay on his feet against a dribbler.
- Doorman
- See "Goalkeeper"
- double teaming
- 2 people are guarding the same person. That means one player from the other team will not be guarded.
- Double Banker (British)
- two back to back games, generally with the same teams playing. Duration of halves is halved or at least reduces so that the two games take approximately the same amount of time as a single game .
- Double Dual System
- a 3 official officiating system occasionally used in high school games. Three officials, each with a whistle.
- A combination of the Diagonal System of Control and the Dual System .
- Double Pass
- when the ball is passed to a player (player "B", usually with his/her back to the goal), then is passed back to the original player "A", then player "B"rolls behind his mark and receives a pass back from player "A".
- Down the Line
- a throw in tactic meaning to throw the ball close to the touch line toward the opponent's goal rather than toward the center of the field
- Downfield
- towards the opponents' goal
- DP
- dangerous play
- DR
- district registrar
- Drag (the ball)
- to move the ball while keeping one's foot on it, typically performed with the sole of the boot
- Draw
- a game that ends with a tied score
- Draw (The)
- the selection of teams for a tournament in order to fairly place them into playing groups
- Dream sequence
- A header goal off of a corner kick perfect and dreamlike.
- Dribble
- To keep the ball from the other team by kicking it between your two feet and around the other team.
- running with the ball at the feet and playing it on every step or every other step
- Dribbler
- a player who advances the ball while controlling it with the feet
- Drill It (to)
- to send a powerfully hit ball
- Drills
- Repetitive techniques or groups of movements often involving a ball to improve conditioning, a particular skill or skills
- Repeating a set of plays or circumstances in a mock game situations
- used to evaluate or teach
- Drive
- Hitting a low, hard shot on goal with the instep.
- a low, hard shot, usually made with the laces
- Driving
- playing the ball well forward and running after it
- Drop
- To pass the ball back to a supporting player.
- a soft one touch pass to a teammate; usually backwards in negative space, for them to possess or shoot
- drop and mark
- The defending team needs to move to their goal, picking up and marking opponents.
- drop ball
- situation where the referee drops the ball between two opposing players (usually to restart play after an injury and possesion is not clear)
- drop in
- support on defense
- Drop Kick
- when a goalkeeper drops the ball from their hands and kicks it before it hits the ground
- Drop Off (to)
- to increase the distance from a marked player
- Drop Pass
- a pass to a player behind, usually made by stopping or back heeling the ball
- Drop(ped) Ball
- a method of restarting a game where the referee drops the ball between 2 players facing each other
- Drop; Drop and Mark; Drop in (v)
- to move back in a defensive position so as to get behind the ball or dribbler
- DSC
- diagonal system to play
- Dummy (n)
- To let the ball go past or through your legs to a teammate.
- a faked reception of an incoming ball that allows the ball to travel further onward to another player
- Dummy Run
- A run by player without the ball to draw one or more defenders away from the area under attack.
- see "Decoy Run"
- Duration (full)
- Two halves of a soccer match, 45 minutes each
- duster
- This term refers to those unfortunate souls who usually only step on the feild with no skill at all. The coach finally calls the "dusters" number and does so in a way that the duster feels like he is finally getting an opportunity to showcase the talent he doesn't really possess. Why the term duster? Cause this plug has been sitting on the bench the entire game.............Collecting dust. Always the worst player on team.
- Dutch-Style Soccer
- see “Total Soccer”
- Dynasty
- a program that keeps winning season after season
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E
- Early Ball
- a ball that is played quickly (e.g., at first opportunity) into a position for a teammate to pick up
- Early Service
- to cross or pass the ball into the 18 yard box too quickly
- earn your shirt
- Put in the effort in practice to get to play in the game.
- Ejection
- An act (of showing the red card and requiring leaving the field) taken by the referee against a player who has committed a serious offense.
- elastico
- a cut using outside of foot to inside
- Elite
- an adjective used by soccer clubs to indicate position in a hierarchy of skill levels. Actual position depends on club usage (e.g., "premier, elite, and select teams")
- Empty Net
- a goal without a keeper in front of it
- Encroaching
- being too close (e.g., less than 10 yards) from the kicker on a free kick, goal kick, penalty kick, or corner kick
- End Line
- the field boundary (goal line) running along its width at each end
- boundry lines at the goal ends of the pitch
- Enforcer
- a brutal player, usually a back or midfielder, who fouls, intimidates, and retaliates on behalf of his/her team
- Engine Room
- a nickname for a creative midfielder
- Entry Pass
- through pass
- Equalizer
- a tying goal
- Escort
- a defensive move based on an attacker's own momentum and absence of options to "escort" the attacker out of bounds
- European Champions League
- a competition in addition to the UEFA Cup which matches clubs which won their national leagues in a head to head, home and away tournament; the 32 invited teams have won the season title in a top European league; the league is an elimination tournament and is played in addition to the regular league schedule .
- European Cup
- UEFA sanctioned competition which occurs every four years between World Cup finals; field includes national teams from throughout
- European Cup Winners Cup
- a club competition pitting the winners of league cups the prior year in head to head competition; cup tournaments are opened to all divisions of a national league, meaning that quite a few surprise teams have gotten into this tournament; this tournament is an elimination, home and away tournament.
- Extra Time
- the additional two periods each of 15 minutes of play and prior to any sudden death periods added to a game that has ended in a tie but must result in a winner. Not to be confused with "Stoppage Time". See, also, "Overtime" and "Injury Time".
- Eye Save
- a (derogatory) description of a goal scored in which the goalkeeper doesn't move but merely watches the ball go into the net
- Eyebrow (British)
- a flick on header, commonly of a corner kick by a player at the near post (e.g., "give it the eyebrows")
- a flick on header at the near post from a corner
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F
- Face up (to)
- Face the direction of the ball. Don't turn your back on the ball during any stoppage of play.
- to approach the defending player head on (Usually paired with "...and take on.")
- Failure to Respect the Distance (FRD)
- sometimes called "encroachment". Failure of the defenders to move (or stay) back 10 yards from a free kick or corner kick.
- Fair Challenge
- see "Fair Charge"
- Fair Charge
- a legal contact with an opponent or the ball, usually resulting in the opponent losing control of the ball
- Fair Play
- FIFA's term for game play in which there are no violations of the laws of the game, there is no gamesmanship, and there are no professional fouls
- Fake
- (n) a move by a player meant to deceive an opposing player;
- (v) to do a faking move
- Far and Wide
- spread out using the width and length of the field
- Far Post
- the goal post farthest from the ball
- Farrelly
- An over aggresive player
- Fast Break
- a quick advancing of the ball down the field in an attempt to get its players near the opponent's goal before the defenders have a chance to retreat
- FC
- common abbreviation for Football (or Futbol) Club. Example: "Strikers FC"
- Federal debate (British slang)
- argument, particularly with a referee
- Feint
- (n) a move by a player meant to deceive an opposing player;
- (v) to do a feinting move
- Field
- the rectangular area where soccer matches are played
- Field Goal (British; slang)
- a ball hit well over the cross bar
- when a ball is blasted over the net {looks good that's all}.
- Field of Play
- see "Field".
- Field Players
- any of the 11 players on the field except a goalkeeper
- FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association)
- world governing body of soccer, founded in 1904 and based in Zurich, Switzerland
- FIFA World Cup Trophy
- Established in 1974 to replace the Jules Rimet trophy
- Fifty-Fifty Ball
- See "50 /50 Ball"
- Filling In
- temporarily covering a teammate's position
- Final
- see “Championship game”
- Final 4
- the last four teams in a competition, usually in reference to NCAA tournaments
- Finish
- to complete an offensive play with a shot on goal;
- to place a ball on frame or to score with a little more thought, accuracy, and technique than 'merely' shooting
- When a player shoots the ball into the goal using anything but an instep kick.
- Finisher
- a striker who has the ability to "put away" or score on the opportunities given
- Fire
- Alerting a team they are Offside
- First Attacker
- the player with the ball
- First Defender
- the defender closest to the first attacker
- First Time Ball
- Shoot or pass the ball with the first touch.
- passing a ball without stopping or controlling it first
- First Touch
- shooting a ball without stopping or controlling it first
- Fixture (British)
- a game; also, see "Match".
- FK
- free kick
- Flagposts
- see "Flags".
- Flags
- the flags that are placed at the four corners of the field marking the corners of the field
- Flanks
- the outer sides of the fields; same as "wings"
- Flat (getting caught, or “we were”)
- a situation wherein the defensive players are arranged in a line laterally across the field, allowing a ball to be played between them, and with the subsequent run through of an attacker.
- Flat Back (Four)
- the positioning of the last (four) defenders in a line across the field, so that they are able to move up and back in unison in order to take advantage of the offside rule
- flat pass
- pass to your left or right.
- Flats s
- occer footwear without cleats or studs, generally used for indoor soccer or training
- Flick
- advance the ball past the defenders for a teammate.
- a quick touch of a ball already moving in a particular direction, generally performed with the head or foot, which increases its range and/or elevation without changing the direction significantly
- Flight (tournament play)
- the group of teams that play each other in preliminary games
- Flighted Ball
- a ball that sails through the air over everyone else
- Flip Throw In
- a (legal) throw in in which the player essentially does a forward roll before ending up on his/her feet and releasing the ball
- Flow of Play
- see "Run of Play"
- FOAL
- foul and abusive language
- Follow (to)
- to follow in the direction of one's own shot or pass in order to be ready for another touch on the ball
- Follow Through
- the motion of a player's foot in the direction of the ball after it has been kicked
- Foot Trap
- a player's use of the foot to control ball
- Football
- the name for soccer everywhere except in the USA
- the proper name of the sport.
- Footie (British)
- slang term for "soccer"
- Footwear
- what a player wears on his/her feet
- Footy
- slang term for "Australian rules football"
- FOP
- field of play
- For Sure
- an overused and hackneyed phrase use by coaches to indicate their pleasure at something have been accomplished or carried off well
- Forfeit
- a match result in which one team is granted a loss by virtue of nonparticipation or violation of some other administrative rule
- Formation
- the arrangement into positions of players on the field
- Forward
- a player that is responsible for most of a team's scoring
- Position in front of the opposition goal, more creative thant the Striker.
- Forward Line
- the group of forwards who work together to try and score goals
- Forward Pass
- a pass made towards the opposition's goal
- Foul
- a violation of the rules for which an official assesses a free kick
- intentionally tripping, hitting, pushing etc. another player of the other team.
- Foul Throw
- an illegal throw in
- Fourth Official
- An official (i.e., referee) in FIFA and other competitions with responsibility for admitting substitutes to the field and maintaining decorum in the coaching area
- Frame
- the mouth of the goal (e.g., "The shot was on frame.");
- less frequently, the actual goalposts and crossbar (e.g., "The shot rebounded off the frame.")
- FRD
- see "Failure to Respect the Distance"
- Free Kick
- a kick awarded to a player for a foul committed by the opposition
- an unobstructed kick of a stationary ball, as in soccer or Rugby, especially one awarded when the opposition commits a foul.
- Friendly (British)
- a match that does not count in official standings
- Front
- A move by a forward to play with the back to the defender (goal) and be in a position to receive the ball
- Front Foot
- "front of the foot"; the laces area on top of the foot just above the little toes
- Front Header
- the striking of a ball by a player's forehead
- Front Post
- the post supporting the goal's crossbar that is closest to the ball;
- a position or location directly next to the post closest to the ball;
- a position or location that is directly in front of, but some distance removed, from the post closest to the ball;
- someplace in the general vicinity of the post closest to the ball.
- Front Runner
- an attacking player who often waits up field and acts as a target player
- Front Tackle
- an attempt by a defender to kick the ball away from an attacker by approaching from the front
- Full back
- wide defenders playing flat with the central defenders in a "flat back four".
- Full International
- an international game in which the teams are the true national teams
- Fullback
- a player who's predominant area of responsibility is in the back of the team formation
- Funnel
- an imaginary funnel shape on the field with the wide portion of the funnel originating at the points where the mid field line meets the touch lines and the narrow end of the funnel pouring into the mouth of the defending goal
- Fussbal (German)
- soccer
- a table game resembling a soccer field with wooded or plastic "players" attached to a pole that slides back and forth through the top of the table
- Futbol (Spanish)
- soccer
- Futebol (Portuguese)
- soccer
- Futsal
- Only FIFA approved version of indoor soccer. Played 5v5 on a hard surface with a low bounce ball.
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G
- “Go To” Person (Player)
- a particular player to whom other teammates try to give the ball
- GA
- goal area
- GAA
- See “Goals against average”
- Gameday
- the day of a game
- Gamesmanship
- euphemism for "cheating" in a (sometimes) socially acceptable manner
- Garbage
- poor playing
- Garbage Man
- The player on the team who will score from outfront of the net either on deflections or rebounds
- Gary
- slang for "a very clean player"; a player who commits few professional fouls (as in, "Don't be a Gary") named after British player Gary Lineker, one of the cleanest players ever
- Get a Piece (of him/her)
- intentional or unintentional contact, usually slight, causing a stumble or fall
- get chalky
- Get to the outside of the field
- Get Depth
- Asking the central defender to drop and support in the center of pitch as not to get caught "flat"
- get stuck in
- to tackle
- Get Turned
- see "Turn"
- get up on that
- Means to get up for a challenge in the air, and don't let the ball hit the ground. Or, to challenge in the air for a cross, dive or a collision with the opponent as a goalkeeper.
- get up/out
- usually used by keepers to clear defense out of box
- Ghost
- An extra position where you wander around on your half of the field playing defense.
- an extra defensive player with no specific side or position
- Ghosting
- ghosting refers to strikers getting literally behind defenders out of their sight and then moving forward and away towards goal
- Give an Oscar
- see "Oscar"
- Give and Go
- see WALL PASS
- to pass the ball to a teammate, run past the defender, and the teammate returns the ball.
- a pass where one player gives the ball to a nearby teammate and then sprints forward to open space to receive a pass in return (Same as "One Two.")
- give him an oscar
- When players fake injury. An extremely convincing dive.
- give it the eyebrows
- Flicking the ball on using your head.
- GK
- goal kick or goalkeeper
- Gloves
- what a goalkeeper wears on his/her hands in order to improve the ability to catch balls;
- what a field player wears on his/her hands in order to keep the hands warm or to improve the ability to handle balls on throw ins
- Go Ahead Goal
- a goal that breaks a tie
- Go to ground
- fall down
- Goal
- The actual structure consisting of two goal posts and a crossbar;
- a ball that crosses the goal line between the goalposts and below the crossbar for which a point is awarded
- Goal Area
- the rectangular area 20 yards wide by 6 yards deep in front of each goal from which all goal kicks are taken
- Goal Box
- the rectangular area 20 yards wide by 6 yards deep in front of each goal from which all goal kicks are taken
- Goal Kick
- a type of restart used when the ball goes over the end line (but, not into the goal) and is last touched by the attacking team, and where the ball is kicked from a stationary position from inside the goal area away from the goal
- Goal Line
- the field boundary running along its width at each end
- Goal Poacher
- an attacker that usually roams around the penalty box and attempts to put away loose balls and sloppy passes and to use other non traditional ways of scoring
- goal side
- to be defending nearest toward your goal
- The defender positioned between the goal and the offensive player.
- Goalie/Goalkeeper
- the person who protects the goal
- the player positioned directly in front of the goal who tries to prevent shots from getting into the net;
- the only player able to use his/her hands on the field
- Goalmouth
- the front opening of each goal where the ball may enter
- Goalposts
- the two vertical posts located 24 feet apart which extend 8 feet high to form the sides of a goal and support the crossbar
- Goals Against Average
- The average number of goals that a goalkeeper (or, less frequently, a team) allows per game
- Goals Against
- number of goals scored against your team
- Goals For
- number of goals scored by your team
- Goalside
- a location that is closer to one's own goal than another player (e.g., an opponent); between an opponent and one's own goa
- Going in the Book
- receiving a yellow or red card (“Her name is going in the book.”)
- see "Booking"
- golas
- Foreign term for Goal!
- Gold
- an adjective used by soccer clubs to indicate position in a hierarchy of skill levels. Actual position depends on club usage (e.g., "platinum, gold, and silver teams" or "gold, silver, and bronze teams")
- Golden Goal
- where a game ends with the scoring of a goal in overtime rather than by the expiration of an extra time period. (Same as "Sudden Death.")
- Goldenrod
- the official team roster, usually printed by league registrars on goldenrod colored paper
- Good Ball
- a good pass to a teammate
- Good Job
- a move, activity, or play that is performed correctly
- Good Out (British)
- a ball that is cleared well by a defender
- Good Up
- description of a head ball, either properly attempted or properly executed
- Goooooooooaaaaaaaaallllllllll
- drawn out verbalization of the word "goal" used when a goal is scored made famous by soccer announcer Andres Cantor
- got it
- when the goalie means to move out of the way
- got me
- i'm safe kick me the ball
- Grass Cutter
- a shot that either barely skims the field or bounces on it's way to the goal
- Gridiron Football
- what the rest of the world calls American Rules football
- Guard
- See “Mark”. (The term “guard” is not commonly used in soccer as a noun.)
- Gun Battle Straight
- slang for direct ("His shot was gun battle straight, right to the keeper.")
- Gut
- the center lane up the field, as in "He made a run down [up] the gut."
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H
- Hack
- Someone who fouls way too much or an act of delivering a hard foul.
- a player that fouls profusely
- Hacking
- kicking an opponent's legs
- Half Time
- a period of rest between the two halves of the game
- Half
- way line see "Half Line"
- Half
- one of the two 45 minute periods in a 90 minute match;
- Half Line
- the line across the middle of the field, dividing it in half
- Half Volley
- Hitting the ball with the instep just after the ball has bounced off the ground.
- kicking the ball just as it rebounds off the ground
- Halfback
- another name for a midfielder
- Halves
- the segments of time into which a game is divided
- Hand of God (Maradona's)
- a reference to Argentinian Maradona scoring a goal via handball in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal game (played in Mexico) between Argentina and England; (b) Maradona's own description of his action
- Hand Playing the Ball
- See "Hand to Ball"
- Hand to Ball
- the deliberate handling of a ball by a player other than the goalkeeper
- Handbags
- A small insignificant fight on the field. From the term "handbags at dawn" as apposed to "guns at dawn" which would obviously be more serious.
- Handball
- When the ball hits your hand and then it is the other teams free kick from the spot you were standing
- illegally touching the ball with the hands or arms
- Handle (the Ball)
- to intentionally touch or pick up the ball
- Handle the Situation (to)
- a polite way for a game commentator to say that one player pushed another with his/her hand
- Handling
- touching the ball (illegally) with the hands during play
- Hard Tackle
- a rough (but, legal) tackle
- Hat Trick
- Three goals in a game by a player.
- Have it; Have one; Have a go with it
- shoot the ball
- have one
- Tells a player to go ahead and take a shot at goal.
- Head to Head Record
- the record (i.e., outcome) of the (usually, most recent) game between two teams; often used to break ties in tournament standings
- Head (to)
- to strike the ball with one's head
- Head ball
- see "Header"
- Head Shot
- see "Header"
- Header
- striking the ball with the forehead
- the striking of a ball in the air by a player's head
- Header on (v)
- to flick the ball on in the same general direction that it was already traveling
- Heel
- Backwards pass with the heal of your foot.
- a command from the person behind the ball handler
- Heels on the Line (I want your...)
- a reminder by coaches to their midfielders to remain wide
- Help
- a word spoken to a teammate that is in trouble, meaning that there is support nearby
- Hesitation move
- (same as Swivel Hips)
- High school prohibition (California)
- the law (state, etc.) that prohibits (California) athletes from playing organized soccer games with their club teams while simultaneously playing for their high school teams.
- Hips Open
- the "hips open" position allows a player to see the whole field
- Hit the deck (to)
- to fall down
- Hit the nail on the head
- strike the ball squarely
- Hold
- Usually means hold the ball while a player moves into a supporting position for a pass.
- an instruction or request asking a teammate to hold the ball until one has moved into a new position
- Hold the ball up
- To keep Possession of the ball, or an instruction to do so.
- Holding
- preventing the movement of a player by obstructing with the hands or grabbing parts of the uniform
- Hole Player
- see "Window Player"
- Home (game)
- a game played at one's own (home) field
- Home and Home
- two games played in sequence between opponents, each at one team's home field
- Home strip
- the uniform set worn for home games
- Home Team
- the team associated with the field at which the game is being played
- Home Towned (to be)
- to be given unfair treatment by a referee from the home team's locale
- Hook
- a curved trajectory of a ball due to spin imparted on it by a kicker, such as in a banana kick
- Hook Run
- a run in which the runner changes direction approximately 180 degrees
- Hook Turn
- a technique for stopping and changing the direction of a ball by reaching out and catching it with the outside of the foot whose toes have been curled upward and back (e.g., in the shape of a hook)
- Hop (Hopped, Hopping) Pass
- a pass in which the ball is chipped slightly or otherwise induced to pop off the ground enough to get over an opponents leg or foot
- Hospital Ball/Hospital Pass
- a pass from one teammate to another that should be crisp but instead is too soft. This results in a 50/50 ball that can be challenged, possibly causing injury to the receiver when he/she has to fight off an opponent.
- A pass which might result in injury to a teammmate striving to reach it first.
- a (poorly made) pass that could result in an injury to the receiver because it is made in such a way or to such a position as to create a race or contest with an opponent
- HS
- high school
- hump and run
- playing the long ball; making long passes forcing the attackers to make long runs.
- Hunger (Hungry)
- intense desire for scoring goals
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I
- I go!
- a phrase that signifies a player has intention of gaining possession of a loose ball
- IDF
- see "Indirect Free Kick"
- IFAB
- International Football Association Board
- IFK
- see "Indirect Free Kick"
- Illegal Slide Tackle
- a tackle from the front "cleats up" and almost any tackle from the rear
- Illegal Throw
- in violation of legal throw in requirements
- Impeding
- see "Obstruction"
- In Swerve
- see "In Swinger"
- In Swinger
- a ball that curves in toward the goal
- In Bounds
- when a ball is within the boundaries of the field
- In Play
- when a ball is within the boundaries of the field and play has not been stopped by the referee
- in swinger
- Kicker will deliver corner kick swinging towards the goal.
- In Your Grill
- When Defending the player extremley close
- In(to) Space
- in(to) an area of the field not occupied by other players
- In(to) Touch
- outside the limits of the lined field (the ball may be touched with the hands)
- Incidental contact
- Contact, even when resulting in a trip, fall, handling, or injury, that was not intentional or severe enough for the referee for call
- Independent Team
- A team that is organized, trained, and managed by a group that is not associated with an established soccer club. Independent teams have to obtain their own fields and referees, but they are otherwise permitted to play in "club soccer."
- Indirect Free Kick
- a free kick that is awarded for other less serious fouls, requiring two players (of either team) to touch the ball before a goal can be scored
- Injury Time
- see (same as) "Stoppage Time".
- inners
- offensive player[;
- Inside (location)
- a location closer to the middle of the field and farther from the sidelines
- Instep
- using the inside of your foot to kick the ball
- The top part of the foot where most of the boot laces are
- Instep Drive
- a straight shot taken with the instep of a player's foot
- Instep Pass
- a pass made by striking the ball with the instep
- Insurance Kick
- a kick of the ball into the goal after the ball has already gone in and popped out
- Interception
- cutting off a pass intended from one opponent to another
- Intercontinental Cup
- a club competition consisting of a single match between the winner of the European Champions Cup and the Copa Libertadores of South America; first held in mid 1960; splayed in Tokyo since the mid 1980s
- Intermission
- the 5, 10, etc.. minute rest period between periods of a game
- International
- a match between two national teams
- International Player
- a player selected to play for his/her country's national team. Every game the "international" plays earns him/herself a cap.
- Inverted
- reversed in usual orientation (e.g., an "inverted forward" might be play slightly behind the other forwards; alternatively, an "inverted V" formation would have one player forward with two adjacent players back)
- ITOOTR
- abbreviation for "In the opinion of the referee"
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J
- jackknife
- slicer kick down middle of the field
- Jailbreak (slang)
- a fast breakaway
- Javelin (Throw)
- a method used by the goalkeeper to distribute the ball over a long distance
- Jeffer
- When u try to force off a penalty but you don't deserve it : 'dive'
- Jersey
- the shirt part of the strip
- jockey
- slow down the attacking player who has the ball with your back to your own goal trying to make attacker go wide being close enough to him that if he shoots you will block it. No attempt to play the ball is made while JOCKEYING.
- Jockeying (a player)
- shepherding or guiding a player into a less dangerous location
- Jockeying (for position)
- getting in the way of an opponent, no matter where the opponent goes
- Juggling
- keeping a ball in the air with any part of the body besides the hands or arms
- Jules Rimet Trophy
- the trophy given to the World Cup winner between 1930 and 1970, after which it was permanently retired; named after FIFA's first president
- Jump Kick
- a kick in which the player and ball are both off the ground
- Junior Varsity
- a high school playing league that plays at a level slightly below varsity
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K
- Karaoke
- Moving sidewase in a fast motion and crossing legs.
- singing badly while reading words on a teleprompter
- Keep the shape
- maintaining the desired playing formation (e.g., 4 4 2) though not necessarily the exact assignments
- Keeper
- Stay away from the ball, the goalkeeper is coming out!
- goalkeeper; one who may use their hands in an 18 m box
- goalkeeper's command for the ball
- see "Goalkeeper"
- Keeper's in Charge
- Phrase meaning that the goalkeeper has the responsibility and authority to communicate to all defenders on corner kicks and throw ins deep in their own territory as to who is to mark which opponent
- Keepy Uppy
- To keep the ball in the air with both feet
- Kick and Run
- see "Boom Ball"
- Kickball
- a derogatory term describing a style of play in which players merely kick the ball around, without attempting to pass to teammate or create combinations
- Kicking
- a foul wherein one player uses his/her foot to kick an opponent
- Kickoff
- the kick that begins the game at each half and restarts play after a goal is scored
- kicks
- a term used for you soccer cleats.
- Killer Pass
- A pass that splits two defenders and puts your teammate in a great position.
- a pass that sets up the receiver particularly well
- Kim Pickup Throw-In
- see "Flip Throw In"
- Kit (British)
- Another word for uniform.
- a uniform consisting of jersey, shorts, and socks
- Knock ("Knock it.", "Give it a knock.", "Knock it away.", "Gets a knock.") (British slang)
- kick
- Knuckle ball
- a ball that is hit squarely (i.e., does not rotate) and subsequently changes direction unexpectedly due to the uneven build up of air in front of the moving ball.
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L
- Laces
- the top portion (instep) of the foot or boot
- Lack of Shape
- a condition of a team that is poorly organized and not aligned well
- lake
- open space on field
- Land the Plane (British slang)
- finish the play and score (e.g., "He didn't land the plane.)
- LAR
- lead assistant referee
- Laser
- a very hard hit shot
- Lash (give it a)
- kick it (to)
- Last Defender
- the last opponent (not necessarily a back) between an attacker and the goal
- Late Tackle
- A tackle after the ball was played by the offensive player. Should result in a foul.
- a foul that occurs when a player tackles an opponent who has already passed the ball away
- Law XVIII (18)
- the unwritten law of soccer (there are only 17 actual LOTG) pertaining to common sense, usually used by referees to properly justify their game decisions
- Lawn Mower
- a shot that barely skims the field or bounces on it's way to the goal
- Laws of the Game
- the 17 main rules for soccer established by FIFA
- Lay Off
- a soft one touch pass to a teammate on the side
- Lead(ing) Pass
- a pass sent ahead of a moving teammate, into space, paced to arrive at a location at the same time the teammate does
- Leave (it)
- an instruction or request to a teammate not to touch the ball
- Don't touch the ball, let it roll by you.
- Leg
- one of multiple match days of a round of play
- Legal Slide tackle
- tackle where the defender gets all or most of the ball from the attacker
- Legal Throw-In
- a throw-in made with both hands and in accordance with the laws of the game
- let
- Letting a pass to you go to your teammate.
- let him know you
- Make contact with the striker early in match in attempt to put him off his game.
- Level (British)
- tied
- Libby
- A massachusetts term for when a player fakes an injury
- see "Oscar"
- Liberdade
- A term coined in the 1950's by Brazil, meaning "freedom", and describing a style of play where positions are switched often and at high speed. Also, see "Total Football".
- Libero
- Italian original, a sweeper who also goes forward to organanise and/or support the attack.
- (Italian for "free player") sweeper or stopper who may go forward to support the attack
- Line
- phrase said to a player to deliver the ball to or down the touchline
- Line Judge
- a misapplication of a tennis term to soccer, referring to an assistant referee
- Line of Recovery
- the path a player runs in order to return to position (e.g., to get goal side of an opponent)
- Linesman
- assistant referee
- Linesperson
- see "Linesman"
- Linia Way
- Play the ball down the line
- Liniker
- To score with an unorthadox but ligitimate bodypart, after Garry Liniker.
- Link (v)
- ("Link with another player.")
- complete a pass
- Linkman
- another name for a midfielder
- Lob
- Arching the ball above the goalie to score
- a high, soft kick, lifting the ball over another player's heads
- Lock In
- a defensive tactic where defenders double team an attacker along the touchline
- Lock On
- a defensive tactic where a defender picks up an attacker and marks very tightly
- Locomotion
- See "Stadimi"
- Loft
- a high arcing kick
- Lofted Drive
- see "Lofted Pass"
- Lofted Pass
- a pass used to kick the ball through the air over long distances
- Lolly pop
- it's a stepover.sold him a LOLLY POP!!!
- Long Ball
- When outclassed in midfield to play hopeful long passes to strikers.
- a long pass, as from the backs to the forwards, bypassing many players on the field;
- a style of play using long passes up the field, popular in England and other countries where poor field conditions often prevent creative dribbling
- Long Corner
- a corner kick all the way into the goal box
- LOTG
- abbreviation for the Laws of the Game
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M
- Man on Man
- see "Man-to-Man"
- Man to Man
- a type of defense where each defender is assigned to mark a different forward from the other team
- Man Coming
- the call a player makes to a teammate who is closely marked by an opposing player but may not be aware of it
- Man Down
- playing with one less player than the opponents
- Man in Black
- the referee
- Man in the Middle
- the referee
- Man On
- Said by a teammate when the player on the ball is under pressure as an opponent is advancing on their position, so the player with the ball can pass it to a teammate
- An opponent is approaching the player with the ball from behind.
- the call a player makes to a teammate who is closely marked by an opposing player but may not be aware of it
- man to man marking
- Follow him everywhere.
- Man up
- playing with one more player that the opponents
- Mandela
- pass it
- Maradona
- a move in which both feet touch the ball and 360 is done. also known as a garinccha (spelling?) or roller coaster
- The act of dribbling the opponents end of the field to end in a goal.
- Mark Up
- see "Mark"
- Mark/Mark Up
- to "guard" and prevent a player from doing anything useful by staying with the player, usually by placing one's self between the player and one's own own goal
- Telling your teammates to leave no one unmarked.
- to cover an opponent with or without the ball and to prevent them from passing, receiving or shooting the ball
- Mark it up!
- Said from one player to another meaning move up field.
- Mark Spitz (British Slang)
- a particularly good (illegal) dive performed
- Marking back
- A fullback whose primary responsibility is to mark one of the opposing forwards.
- a back whose responsibility is to stay with one of the attacking team's forwards
- Marshall (to)
- see "Mark (to)"
- Match (British)
- a soccer game.
- Matchday
- the day of a game or round of play
- Mate
- member of the team
- Measuring
- analyzing and understanding the opposition's playing patterns in a man to man system
- Meeting of the Minds
- any unintentional, but painful nevertheless, head to head contact
- Meg
- When the ball is dribbled or passed between the legs of a defender.
- short for nutmeg
- Member
- the term used by USYS to designate a person (player or adult) that has filled out the ‘registration form’ and paid the registration fee
- Membership card
- commonly referred to as the "player pass"
- Micro soccer
- a simplified format using small fields and (generally) less than 5 players a side, used for very young players
- Mid
- short for midfielder
- Middle Third
- an area centered on the half way line that extends partway (1/6, to be exact) along the touch line towards both goals
- Midfield
- the region of the field near the midfield line
- Midfield Anchor
- the player positioned just in front of their team's defense
- Midfield General / Govenor
- Powerful (or simply agressive) central midfielder stamping authority on the game.
- Midfield Line
- a line that divides the field in half along its width
- Midfielder
- a player who functions primarily in the center (neutral) third of the field
- Mine
- phrase that signifies a player has intention of gaining possession of a loose ball
- Misconduct
- violation of the laws of the game resulting in either a caution or send off
- Miskick
- to kick the ball poorly, usually off center, sending it errantly
- Mismatch
- a condition where an offensive player is far superior to the marking defender
- Missile
- a very hard hit shot from far out that has nearly no arc and no dip and goes straight
- Mitts
- see "Gloves"
- Mix
- see "Mixer";
- game (e.g., "Throw him into the mix." means 'Substitute him into the game.")
- Mixer (slang)
- the crowded area in front the goal. Also, see "Cauldron".
- MLS (Major League Soccer)
- the 1st division (top) USA professional football league
- Mobility
- ability to move around, usually off the ball
- Molly
- a unit of distance, approximately 4 feet, named after the sweet little girl who was that height when she was 8
- Money Move
- the move that a player uses (a) when the chips are down; (b) most easily and automatically; most successfully. (See, also, "Signature Move.")
- Move
- a use of fancy footwork, a way of maneuvering around an opponent. (See specific move type.)
- Mugged
- when an attacker has the ball at his/her feet taken away by the defender
- Mundial (Spanish)
- world
- MVP
- Most Valuable Player
- My Bad
- Said from one teammate to another to appologize for a poorly played ball.
- My Bad
- as said by a teammate who recognizing the mistake was his/hers
- My Ball
- phrase that signifies a player has intention of gaining possession of a loose ball
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N
- Narrowing the Angle
- moving towards a shooter to reduce the target area (angle) of the goal
- NASL (North American Soccer League)
- an outdoor league formed in the USA in 1967
- National Team
- a team consisting of the best players in a country chosen to represent it in international competitions such as the World Cup
- NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association)
- college athletics' (including soccer) governing body
- Near Post
- the goal post nearest to the ball
- Negative Space
- the area that is in the reverse of the attacking direction
- Neish Keit
- Not good
- Net Minder (Netminder)
- see "Goalkeeper"
- Net, (
- See "onion bag".
- "on ... "
- See "Frame".
- NFHS (National Federation of State High Schools)
- national high school athletics' (including soccer) governing body
- Nil Nil (British)
- neither team has a goal and the score is tied 0 0
- Nil (British)
- a score of zero
- NISOA
- National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association
- Nobody there
- a description of the situation when a pass is made that was not anticipated by any potential receivers
- nothing
- Either to tell your defender's that there will be no getting through them, or to clear the ball away out of the back field!
- NR
- national referee
- NSCAA
- National Soccer Coaches Association of America
- nuetral
- not taking either side of any party midfielders in the game controls this formation and gives defenders and forwards enough room to close out or in on attackers or the goal area whenever long balls or through balls are passed back and forth the pitch during a match
- Numbers Down
- a numerical disadvantage
- Numbers Up
- numerical advantage
- Nutmeg (to)
- to pass the ball through the legs of a defender or goalkeeper
- nuttie (AUS)
- To put the ball between an opponents legs.
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O
- Off the line
- Referring to the goalkeeper moving from the goal line to get the ball.
- Obstruction
- when a defensive player illegally uses his/her body to prevent an offensive player from playing the ball
- Octane
- slang for energy. ("Smith is a high octane player.)
- ODP (Olympic Development Program)
- a national program in the USA sponsored by USSF and used to identify, organize and train talented youth soccer players; responsibility of USYS since 1977; responsibility shared with other youth organizations since 2002
- OFC
- organization representing the soccer region including Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific island nations; acronym stands for Oceania Football Conference; based in Auckland, New Zealand; founded in 1966; membership of approximately 10 nations
- Off the Ball Foul
- a foul committed while neither player has the ball
- Off His (the) Line
- a term to describe the position of the goalkeeper away from the goal line
- Off the Ball
- away from or without the ball
- Off the Ball Movement
- movement when not in possession of the ball
- Off the Ball Run
- a run made by a player who does not have the ball
- Offense
- the function of trying to score goals against the other team
- Offensive Player
- any player on the team that has possession of the ball
- Offensive Team
- the team that has possession of the ball
- Official Game Clock
- the clock carried by the referee
- Officials
- the referee and 2 linesmen who work together to make sure the game is played according to the laws of the game
- Offside (Infraction)
- a violation called when a player in an offside position receives a pass from a teammate (requiring more than merely being in an offside position) or otherwise interferes with a play
- Offside Position
- an attacking player positioned so that fewer than 2 opposing defensive players (usually the goalie and 1 other defender) are between them and the goal they are attacking
- Offside Trap
- a play by the defense to catch the attacking team offside
- Offsides
- misuse of the word "Offside"
- OGSO
- acronym for "obvious goal scoring opportunity"
- OI
- outside interference
- OIAL
- offensive, insulting, or abusive language
- Olympic goal
- Score a goal from the corner kick.
- On
- see "Onside"
- On ball player
- see "First Attacker"
- On Frame
- see "On Goal"
- On Goal
- a shot that will enter the net unless stopped
- on me head
- An invitation to a team mate to deliver the ball to one's cranium.
- On Target
- see "On Goal"
- On the Ball
- with possession of the ball
- on the carpet
- Pass on the ground.
- One Touch Pass
- passing a ball without first stopping or controlling it
- One Two
- see "Give and go" A pass returned with the first touch. Often where the first player continues to run and passes a defender while briefly without the ball.
- One More
- Let a crossing pass through or pass to the next guy.
- an instruction or request by a passer to a teammate to let the ball continue on to another (i.e., a third) player
- One on/One go
- requesting only one defender pressuring the ball
- One Time
- see "One Touch"
- one timer
- A goal scored on a cross or corner kick that is booted into the goal before it touches the ground.
- Onion Bag (The Old) (British)
- slang for "goal net"
- Onside
- the opposite of offside; not offside
- Open
- describes an attacking player who does not have anyone marking them
- Open Cup
- a tournament is which any team may play, regardless of record
- open goal
- A completely unprotected goal, with no obstacles between the ball and the goal at all.
- Open Registration (league)
- a league in which any player may sign up regardless of ability
- Open Space
- the area on the field that is not occupied by any player
- open up
- Use wingers and play wide.
- to increase the separation between teammates
- OS
- offside
- Oscar
- a term referring to a player who greatly exaggerates an injury (e.g., "give him an Oscar for that performance)
- OSP
- offside position
- Out
- phrase used to tell defenders to move away from the goal line
- Out of Bounds
- when a ball is wholly outside the boundaries of the field
- Out of Play
- when a ball is wholly outside the boundaries of the field or play has been stopped by the referee. See also In Touch and Out of Bounds.
- out of the box
- last player in the defense yell to the rest of the team, after a coner kick.
- Out of Touch
- a misuse of the term "touch" intended to mean that the ball has gone out of bounds. When the ball goes outside of the field of play, it may be picked up (i.e., touched) with the hands in order to restart with a throw in. The ball has gone "into touch". "Out of touch" would refer to the ball inside the field, during play.
- Out Swerve
- see "Out Swinger"
- out swinger
- Kicker will deliver corner kick with a ball swinging away from the goal.
- a ball that is curving out away from the goal mouth, usually made from a corner kick
- Outlet Pass
- when a goalkeeper or defender passes the ball from close to their own goal toward the other team's goal to start a counterattack
- Outside
- using the wall to deflect and pass the ball to oneself(indoor only)
- Outside (location)
- a location closer to the sidelines and farther from the middle of the field
- Over it (as in, "She is standing over it.")
- Ready, or in a position, to take a free kick
- Over the Top
- To chip a ball over the defence into space for the fowards to run on to.
- a strategy of sending long, high balls into the attacking third and behind the opponents' fullbacks (i.e., long ball)
- Overcommit
- An excessive or unsuccessful commitment (See "Commit".)
- Overhead Scissors Kick
- See "Bicycle Kick"
- Overhit
- kick the ball too far or too hard
- overlap
- When a player runs around and ahead of the ball for a pass into space.
- when a player comes from behind and gets in front of a player (generally with the ball) from his/her own team
- Overlapping Run
- see "Overlap"
- Overload
- a situation in which one team has a subsequent numerical advantage
- Overloads
- Creating situations where you have more players than the opposition, i.e. 3v1.
- Overtime
- This is not a valid soccer term. See "Extra Time" and "Stoppage Time".
- Own Goal
- a goal scored when a player accidentally puts the ball in his/her own goal
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P
- PA penalty area
- pace
- Referring to the speed of the ball from a pass.
- speed (usually refers to the speed of the ball, not a player)
- Packed Defense
- a defensive formation which puts the majority of a team behind the ball
- PAL
- Police Athletic League; alternatively (San Francisco Bay Area) Peninsula Athletic League
- Park (n)
- colloquialism for field, stadium, or team. ("Samantha is one of the better players on the park.")
- Parry
- A controlled and deliberate deflection by the goalkeeper using the hands.
- (v) to knock or push the ball away in a controlled or directed manner; (n) a controlled redirection of the ball by the goalkeeper
- Pass
- (v) to give the ball to another player in a controlled, considerate manner;
- (n) the transfer of the ball from one player to another in a controlled, considerate manner
- Pass Into Space
- a pass sent ahead of a moving teammate
- Passing
- kicking the ball to a teammate
- Passive Offside
- being in an offside position but not being involved in or interfering with or gaining an advantage
- Payback
- retribution; a slang term used to describe physical contact with an opponent who has previously committed an unfair or violent infraction against another player
- Penalty
- a punishment given by the referee for a violation of the rules
- Penalty Arc
- a circular arc whose center is the penalty spot and extends from the top of the penalty area
- Penalty Area
- a rectangular area 44 yards wide by 18 yards deep with its long edge on the goal line
- Penalty Box (British)
- the penalty area
- Penalty Kick
- awarded to the attacking team if the defending team commits a direct free kick violation within the penalty area
- Penalty Mark
- a mark on the field from which penalty kicks are taken
- Penalty Shot
- a kick taken from the penalty spot by a player against the opposing goalkeeper
- Penalty Spot
- the small circular spot located 12 yards in front of the center of the goal line from which all penalty kicks are taken
- Penetrate (to)
- to advance the ball behind opposing defenders
- Penetrative pass
- A pressured pass such as a split pass or through ball. Usually perfectly weighted to get players on goal.
- Periods
- the segments of time into which a game is divided
- Persistent Infringement
- One of the Yellow Card (misconduct) offenses, persistent infringement of Law 12 by a player or by a team against a single player
- Physio (British)
- the person who attends to the players' minor injuries and medical needs, particularly on the field during games; equivalent to "trainer" in some contexts
- PI
- abbreviation for "persistent infringement"
- PIADM
- playing in a dangerous manner
- Pick off (v)
- to intercept or take over a ball that was passed by an opponent (i.e., as in a turn over in possession)
- Pick Up Throw In
- (named after Kim Pickup from Santa Clara University who, although not the originator of the flip throw in, did it so successfully and frequently that the general public came to associate it with her) see "Flip Throw In"
- Picking (him/her) clean
- see "Picking (his/her) pocket"
- Picking (his/her) pocket
- taking the ball away from another player in a very skillful manner
- Piece
- preplanned play;
- See "Get a Piece (of him/her)"
- PIL
- persistent infringement of the laws
- Pinafore (Pinny; Pinney)
- a colored bib worn in practice by players to distinguish each team
- Pinball
- Where the area of play is so congested that every attempt to shoot/ pass/ clear rebounds from players.
- Pinney
- see "Pinafore"
- Pinnie
- see "Pinafore"
- pitch
- soccer field
- pk
- pentally kick
- Platinum
- an adjective used by soccer clubs to indicate position in a hierarchy of skill levels. Actual position depends on club usage (e.g., "platinum, gold, and silver teams")
- play around them
- To switch the ball from one side of the field to another with a sucession of passes.
- play feet
- To pass a ball directly to a teammate's feet.
- Play In
- to "play the ball in" to another teammate is to provide a (through) pass for the teammate to run onto
- Play Off (n)
- a bracketing or game sequence used to decide an overall winner
- play on "Play On"
- referee's call when stopping the play at that point would (Also, see "Advantage") benefit the team that committed the foul more than the team that was fouled
- Play Short
- to play with fewer than the maximum number of permitted players
- play space
- To push a ball into an open area of the field for another player to run on to, as opposed to playing to feet.
- play the way your facing
- Keep football simple and pass the way you are facing then move to space.
- Play to Flag
- passing the ball towards the corners
- Play(ing) Direct
- moving the ball down the middle of the field (as opposed to down the wings);
- dribbling straight at opponents
- Play(ing) Down
- to play in a lower age group (generally not permitted)
- Play(ing) Up
- to play in a higher age group
- Player ID
- see “Player pass”
- Player Pass
- the identification card or other paperwork issued by a soccer association to a player indicating that the player is able to participate in matches
- Playing (the) Ball Wide
- offensive tactic of sending the ball to either side of the field for the wingers to attempt an attack from the flanks
- playing kickball
- When a team uses the system of just kicking the ball as far as they can with no regard to passing.
- Playing League
- the league in which the team actually plays (may be different from the league of registration)
- Playing Season
- the portion of the calendar year in which league games are played
- Playing to Feet
- passing the ball directly to the feet of a teammate who does not have to move to receive it
- Playing to Space
- passing the ball into open space to a teammate who has to move to receive it
- Playmaker
- Creative midfielder
- Plot
- slang for strategy, concept, or control ("Sydney got so upset that she lost the plot.")
- Poacher
- an attacker that stays in or around the penalty box and attempts to put away loose balls
- Point of Attack
- the side of the field or angle direction that the attacking team is heading towards goal at
- Pointy Football
- American rules football
- Police Up (the area)
- cleanup/pick up the area
- Polished Finish
- a goal scored that was shot and scored perfectly
- Pool
- group of eligible players under consideration
- Pop It
- to pass it to oneself
- popeye
- When someone pops the ball off of the goal causing the ball to come back at a player
- poser
- A player who looks good but has no game.
- Positive Space
- the area on the field that is in the attacking direction
- Possession
- control of the ball
- Possession Ball
- see "Possession Play"
- Possession Play
- a style of play in which one team attempts to retain possession of the ball at all times by passes directly to teammates
- Post
- one of the two vertical beams located 24 feet apart which extend 8 feet high to form the sides of a goal and support the crossbar
- Post Line
- an imaginary line that extends from the post into the field perpendicularly from the goal line
- Postman
- Someone who frequently hits the post with the ball
- Power Kick
- a hard, fast shot or kick
- Premier
- an adjective used by soccer clubs to indicate position in a hierarchy of skill levels. Actual position depends on club usage (e.g., "premier, elite, and select teams")
- Premier League (England)
- What every other country would refer to as "Division 1". England's "First Division" is actually everyone else's "Division 2", and so on.
- pressure
- Refers to a defender placing pressure on his opponent with the ball.
- Pressure (to) (v)
- to close down the distance and play close to a player, reducing that player's options and ability to move with the ball
- Pressure training
- using rapid repetition of single technique to reinforce mastery of the technique
- professional foul
- A deliberate foul calculated to obtain an advantage such as intimidation of the opposition, or prevention of a subsequent goal scoring opportunity.
- a foul committed intentionally, usually by tripping or even tripping from behind, but may include handling intentionally handling, either for the purpose of retaliation or preventing what might otherwise materialize into a goal scoring opportunity for the fouled player. The outcome of the foul (yellow or red card) is deemed and accepted to be less severe in consequence than the outcome of the unimpeded play.
- Proof of Age
- the document, usually a birth certificate or passport, used to validate a player's age grouping
- Protest
- an action or administrative filing used to contest a game result
- Pull
- see "Pull Up" and "Push"
- Pull Back
- to drag the ball back towards oneself using the sole of the boot
- Pull the String (to)
- to kick a bending ball such that it bends down under the crossbar instead of continuing straight over it
- Pull Up
- the phrase told to move the defense up the field. (Same as "Push Up.")
- pulling the string
- A shot off a free kick that looks as if it will go over the crossbar but at the last second dips into the goal.
- Punish
- take advantage of a mistake (e.g., "Player B punished Player A for trapping the ball poorly.")
- Punt
- a kick by the goalkeeper dropping the ball from his/her hands
- pushup
- A sweeper telling his/her fellow defenders to stop lagging in the back, in an attempt to draw the opposing team off sides, or to get the defenders to get in on the offensive transition.
- Push
- see "Pull Up"
- Push Pass
- a pass using the inside of the foot
- Push Up
- see "Pull Up"
- Pushing
- the infraction of using one's body to move (against) an opponent
- Put (it; the ball) Away
- score a goal
- put it in the mixer (mix it)
- To lob a ball into the area of best playability so as to score a goal.
- Pyramid Formation
- see "2-3-5"
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Q
- Qualifying Draw
- the division of teams into groups for a qualifying tournament
- Qualifying Match
- a match played whereby the winners gain advancement
- Qualifying Tournament
- a tournament that is played to determine which of the participating teams will continue on to a subsequent event
- Quick Kick (or Quick Free Kick)
- when that attackers immediately take a free kick without necessarily waiting for the defenders to retreat 10 yards
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R
- Rainbow Kick
- a technique where a player flips a ball over his/her head, (and, sometimes over a defender's head) and to the front using the back with the heel
- RC
- abbreviation for "Red Card" or "Regional Commissioner"
- Reading It
- see "Reading the Game"
- Reading the Game
- being able to anticipate what will happen in a game
- Rebound
- to hit an object (e.g., a goal post) and return to the field of play
- Rec to Comp
- a playing environment in which young recreational players are gradually, but specifically, guided into and groomed for competitive play
- Receiver
- a player who receives a pass from a teammate
- Recertification
- the process by which a referee or coach continues holding his certification. For referees, this is an annual class and test.
- Record (win loss)
- see “Win loss record”
- recover
- When a defender gets beat he turns and sprints to get between the ball and the goal.
- to return to one's (defensive) position behind the ball when attacked
- Recovery
- Referring to a beaten defender running to get back into a defensive position.
- the repositioning of an individual or group or defensive players behind the ball once possession has been lost
- Recovery Run
- a run made backward to get behind the ball after being beaten
- Red Card
- Similar to a yellow card except it means that you are withdrawn from the game
- Red Shirt (to)
- to take time off (due to injury or other unavailability) in collegiate play, preserving one's eligibility for a year of participation
- Redirect
- to change the direction of movement of the ball
- referee
- the person who calls all the fouls and is in charge of the game
- Region (USYS definition)
- a group of states that compete regionally against one another
- Regional Team
- a team (e.g., ODP) that is composed of players selected from all of the states in the region
- Regionals
- the tournament or competition in which teams from all of the states in the region compete against one another
- Registrar (Club)
- the club official who processes all of the player and team applications
- Registrar (District)
- the district official who processes all of the player and team applications
- Registrar (League)
- the league official who processes all of the player and team applications
- Registration League
- the league with which a player (team, etc.) formally registers to play. May be different from the league in which the player (team, etc.) actually plays.
- Regular Season
- the portion of the calendar year in which all of the league games are played, exclusive of playoffs and other post regular season events.
- Regulation Time
- the two periods of a game, prior to any overtime or tiebreaker
- Release
- to remove a player from a team’s roster without transferring that player to another team; (2) to permit players from one part of the field (e.g., the defensive third) to enter the attack; (iii) to give up the ball to another teammate
- Relegation
- the act of dropping a poorly performing team or club from one league to a lower league
- Restart (v)
- to return the ball to play after play has stopped; (n) any play which places the ball back into play after a stoppage
- Restraining Line
- An imaginary line across the field that coincides in location with the position of the last field player (i.e., the second to last 'defender' for the purpose of determining offside). Called the 'restraining' line because the opponents cannot move past the line without becoming in danger of being offside.
- Result (n; British)
- the outcome or final score of a match
- Reversing the Field
- switching the ball to the opposite side of the field
- RICE
- Acronym for “Rest Ice Compression Elevation”
- Rip
- to shoot a very hard shot
- ("Give it a rip.") a hard kick
- Robbed
- loss of the ball to a defender
- Rocket
- when you shoot it knee high at the keeper
- roll Infield
- Switch positions with another player in the middle of the game.
- Roof ("Roof it.") (v)
- to hit the inside top of the goal net;
- (Alternative) see "Sky it".
- Roof (n)
- inside top of the goal net
- Rookie
- a new player
- Round of 16
- Intermediate stages of tournament elimination where there are 16 remaining teams playing in 8 games, single elimination
- Round Robin
- a competition where a single loss eliminates a team from further competition
- Route 1
- referring to a direct path, taking the shortest distance
- Route 1 Soccer (Play, etc.)
- a derogatory description implying straight down the middle, direct, long pass, dribble and run, and unimaginative play without much passing.
- row z (the cheap seats)
- as in 'put it in row z!' 'put it in the cheap seats!' kicking the ball as far into the stand as you can... usually to buy/waste time.
- Rubbish
- poor playing (same as “garbage”)
- Rule 18
- See "Law 18"
- Run Down the Clock
- to engage in plays that have no other purpose than to use up the remaining time in the game without changing the score
- Run of Play
- the direction of play by an attacking team towards their opponents goal
- Run off the Ball (to)
- to move on the field when one does not have the ball
- Run up the Score (to)
- to continue scoring on an opponent long after the need for scoring has been eliminated
- Running Time
- the length of time which has passed in a soccer game, the referee keeps the official time
- Running with the Ball
- playing the ball well forward and running after it
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S
- Sag
- to drop back towards one's own goal e.g. "After we score the first goal, we'll let the defense sag."
- Salamander
- A head first dive at a ball in the air, in which a player heads the ball usually in an attempt to score.
- Samba Soccer
- the Brazilian style of play; creative dribbling, passing, and movement akin to dancing
- Sand Bag (to)
- to play in a league where the competition is uniformly lower than your ability
- Sandwich (to)
- an illegal act of obstruction is which two players from one team impede the movement of a player from the other team with contact from two different sides at the same time
- Save
- a block of a shot that would have resulted in a goal
- SAY
- Soccer Association for Youth (recreational soccer)
- SC
- common abbreviation for Soccer Club. (Example: "Strikers FC")
- Schemer
- see "Window Player"
- scisser
- passing the ball behind one leg to another player
- Scissors Kick
- see "Bicycle Kick"
- Scissors Run
- see "Crossover Run"
- Scoop (Ball; Pass, etc.)
- A short distance pass that is predominately vertical in nature, achieved more by lifting the ball with the foot than striking the ball.
- Score (to)
- to put the ball into the net
- Scoring Opportunity
- a situation with a good chance of scoring
- Scramble it ("Scramble it wide.") (British slang)
- kick it, perhaps with a swerve
- screen
- to block a member of the other team from seeing the ball
- protecting the ball from an opponent by placing one's body between the ball and the opponent;
- (n) a player whose area of play is the entire width of the field in front of the fullbacks and whose responsibility is to distribute loose balls to the outside
- Screw ins
- a type of soccer boot in which the studs actually screw into the sole
- kick it, perhaps with a swerve (See also, "Scramble it.")
- Scrimmage
- a game that does not count
- Scrimmage Vest
- see "Pinney"
- SDA
- state director of assessment
- SDI
- state director of instruction
- Seam
- a space between two players (i.e., defenders) through which a ball can be passed or dribbled
- Season
- the portion of the calendar year in which games are played
- Select
- Sell a Dummy
- to fake out
- Sell Yourself
- to act, move, or overcommit in a manner that allows you to be beaten
- Sell/ Sold
- To succeed in fooling a defender or goalkeeper as to your intentions.
- Semifinal
- a match which determines which team(s) will attend the final
- Send It
- to move the ball in an intended direction; (usually expressed with urgency, as in "SEND IT!")
- Send Off
- the act of sending a player off the field for an infraction
- Send Pass
- a kick to an open player
- Serious Foul Play
- One of penal offences committed in a serious manner by a player fighting for the ball against an opponent. Intentionally impeding an opponent or intentionally handling the ball to deny him of a goal of an obvious goal scoring opportunity is also serious foul play.
- Service
- a pass or cross to a teammate
- Set Piece
- a preplanned formation and/or strategy used during restarts
- Set Play
- see "Set Piece"
- Set your line
- Drop your defenders (set line) to where the keeper will play the goal goal kick
- Settle
- to get the ball under control
- SFP
- serious foul play
- Shadow
- To guard one person (Usually the best on the other team) with allyour might like a shadow
- Shadow Marking
- marking a player very closely
- Shadow Play
- a coaching method which teaches movements without opposition
- Shank (the ball)
- see "Miskick"
- shape
- The players positioning on the field in relation to the formation and the ball location.
- the arrangement (by position and responsibility) of players on the field
- shell
- A drop back past to the mid player with a shot and goal.
- a play in which the ball is dropped back to a midfielder for a shot on goal
- Shepard
- To force an attacking player away from the front of the goal and into a corner or second defender.
- Shepherding
- see "Jockeying"
- Shielding
- See "Screening"
- Shift
- to change location on the field to be closer to the play or to assume the responsibilities of a teammate who has left an opening
- Shift and Sag
- to simultaneously move towards an attacking player while retreating towards one's own goal in order to stay in front of the attacker
- Shin Guards
- the protective equipment worn by all players on their legs to protect their shins from kicks
- Shin Pads
- see "Shin Guards"
- Shin Splints
- a painful, though benign, condition of the shins, usually brought about by changes in footwear, playing surface, or footwear
- Shootout
- a tie-breaking procedure involving penalty kicks
- Short Sided Game
- see “Small sided game”
- Short Sighted (tongue in cheek)
- how most youth soccer coaches view the purpose of training their teams (i.e., to win NOW, as opposed to training for future abilities)
- Short Corner
- a corner kick that involves a short pass to a teammate near the corner.
- Shorthanded
- less than the full complement of 11 players
- Shot
- an attempt (including headers) on goal
- Shoulder Charge
- "reasonable" shoulder to shoulder contact permitted by the laws of the game
- Shoulder Tackle
- see "Shoulder Charge"
- show
- Move from a position with an intervening defender to a position with a clear line to the ball.
- Show (for the Ball)
- to move towards the ball or to give a signal to a teammate that one wants the ball
- Shutout or Shut Out
- a game that ends with the team (goalkeeper) not having given up any goal. May also be used as a verb. ("Chelsea shut out Arsenal.")
- Side (British)
- team
- Side Volley
- a shot that makes contact with a ball still in the air but off to one's side, done by swinging one's leg roughly parallel to the ground
- Sideline
- the line that runs along the length of each side of the field
- Sidelining
- forcing an attacker to dribble to the side of the field
- Sideways
- on the orientation of a player such that the body is facing the touchline more than the goal line
- Signature Move
- the move that (a) identifies or is associated with a particular player; (b) a player uses most frequently; (c) the opponent expects the player to make. (See, also, "Money move.")
- Silver
- an adjective used by soccer clubs to indicate position in a hierarchy of skill levels. Actual position depends on club usage (e.g., "platinum, gold, and silver teams" or "gold, silver, and bronze teams")
- Single Elimination
- a competition where a single loss eliminates a team from further play
- Sitter
- an advantage that isn't realized; something that is just "sitting there" waiting to be taken advantage of, but isn't (e.g., a shot that greatly misses an open goal)
- Six yard box
- goal box. Also, see "6 yard box".
- skinned
- where a defender is turned inside out by a skilled dribbler
- skip
- Let it run to another player.
- Skip it
- see "Leave it"
- skipper
- captain
- Sky (It)
- to send the ball considerably over the crossbar
- Slap it away
- an inelegant, sometimes desperate, redirection of the ball (perhaps by the goalkeeper) to avoid a goal or goal scoring opportunity
- Slashing Run
- diagonal run
- Slide/Sliding Tackle
- To slide the ball away from your opponent.
- a move to deflect or get the ball by sliding on the ground feet first
- Slot
- the space between two defenders
- Slot it Through
- through pass through several defenders
- Smack it away
- a crisp redirection of the ball, generally by a defensive player, in order to get it out of the penalty area
- Smack, talking
- arguing, as in "He talked smack with the referee."
- Small Sided
- fewer than 11 players (typically 3 8) on each team
- Smartly (adv)
- with precision, pace, or quickly, as in, "He shot the ball smartly."
- Smoke (someone, to)
- to beat another player in an impressive manner (e.g, "He smoked the defender.")
- smoked
- When an offensive player performs a great move and leaves the defender in the dust.
- Smother (the ball) [goalkeeping]
- falling on, collapsing on, or covering up a loose ball
- snap Him
- Get stuck in and tackle him hard.
- Snap shot
- a quick, reaction shot
- snipe
- a sweet goal that is usually one timed or just a really good shot
- sniper
- Yelled when someone takes a dive with little or no contact.
- a goal scorer. not just any goal scorer. but its the type of player that makes the goal look like a true snipe. this player has mad game and is all about the snipes.
- SO
- "send off" or "sending off"
- Soccer Pal
- a training device consisting of a net bag (to hold a ball) attached to a hand held cord
- Soft Goal
- a goal given up by a goalkeeper on what should have been be an easy save
- soft touch
- A player has this when he can trap any pass that comes to him at any speed or height.
- Sold
- fooled (e.g., "He sold him a dummy.")
- sold him like a kipper
- Sent him the wrong way with a turn.
- Sombrero
- a move in which the player lifts a ball over a defender's head, and heads the ball forward prior to subsequently dribbling it
- SOTG
- acronym for "spirit of the game"
- Space
- the area a player has to move into
- Space Marking
- guarding an area rather than a player
- Spank it Away
- kick it away smartly
- Speed Move
- a move involving slowing down and then accelerating suddenly
- Spin (spun) like a Top (to)
- to fool a defender in such a way as to cause him/her to turn around
- Spin Turn
- a turn in which the ball and player change direction of travel without moving significantly during the maneuver (frequently performed by cutting the ball with the outside of one's foot)
- SPL
- See “State Premier League”
- split
- To pass the ball between two defenders.
- Splitting the Defense
- sending a ball through the defensive line
- Sponge
- #1 scorer in the game
- spool
- trick the other opponent and beat them
- Spot (the)
- the location in front of the center of the goal line from which all penalty kicks are taken
- Spot Kick
- penalty kick
- Spread (the field)
- to increase distance between players on the field
- to increase the separation between players, usually disrupting the opponents' team shape and increasing your own space
- Spread the Line
- to increase the lateral separation between a line of (usually, defensive) players
- Spring (him; her)
- to release a player; to cause or permit (usually by passing a through or diagonal ball into open space) a teammate farther upfield to leave their defender (mark) and make a run towards the opponent's goal.
- Spring (the line)
- to cause a line or players (i.e., the flat backs) to suddenly move forward, away from their goal
- Spring League
- league play during the Spring
- spun like a top
- A defender who gets turned by a skilled dribbler.
- Squad
- team
- square
- when a player is perpendicular to the player with the ball with relevance to the field
- a lateral pass (straight as in the lines of a square)
- lateral; across from
- Square (getting; being)
- an offensive tactic where two players (one with the ball) are moving down the field side by side and separated by passing distance
- Square Ball
- see "Square Pass"
- Square Defense
- an arrangement of defensive players laterally across the field in a straight line
- Square Pass
- a lateral pass
- Squeeze
- one of the many terms (e.g., "push up", "pull") used to indicate moving away from one's own goal
- SR
- state referee
- SRA
- state referee administrator
- Stadimi
- from the gaelic "Stad agus imim"
- a move where a player moving at full speed places a foot on top as if going to stop the ball, but instead, hops brie
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