1-
History & Object
2- The Essentials
3- Field
Diagram and Positions
4- Glossary of Soccer Terms
Glossary
Bending
the ball: A kick with spin
that hooks while in the air. Players
often "bend" the ball during
corner kicks or to pass around defenders.
Bicycle
kick: When a player flips
backward and kicks the ball over his
head.
Chip
pass: A pass kicked high
with backspin.
Clear:
When defenders kick the ball away
from the gaol, usually far downfield
or out of bounds.
Corner
kick: When the ball crosses the
goal line after last touching a defender,
a member of the offense restarts play
from the closest corner.
Cross:
A pass sent from near the sidelines
to the front of the goal to create
a scoring opportunity. Also called
centering.
Direct
kick: A unguarded kick awarded
following severe fouls, such as kicking,
tripping, jumping at, charging, striking,
pushing, holding or spitting at an
opponent. When tackling an opponent,
the player must first make contact
with the ball or a direct kick results.
Additionally called for hand ball.
A goal can be scored directly from
the kick; it does not need to touch
an additional player after the kick.
Dribble:
Keeping control of the ball while
running by tapping, dragging, or rolling
it in front of the body.
Drop kick:
When a goalkeeper who is holding the
ball drops it and kicks it after it
bounces.
Free kick:
A kick from the spot of the foul,
awarded to the team that was fouled,
in which the opposing players must
stand at least 10 yards away until
the ball is kicked. A free kick is
either a direct kick or an
indirect kick, depending on
the type of foul.
Goal kick:
When the offense sends the ball over
the goal line, the defense kicks the
ball from within the goal area. Opposing
players may not enter the penalty
area until the ball has been kicked.
Hand ball:
The illegal action of touching the
ball with an arm or hand.
Header:
Using the head to pass, shoot, block,
or otherwise control the ball.
Indirect
kick: An unguarded kick following
minor fouls, such as offsides, dangerous
play (e.g. high kick), impeding the
progress of an opponent, or preventing
the goalie from releasing the ball.
The ball must touch at least one player
after the kick before a goal can be
scored.
Juggling:
Performing a series of touches while
keeping the ball from hitting the
ground.
Kickoff:
The ball is put into play from the
center circle at the start of each
half and after a goal.
Marking:
Guarding an opponent.
Man on:
Players yell man on to
inform a teammate that a defender
is nearby.
Nutmeg:
A pass that goes between an opponents
legs.
Offsides:
Foul frequently enforced during a
game to prevent unfair fast-break
goals. Called when a player is closer
to the oppositions goal line
than both the ball and two defenders
(the goalie and one additional defender).
Penalty
kick: When a foul is called inside
the penalty box, the offense is awarded
a direct kick from the penalty
spot. Only the goalkeeper can stop
this shot attempt.
Penalty-kick
tiebreaker: In case of a tie,
five players from each team alternate
penalty shots. The team that scores
the most goals is the winner. If the
teams remain tied after five shots,
they alternate penalty shots until
one team misses and the other scores.
Also called a shoot-off.
Punt:
A long distance kick by the goalie,
who drops and kicks the ball before
it hits the ground.
Save:
When a player, usually the goalie,
blocks a shot from going into the
goal.
Scrimmage:
A practice game. Also called a friendly.
Strike:
Legal contact (kick, header, etc.)
with the ball; hands and arms are
not permitted.
Tackle:
To steal the ball from a player. Stealing
the ball by sliding in front of a
player is called a slide tackle.
Throw-in:
A two-handed, overhead pass, taken
from the sideline when the opposing
team knocks the ball out of bounds.
Touch:
Contact that a player has with the
ball while it is in his possession
(e.g. one-touch, two-touch,
etc.).
Trapping:
Stopping the ball to gain control
before advancing.
Volley:
Kicking the ball while it is in midair.
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