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Officials' Hand Signals
Sports Glossaries  

The glossary terms and definitions on this page are part of the highly
acclaimed book "Soccer Made Simple: A Spectator's Guide",
available for sale on this website for $11.95.

[ A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z ]

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.
 
Advantages:
situations where a team has possession of the ball and outnumbers the opposition near the opposing goal.
 
American football:
a term used by non-Americans to distinguish the popular U.S. sport of football from soccer which they also call football.
 
APSL:
American Professional Soccer League — the nation's only outdoor professional soccer league since 1991, consisting of 8 teams in the U.S. and Canada (expanding to 12 by 1995).
 
Assist:
the pass or passes which immediately precede a goal; a maximum of two assists can be credited for one goal.
 
Attacking midfielder:
the most forward-playing midfielder, playing right behind the forwards; he supports the offense by providing passes to forwards to set up goals.
 
Attacker:
any player on the team that has possession of the ball.
 
Attacking team:
the team that has possession of the ball.
 
AYSO:
American Youth Soccer Organization — an administrative body of youth soccer which sets rules and provides information and equipment to youth league referees, coaches and players.
 
Back:
a defender.
 
Back header:
a player's use of his head to direct the ball backwards.
 
Back tackle:
an attempt by a defender to take the ball away from a ball carrier by swinging the defender's leg in front of the ball from behind.
 
Ball carrier:
a player that has possession of the ball.
 
Banana kick:
a type of kick that gives the ball a curved trajectory; used to get the ball around an obstacle such as a goaltender or defender.
 
Beat:
to get the ball through or around an opponent by dribbling or shooting.
 
Behind the defender:
the area between a defender and his goal.
 
Bicycle kick:
when a player kicks the ball in mid-air backwards and over his own head, usually making contact above waist level; an acrobatic shot.
 
Break:
when a team quickly advances the ball down the field in an attempt to get its players near the opponent's goal before the defenders have a chance to retreat; also called an advantage.
 
Breakaway:
when an attacker with the ball approaches the goal undefended; this exciting play pits a sole attacker against the goalkeeper in a one-on-one showdown.
 
Bundesliga:
The German professional soccer league.
 
Cap:
a recognition earned by a player for each appearance in an international game for his country.
 
Carrying the ball:
a foul called on a goalkeeper when he takes more than 4 steps while holding or bouncing the ball.
 
Caution:
see Yellow card.
 
Center:
a pass from a player located near the sideline towards the middle of the field; used to get the ball closer to the front of the goal; also called a cross.
 
Center circle:
a circular marking with a 10-yard radius in the center of the field from which kickoffs are taken to start or restart the game.
 
Center line:
see Midfield line.
 
Center spot:
a small circular mark inside the center circle that denotes the center of the field from which kickoffs are taken to start or restart the game.
 
Central defender:
a player who guards the area directly in front of his own goal in a zone defense; does not exist in a man-to-man defense.
 
Charge:
to run into an opponent; legal if done from the front or side of the ball carrier; illegal against a player without the ball or from behind.
 
Chest trap:
when a player uses his chest to slow down and control a ball in the air.
 
Chip pass:
a pass lofted into the air from a player to a teammate; used primarily to evade a defender by kicking the ball over his head.
 
Chip shot:
a kick lofted into the air to try to sail the ball over the goalkeeper's head and still make it under the crossbar into the goal.
 
Clear:
to kick the ball away from one's goal.
 
Cleats:
the metal, plastic or rubber points in the bottom of a soccer shoe used to provide a player with traction; term also used to refer to the shoes themselves.
 
Club:
a team that plays in a league.
 
CONCACAF:
The Confederation Norte-Centroamericana y Del Caribe de Footbal — the regional organization of North American and Central American soccer under which World Cup qualifying matches are played; member countries include the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Central American and Caribbean countries.
 
Consolation match:
a tournament game played between the losers of the 2 semifinal matches to determine the third-place team.
 
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:
a type of restart where the ball is kicked from the corner arc in an attempt to score; awarded to an attacking team when the ball crosses the goal line last touched by the defending team.
 
Counterattack:
an attack launched by a defending team soon after it regains possession of the ball.
 
Creating space:
when a player from the attacking team moves without the ball to draw defenders away from the ball carrier and give him space.
 
Cross or crossing pass:
a pass from an attacking player near the sideline to a teammate in the middle or opposite side of the field; used to give the teammate a good scoring opportunity.
 
Crossbar:
the horizontal beam that forms the top of a goal and sits on top of the two posts; it is 24 feet long and supported 8 feet above the ground.
 
Cut down the angle:
when the goalie comes out of the goal several feet to make himself closer and larger to an attacker, leaving the attacker less net to shoot at.
 
Cut off:
when a defensive player keeps his body between an attacker and the defender's goal, forcing the attacker out towards the sidelines.
 
Dangerous play:
when a player attempts a play that the referee considers dangerous to that player or others, such as trying to kick the ball out of the goalie's hands, even if no contact is made.
 
Defenders:
the players on the team that does not have possession of the ball.
 
Defending team:
the team that does not have possession of the ball.
 
Defense:
a team's function of preventing the opposition from scoring.
 
Defensemen:
the 3 or 4 players on a team whose primary task is to stop the opposition from scoring; also called fullbacks.
 
Defensive midfielder:
the player positioned just in front of his team's defense; he is often assigned to mark the opposition's best offensive player; also called the midfield anchor.
 
Defensive pressure:
when one or more defenders closely mark a ball carrier to harass him into losing the ball.
 
Deflection:
the ricochet of a ball after it hits a player.
 
Direct free kick:
a kick awarded to a player for a serious foul committed by the opposition; the player kicks a stationary ball with no opposing players within 10 yards of him; a goal can be scored directly from this kick without the ball touching another player.
 
Diving header:
a ball struck near ground level by the head of a diving player.
 
Draw:
a game that ends with a tied score.
 
The Draw:
the selection of World Cup teams to place them into playing groups for the tournament and the event surrounding this selection.
 
Dribbler:
a player who advances the ball while controlling it with his feet.
 
Dribbling:
the basic skill of advancing the ball with the feet while controlling it.
 
Drop ball:
a method of restarting a game where the referee drops the ball between 2 players facing each other.
 
Drop kick:
when a goalie drops the ball from his hands and kicks it just after it hits the ground.
 
Endline:
see Goal line.
 
English Football Association:
an association of English soccer teams founded in 1863 to set soccer rules.
 
European Cup:
the championship tournament played between Europe's top national teams.
 
F.A.:
Football Association; often used to refer to the English Football Association, who, along with FIFA and other football associations, helps maintain the rules of soccer.
 
Fake or feint:
a move by a player meant to deceive an opposing player; used by a ball carrier to make a defender think the ball carrier is going to dribble, pass or shoot in a certain direction when he is not.
 
Far post:
the goalpost furthest from the ball.
 
Field:
the rectangular area where soccer matches are played.
 
FIFA:
Federation Internationale de Football Association — the official governing body of international soccer since 1904 which established the World Cup tournament; helps set and revise rules of the game, called the 17 Laws.
 
FIFA World Cup:
a solid gold statue given to the champion of each World Cup tournament to keep for the next 4 years.
 
Flick header:
a player's use of his head to deflect the ball.
 
Foot trap:
a player's use of his foot to control a rolling or low-bouncing ball.
 
Football:
name for soccer everywhere except in the U.S.; also, what American's call their popular team sport which evolved from soccer and rugby.
 
Formation:
the arrangement into positions of players on the field; for example, a 4-3-3 formation places 4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 forwards on the field.
 
Forward line:
the 3 or 4 forwards who work together to try and score goals; consists of two wingers and 1 or 2 strikers.
 
Forward pass:
a pass made towards the opposition's goal.
 
Forwards:
the 3 or 4 players on a team who are responsible for most of a team's scoring; they play in front of the rest of their team where they can take most of its shots; strikers and wingers.
 
Foul:
a violation of the rules for which an official assesses a free kick.
 
4-2-4:
a formation that consists of 4 defenders, 2 midfielders and 4 forwards.
 
4-3-3:
a formation that consists of 4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 forwards; the most common formation used by teams.
 
4-4-2:
a formation that consists of 4 defenders, 4 midfielders and 2 forwards.
 
Free kick:
a kick awarded to a player for a foul committed by the opposition; the player kicks a stationary ball without any opposing players within 10 yards of him.
 
Front header:
the striking of a ball in the air by a player's forehead; the most common type of header.
 
Front tackle:
an attempt by a defender to kick the ball away from an attacker by approaching him from a head-on position.
 
Fullbacks:
see Defensemen.
 
Goal:
a ball that crosses the goal line between the goalposts and below the crossbar for which a point is awarded; also, the 8-foot high, 24-foot wide structure consisting of two posts, a crossbar and a net into which all goals are scored.
 
Goal area:
the rectangular area 20 yards wide by 6 yards deep in front of each goal from which all goal kicks are taken; inside this area, it is illegal for opposing players to charge a goalie not holding the ball.
 
Goal kick:
a type of restart where the ball is kicked from inside the goal area away from the goal; awarded to the defending team when a ball that crossed the goal line was last touched by a player on the attacking team.
 
Goal line:
the field boundary running along its width at each end; also called the end line; runs right across the front of the goal; the line which a ball must completely cross for a goal to be scored.
 
Goalie:
see Goalkeeper.
 
Goalkeeper:
the player positioned directly in front of the goal who tries to prevent shots from getting into the net behind him; the only player allowed to use his hands and arms, though only within the penalty area.
 
Goalmouth:
the front opening to each goal.
 
Goalposts:
the two vertical beams located 24 feet apart which extend 8 feet high to form the sides of a goal and support the crossbar.
 
Hacking:
kicking an opponent's legs.
 
Halfback:
see Midfielder.
 
Halftime:
the intermission between the 2 periods or halves of a game.
 
Halves:
see Periods.
 
Hand ball:
a foul where a player touches the ball with his hand or arm; the opposing team is awarded a direct free kick.
 
Hat trick:
3 or more goals scored in a game by a single player.
 
Header:
the striking of a ball in the air by a player's head.
 
Hook:
the curved trajectory of a ball due to spin imparted on it by a kicker, such as in a banana kick.
 
IFAB:
International Football Association Board — the organization consisting of 4 British soccer organizations and FIFA that approves all changes in the official international rules of soccer called the 17 Laws.
 
In bounds:
when a ball is within the boundaries of the field, having not completely crossed a sideline or goal line.
 
In play:
when a ball is within the boundaries of the field and play has not been stopped by the referee.
 
Indirect free kick:
a kick awarded to a player for a less-serious foul committed by the opposition; the player kicks a stationary ball without any opposing players within 10 yards of him; a goal can only be scored on this kick after the ball has touched another player.
 
Injury time:
time added to the end of any period according to the referee's judgment of time lost due to player injuries or intentional stalling by a team.
 
Instep drive:
a straight shot taken with the instep of a player's foot; usually the most powerful and accurate of shots.
 
Intermission:
the 5-minute rest period between periods of a game.
 
Juggling:
keeping a ball in the air with any part of the body besides the hands or arms; used for practice and developing coordination.
 
Jules Rimet Trophy:
the trophy given to the World Cup winner between 1930 and 1970, after which it was permanently retired.
 
Kickoff:
the method of starting a game or restarting it after each goal; a player passes the ball forward to a teammate from the center spot.
 
Laws of the Game:
the 17 main rules for soccer established by FIFA.
 
Lead pass:
a pass sent ahead of a moving teammate to arrive at a location at the same time he does.
 
League:
an alliance of teams that organizes sporting competition.
 
Linesmen:
the 2 officials who assist the referee in making his decisions; they monitor the sidelines and goal lines to determine when a ball goes out of bounds and they carry a flag to signal their observations.
 
Linkmen:
see Midfielders.
 
Loft or lob:
a high-arcing kick.
 
Man-to-man:
a type of defense where each defender is assigned to mark a different forward from the other team; the most common type of defense for national-level teams.
 
Marking:
guarding a player to prevent him from advancing the ball towards the net, making an easy pass or getting the ball from a teammate.
 
Match:
a soccer game.
 
Midfield:
the region of the field near the midfield line; the area controlled by the midfielders.
 
Midfield anchor:
See Defensive midfielder.
 
Midfield line or center line:
a line that divides the field in half along its width.
 
Midfielders:
the 2, 3 or 4 players who link together the offensive and defensive functions of a team; they play behind their forwards.
 
MISL:
Major Indoor Soccer League — started in the U.S. in 1977 playing games of 6 players per side in modified hockey rinks covered by artificial turf; became the MSL in 1990.
 
Mismatch:
when a particular offensive player is far superior to the defender marking him.
 
MLS:
Major League Soccer — the new U.S. outdoor league scheduled to begin play in the Spring of 1995.
 
MSL:
Major Soccer League — a U.S. indoor league which formed in 1990 from the MISL and folded in 1992.
 
NASL:
North American Soccer League — an outdoor league formed in the U.S. in 1967 that attracted great international players including Pele and huge audiences to the U.S. in the 1970s; folded in 1985.
 
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 — governs and organizes sports at the collegiate level; has its own soccer committee.
 
Near post:
the goalpost closest to the ball.
 
Net:
hemp, jute or nylon cord draped over the frame of the goal and extending behind it; also used to refer to the goal itself.
 
NPSL:
National Professional Soccer League — a U.S. indoor league that plays its games in a modified hockey rink, much like the former MISL; plays by non-traditional rules to create a faster-paced, higher-scoring game; also, a different league by the same name that played in the 1960s, merging with another league to form the NASL.
 
Obstruction:
when a defensive player, instead of going after the ball, uses his body to prevent an offensive player