Soccer Players Terms Part 2

These soccer players terms, lingo and jargon are part of sports gamerisms, Define Your Game!
Soccer Terms, part 2 continues for soccer players and fans who dream about Hat Tricks.

Soccer Players Terms: E

• Encroachment: during a goal, penalty, corner or free kick, the other team must be at least 10 yards away or as stated by the rules.
• End Line:  the line or boundary at either end of the field where the goals reside
  

Soccer Players Terms: F

• Far Post: refers to the goalpost that is furthest from the ball.
• Field: this is where the action takes place.
• Flick Header: lingo for a player who deflects the ball with his/her head.
• Foot Trap: player who uses his/her foot to manage the ball.
• Football: recognized name for soccer worldwide not to be confused with American football where different rules and playing methods apply.
• Formation: term for players assigned field positions.
• Forward Pass: made towards the challenger's goal.
• Forwards or Forward Line: also known as strikers or wingers, these players are in charge of scoring for the team.
• Foul: rule violation resulting in a free kick.
• Free Kick: given to a player when a foul penalty is called against the other team.
• Front Header or Header: jargon for a player who uses his/her head to control the ball
• Front Tackle: defender who tries to move the ball away from a challenger by a head-on approach.
  

Soccer Players Terms: G

• Give-and-go or Wall pass: strategic 3-step move where a player passes to a teammate then runs to the open awaiting the return of the ball.
• Goal:  a double meaning in soccer.  It can refer to the apparatus consisting of one bar going across with two supporting poles and a net attached where each team attempts to put the ball to score.  It can also mean the act of kicking the ball into the goal.
• Goal Area: measuring 20 X 6 ft deep located in front of each goal at either end of the field.
• Goalkeeper or Goalie: one of the most important players of the team, he/she can use the hands when the ball is in play and wears a distinctive jersey or shirt.
• Goal Kick: occurs when the ball is kicked away from the goal.
• Goal Line: area of the goal where the ball is required to completely cross to score.
• Goalmouth: refers to the front area of the goal.
• Goal Posts: support the crossbar and each measure 24 ft across and 8 ft high.
• Golden Goal: lingo for the goal that wins and completes the soccer game.
  

Soccer Players Terms: H

• Hacking: lingo for the kicking a challenger's legs—could be foul worthy.
• Halftime: intermission slotted between 2 periods/halves of the game.
• Halfway Line:  the line dividing the field in half.
• Handball or Handling:  the act of touching the ball in play with your hands.  This infraction results in loss of possession and is a foul.
• Hat Trick: jargon for 3+ goals by a single player in a single game—tip of the hat for this admirable achievement.
• Holding:  the act of restraining an opponent during play.
  

Soccer Players Terms: I

• Impeding or Obstructing:  physically blocking or obstructing and opponent during play.
• Indirect Free Kick:  kick requiring the touch of another player for a goal to be scored.
• In play: occurs when ball is within field boundaries and not stopped by a referee call.
• Injury Time: amount of time added to a period of play because of injuries/stalling by a team as determined by the referee.
• Instep Drive: refers to a precise and strong shot made from the instep of a soccer player's foot.

Soccer Players Terms: J - K

• Jockey: action to play for time when an opposing ball carrier is near the goal in order to allow teammates to assist with the tackle.
• Juggling: lingo for controlling the ball in the air using a player's body parts other than the hands/arms. When done skillfully, it's an entertaining sight to see.
• Kickoff: occurs at the game start or re-start where a player passes to a teammate from the center.
• Kicks from the Mark:  another name for a shootout at the end of a tied game where a winner must be determined.  These are a series of penalty kicks taken by each team. The suspense mounts for both players and fans.
  

Soccer Players Terms: L

• Lead Pass: strategic calculation whereby a forward pass reaches a teammate correctly, so that he/she can continue the drive.
• Linesmen: game officials who monitor the side and goal lines, signal with a flag and assist the referee.
• Loft or Lob: refers to a high-flying kick.
  

Soccer Players Terms: M

• Man-to-Man or Marking: refers to a strategy whereby a defense player marks or covers an opposing forward player.
• Match: refers to a soccer game and the action is on to the delight of both players and fans.
• Midfield: field area close to the midfield line.
• Midfield Line or Centerline: refers to line that halves the field area by width.
• Midfielders: term for players who play behind the forwards of a team and connect the offensive/defensive units.
• Misconduct:  behavior deemed by an official to be inappropriate, unsportsmanlike or detrimental to the game.  Typically results in a yellow or red card and possible ejection from the contest.
• Mismatch: a very skillful player versus an average player is not a good match.
  

Soccer Players Terms: N

• National Team: speaking of skillful players, this is such a group who play for their country at international matches like the World Cup.
• Near Post: refers to the post closest to the ball.
• Net: refers to either the goal or the material covering the frame of the goal.
• Nutmeg: jargon for action of threading or moving the ball through the space between a player's legs.
  

Soccer Players Terms: O

• Obstruction: action used by a defender to curtail the play of an offensive player.
• Offense: team unit whose objective is to score goals.
• Official Game Clock: used by the referee to monitor when each period ends. It should be noted that the clock does not stop during game play.
• Officials: includes 2 linesman and referee who monitor the score/time and call fouls according to the rules of the game.
• Offside Line:  the limit to which a defender can proceed without the ball while not being penalized.
• Offside Position: refers to an attacker in position in order that fewer than 2 opposing defensive players are between him/her and the goal being attacked.
• On Defense: refers to the team players who do not have the ball.
• On Offense: alternatively, refers to the team players who do have the ball.
• Open: term for attacker who is not covered or marked by an opposing player. There is an advantage here—go fer it!
• Out of Bounds or Out of Play: refers to soccer ball that has moved outside the official boundaries of the playing field.
• Outlet Passes: this action that begins a counterattack, occurs when the ball is moved towards the opposing team's goal.
• Overlap: occurs when a forward moves from the sideline to center field in order to allow a teammate to advance the ball undefended along the side of the field.
• Overtime: term for additional periods played after a regular game has been completed in order to break a tie score.
  

Soccer Players Terms is followed by terms P – Z
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