This soccer games glossary
is divided into 3 parts that includes an introduction and a learning
games section for new soccer players and fans.

Soccer Games Glossary is dedicated to passionate game players and fans
that compete, watch this favorite of sport games and play soccer.
Soccer learning games
section:
Soccer is the most popular sport in the world and is played
passionately in most countries worldwide.
The game is played on a rectangular field with net goals at either end.
Each team consists of 11 players whose objective is to drive the soccer
game ball into the other's goal by kicking, heading, or using any part
of the body except the arms and hands. The goalie is the only player
permitted to touch or move the ball with arms or hands.
At the end of two periods of play, the team with the most goals is
declared the winner.
In the case of a tie, a shootout occurs depending on the rules of the
league.
This Soccer Games Glossary will often refer to offense or defense
within the definition. An explanation of these 2 terms follows.
Defenders or Defending
Team: refers to the soccer player or team not in
possession of the ball.
Offense:
team unit whose objective is to score goals.
Soccer Games Glossary: A
- 3-on-1 break=3 attackers versus 1 defensive player.
- 3-on-2 break=3 attackers versus 2 defensive players
- 4-2-4: playing pattern=4 defenders, 2 midfielders and 4
forwards.
- 4-3-3: playing pattern=4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3
forwards.
- 4-4-2: playing pattern=4 defenders, 4 midfielders and 2
forwards.
- Added Time:
time added to the end of a game,
replacing minutes and seconds lost by injuries or substitutions.
- Advantage
Rule: refers to the referee directive that states
the play should not be stopped because of a foul if it would benefit
the team in violation.
- Advantages:
term for the team moving to the goal that
outnumber the opposing team.
- American
Football:
term to differentiate between this game
and soccer football.
- Assist:
a feed, pass or possibly passes that lead
directly to a goal. This number cannot total more than two on
any single goal.
- Attacker:
a player who has the ball and is trying to score
a GOAL!
- Attacking
Midfielder: whose duties are to support the
offense by passing to forwards with the objective of scoring a goal.
- Attacking
Team: refers to the team in possession of the
ball.
Soccer Games Glossary: B
- Back:
refers to either a fullback player or
active play towards the team's own goal.
- Balance or
Shape: term for strategic player placement to
provide comprehensive coverage on the field of play.
- Back Header:
player who moves the ball backwards using his
head.
- Backpass: the act
of passing or kicking the ball
to the goalie by his own team, allowing him to kick or throw the ball
into play, typically creating a more favorable offensive situation.
- Back Tackle:
defender who moves in front of the ball to
gain possession from the ball carrier.
- Ball Carrier:
is the soccer player who has the ball.
- Banana Kick
or Hook: jargon for a kicked ball that curves
and moves around obstructions. A beautiful sight to see!
- Beat:
moving the ball past a challenger by dribbling or
shooting.
- Behind the
Defender: soccer games glossary term for section
of the field between a
defender and his/her goal.
- Bicycle Kick: jargon for
a ball kicked backwards and over
his/her head while in flight.
- Break or
Advantage: term for rapidly moving the soccer ball
towards the opponent's goal before the defenders can retreat.
- Breakaway:
lots of action here when a player with the ball
moves towards the goalkeeper without coverage resulting in a man-to-man
shot.
Soccer Games Glossary: C
- Cap:
refers to the number of appearances a player has made
for his country in international play.
- Carrying the
Ball: foul worthy occurs when a goalkeeper
moves more than 4 steps while holding/bouncing the soccer ball.
- Caution
(yellow card): given by the official or
referee as a sign of warning to a player who has gained ill favor by
his actions on the field. Should a player receive two of
these cards or warning during one match they must leave the
field and no longer participate.
- Center or
Cross: refers to a pass from the sideline with
the objective of moving the ball closer to the goal.
- Center Circle:
the area in the middle of the
field where kick offs take place at the beginning of the game, after
half time and after each goal that is scored.
- Central
Defender: refers to the player who is assigned to
guard the section of the field in front of his/her goal.
- Charging:
physical contact between players,
initiated by the player seeking to take possession of the
ball. If done illegally, a foul is called, resulting in a
free kick.
- Check Away:
refers to movement away from a teammate in
possession of the ball to bamboozle or trick a defender. Gotcha!
- Chop:
soccer games glossary term for action to strike the
ball hard in a different direction to escape a defender.
- Chest Trap:
refers to using the chest to manage an air
ball.
- Chip Pass:
player's high pass to a teammate in an attempt
to loft the ball over a challenger's head.
- Chip Shot:
term for highflying kick over the goalkeeper's
head that could score if under the crossbar.
- Clear:
refers to moving the ball away from the goal.
- Clearance: an air-bound high motion with the intention of
moving the ball up field.
- Cleats:
term for tips at the bottom of soccer shoes
required for traction on the field.
- Club:
a league soccer team.
- Consolation
Match: game to decide 3rd place between the 2
semi-final losing teams.
- Corner Arc:
a quarter circle located in the
corner of the field marking the spot where a corner kick must take
place.
- Corner Kick:
the act of kicking the ball in the
corner, necessitated by the ball passing the boundary on the end of the
field by a defender.
- Corner Flags:
soccer games glossary term for flags situated
at the 4 field corners.
- Counterattack:
quick attack by the challengers shortly
after they regain possession of the ball.
- Cover:
play where a defender assists a teammate against an
attacking player.
- Creating
Space: tactic used by an attacking player without
the ball to lure the opposition away from his/her teammate in
possession of the ball.
- Cross or
Crossing Pass: player who passes the ball to a mid
or opposite field teammate to provide a possible goal.
- Crossbar:
refers to the top of the goal, this bar is 24
feet in length and 8 ft above the ground.
- Cut Down the
Angle: strategic move by the goalie to move in
on the attacker.
- Cut Off:
tactical move by a defender to position his/her
body between the attacker and the goal to force a move to the sidelines.
Soccer Games Glossary: D
- Dangerous
Play: a foul called by the official
when a player’s actions are deemed dangerous to the opposition.
- Defenders or
Defending Team: refers to the soccer player or
team not in possession of the ball.
- Defense or
Defensemen: position of play or players assigned
to curtail the challenger from scoring.
- Defensive
Midfielder: player whose duties are to cover the
best offensive player from the other team, usually stationed in front
of the team's defense.
- Defensive
Pressure: refers to aggressive tactic of
defender(s) to cover the ball carrier.
- Deflection:
refers to a hit ball that bounces off a player.
- Diagonal:
refers to play action movement from corner to
corner of the field.
- Direct Free
Kick: a kick awarded as a result of a
foul or infraction where a goal can be scored.
- Diving Header:
jargon for a ball hit by the head of a
diving player close to the ground.
- Draw: soccer
game that finishes with a tied score.
- Dribbler:
soccer games glossary reference for a player who
uses his/her feet to move the ball. There are some smooth moves with
this action.
- Drop Ball: action
to re-start the game by dropping a ball
between 2 players.
- Drop Kick:
2-step action by the goalie—drop ball and kick
before it touches the ground.
- Dummy,
Fake or Feint: a fake action by a player to trick a
challenger into thinking he/she is about to receive the ball.
- Dummy Run:
movement by two players of the same team; only
one of which has the ball, with the intention of tricking the opposing
team.
Soccer
Games Glossary is followed by terms E - O
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