Soccer terms for kids: an A-Z glossary

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A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · J · K · M · N · O · P · R · S · T · U · V · W · Y

A

• Advantage. When the referee sees a foul but lets play go on, because stopping would hurt the team that was fouled. The advantage rule.
• Ala. A wide player in futsal. A futsal team usually has two alas, one on each side. Winger.
• Assist. The last pass to a teammate who then scores.
• Assistant referee. An official who runs along the touchline with a flag and helps the referee, for example with offside and with which team gets a throw-in.
• Attacking midfielder. A midfielder who plays close to the forwards and makes chances to score. Attacking midfielder.

B

• Back-pass. A ball deliberately kicked to the goalkeeper by a teammate. The goalkeeper may not pick it up. The back-pass rule.
• Ball watching. Looking only at the ball and forgetting the opponent you should be marking. Lesson.
• Box. A short name for the penalty area. “In the box” means inside it.
• Brace. Two goals scored by one player in one game.
• Build-out line. A line across a 7v7 field in the United States. The other team waits behind it on a goal kick. The build-out line.
• Build-up. Passing the ball forward from your own goal area in small steps, instead of kicking it long.

C

• Center back. A defender who plays in the middle of the back line. Center back.
• Center circle. The circle in the middle of the field. At a kick-off the other team stays outside it. Kick-off rules.
• Central midfielder. A player in the middle of the field who links defense and attack. Central midfielder.
• Clean Sheet. A game in which a team does not let in any goals. In the United States it is also called a shutout. Clean Sheet: diagram and how to do it.
• Clearance. A kick or header that sends the ball away from your own goal when there is danger.
• Cleats. Soccer shoes with studs on the sole for grip on grass. In Britain they are called boots. Museum: Boots through time.
• Corner kick. A kick from the corner of the field, given when a defender touches the ball last before it crosses their own goal line. Corner kick rules.
• Counterattack. A fast attack straight after winning the ball, before the other team can get back into shape. Counterattack: diagram and how to do it.
• Cover. Standing a few steps behind a teammate who is going to the ball, ready to help if they are beaten.
• Cross. A pass from a wide area into the space in front of the goal. Cross: diagram and how to do it.
• Cutback. A pass from near the goal line back toward a teammate arriving in front of goal. Cutback: diagram and how to do it.

D

• Defensive midfielder. A midfielder who plays in front of the defenders and protects the middle of the field. Defensive midfielder.
• Direct free kick. A free kick that may be shot straight into the goal. Fouls and free kicks.
• Dribble. Moving with the ball at your feet, using small touches.
• Drop ball. A restart in which the referee drops the ball for one player, after stopping play for something that was not a foul. The drop ball.

E

• Extra time. Two more periods, each no longer than 15 minutes, played when a cup game is tied and needs a winner. In the United States it is often called overtime.

F

• Far post. The goalpost farther from the ball. A far-post run arrives there as a cross or pass comes across the goal.
• Field. The American word for the ground the game is played on. The Laws call it the field of play, and in Britain it is called the pitch. Field size by age.
• First Touch. The touch you take as the ball arrives. A good one puts the ball where you want to play next. First Touch: diagram and how to do it.
• Fixo. The deepest outfield player in futsal, who defends first and starts attacks.
• Formation. How a team lines up, written as numbers from the back to the front, such as 2-3-1 or 4-3-3. Soccer formations.
• Foul. An unfair action against an opponent, such as tripping, pushing or holding. The other team gets a free kick. Fouls and free kicks.
• Fullback. A defender who plays on the left or right side of the back line. Fullback.
• Futsal. Five-a-side soccer on a hard court with a smaller ball that bounces less. Futsal rules.

G

• Give-and-Go. Pass to a teammate, run past your defender and get the ball straight back. Also called a one-two or a wall pass. Give-and-Go: diagram and how to do it.
• Goal area. The small box in front of the goal. Goal kicks are taken from inside it. Some people call it the six-yard box.
• Goal kick. A kick from the goal area, given when an attacker touches the ball last before it crosses the goal line. Goal kick rules.
• Goal line. The line at each end of the field. The goal stands on it. A goal is scored when the whole ball crosses it between the posts and under the crossbar.
• Goal-Side. Standing between an attacker and your own goal. Goal-Side: diagram and how to do it.
• Goalkeeper. The one player on each team who may use their hands, inside their own penalty area. Goalkeeper.

H

• Half-time. The break between the two halves. Teams change ends after it.
• Handball. Touching the ball with a hand or arm on purpose, or with an arm that makes the body unnaturally bigger. The handball rule.
• Hat-Trick. Three goals scored by one player in one game. Hat-Trick: diagram and how to do it.
• Header. Playing the ball with the head. In US youth soccer, players aged 10 and under do not head the ball. Heading rules for kids.

I

• Indirect free kick. A free kick that must touch another player before a goal can count. The referee holds one arm straight up. Fouls and free kicks.

J

• Jockeying. Staying in front of a dribbler without tackling, to slow them down.

K

• Kick-in. How futsal restarts when the ball crosses the touchline: a kick from the line, within four seconds. Futsal rules.
• Kick-off. The kick from the center mark that starts each half and restarts the game after a goal. Kick-off rules.
• Kit. The British word for a team’s uniform: shirt, shorts and socks. Museum: Numbers and colours.

M

• Mark. Staying close to an opponent, between them and your goal, so they cannot receive the ball easily. Mark: diagram and how to do it.
• Midfielder. A player who plays between the defenders and the forwards. Central midfielder.

N

• Nil. Zero, when reading a score the British way. Two-nil means 2-0.
• Nutmeg. Playing the ball between an opponent’s legs and getting it on the other side. Nutmeg: diagram and how to do it.

O

• Offside. Being in the other team’s half, past the ball and the second-last opponent, when a teammate plays the ball to you. The offside rule.
• One-two. Another name for a give-and-go: pass, run and get the ball back. Give-and-go.
• Overlap. A run around the outside of the teammate who has the ball, to make two attackers against one defender on the side of the field. Overlap: diagram and how to do it.
• Own goal. A goal a player scores by accident in their own team’s goal. It counts for the other team.

P

• Penalty area. The big box in front of each goal. The goalkeeper may use hands inside it, and a foul by a defender inside it can be a penalty kick. On a full-size field it reaches 18 yards from the goal line.
• Penalty kick. A free shot from the penalty mark with only the goalkeeper to beat. Penalty kick rules.
• Penalty mark. The spot the ball is placed on for a penalty kick: 12 yards from the goal line on a full-size field.
• Penalty shoot-out. A way to decide a tied cup game: each team takes five kicks from the penalty mark in turns, and more if it is still tied.
• Pitch. The British word for a soccer field. Field size by age.
• Pivot. The forward in futsal, who often receives with their back to goal, then turns or lays the ball off. Lesson.
• Possession. Having the ball. A team “in possession” is the team with the ball.
• Press. Running to close down the player with the ball so they have less time, while a teammate covers behind. Press: diagram and how to do it.

R

• Red card. Shown to a player who is sent off. The team plays on with one player fewer. Yellow and red cards.
• Referee. The official in charge of the game, who applies the Laws and whose decisions are final.
• Rest defense. The players a team keeps behind the ball while it attacks, to stop a counterattack. Lesson.

S

• Save. When the goalkeeper stops a shot from going into the goal.
• Scanning. Looking around before the ball arrives, so you know where teammates and opponents are. First touch.
• Set Piece. A restart with the ball standing still: a free kick, corner kick, throw-in, goal kick, penalty kick or kick-off. Set Piece: diagram and how to do it.
• Shin guards. Hard pads worn under the socks to protect the lower legs. The Laws list them as equipment every player must wear.
• Stoppage time. Time the referee adds at the end of a half for substitutions, injuries and other delays. Also called added time or injury time. Game length by age.
• Striker. The forward who plays closest to the other team’s goal. Striker.
• Substitute. A player who starts on the bench and comes on for a teammate. Substitutions.
• Support. Moving to where the teammate with the ball can pass to you, out from behind a defender. Lesson.
• Switch of Play. Moving the ball from the crowded side of the field to the open side. Switch of Play: diagram and how to do it.

T

• 2v1. Two attackers against one defender. The player with the ball dribbles at the defender, then passes if the defender comes or keeps going if they do not. 2v1: diagram and how to do it.
• Tackle. Using your foot to take the ball away from an opponent. Tackle: diagram and how to do it.
• Third-Man Run. A run by a third player who receives after two teammates pass between themselves. It reaches a player the first passer could not find directly. Third-Man Run: diagram and how to do it.
• Through Ball. A pass played between or behind the defenders into space, for a teammate to run on to. Through Ball: diagram and how to do it.
• Throw-in. The throw that restarts play when the ball crosses the touchline: both hands, from behind and over the head. Throw-in rules.
• Touchline. The long line down each side of the field. In the United States it is often called the sideline.

U

• Underlap. A run on the inside of the teammate who has the ball. The outside version is an overlap. Overlap.

V

• VAR. The video assistant referee: an official who watches replays and can ask the referee to look again at goals, penalty decisions, straight red cards and a card shown to the wrong player. Museum: The video assistant referee.

W

• Wall. A line of defenders standing 10 yards from a free kick to block the shot. Museum: Free kicks and the wall.
• Wall pass. Another name for a give-and-go. The teammate returns the ball first time, like a wall. Give-and-go.
• Width. Players staying far apart across the field, so the other team has more space to defend. Lesson.
• Wingback. A wide player who defends like a fullback and attacks like a winger. Wingback.
• Winger. An attacker who plays near the touchline. Winger.

Y

• Yellow card. A warning from the referee. Two in one game make a red card. Yellow and red cards.

Terms with a diagram

• Give-and-GoPass to a teammate, run past your defender and get the ball straight back. Also called a one-two or a wall pass.
• Third-Man RunA run by a third player who receives after two teammates pass between themselves. It reaches a player the first passer could not find directly.
• OverlapA run around the outside of the teammate who has the ball, to make two attackers against one defender on the side of the field.
• Through BallA pass played between or behind the defenders into space, for a teammate to run on to.
• Switch of PlayMoving the ball from the crowded side of the field to the open side.
• 2v1Two attackers against one defender. The player with the ball dribbles at the defender, then passes if the defender comes or keeps going if they do not.
• CutbackA pass from near the goal line back toward a teammate arriving in front of goal.
• CrossA pass from a wide area into the space in front of the goal.
• First TouchThe touch you take as the ball arrives. A good one puts the ball where you want to play next.
• PressRunning to close down the player with the ball so they have less time, while a teammate covers behind.
• MarkStaying close to an opponent, between them and your goal, so they cannot receive the ball easily.
• Goal-SideStanding between an attacker and your own goal.
• TackleUsing your foot to take the ball away from an opponent.
• CounterattackA fast attack straight after winning the ball, before the other team can get back into shape.
• Set PieceA restart with the ball standing still: a free kick, corner kick, throw-in, goal kick, penalty kick or kick-off.
• NutmegPlaying the ball between an opponent’s legs and getting it on the other side.
• Clean SheetA game in which a team does not let in any goals. In the United States it is also called a shutout.
• Hat-TrickThree goals scored by one player in one game.

Lessons that teach these words

• A Wall Pass, or Keep It (7v7 lesson)Use a teammate to go around pressure, but check whether the return is still open.
• Look, Then Turn or Return (7v7 lesson)Look for pressure before receiving. Turn into room or give the ball back.
• Step Out of the Blocked Lane (7v7 lesson)Move so the defender is no longer between you and the ball.
• Stay Between the Ball and Goal (7v7 lesson)Move with the attacker while keeping yourself between the ball and your goal.
• Find the Other Side (9v9 lesson)Move the ball through support when the nearby routes close.
• Use the Next Teammate (11v11 lesson)A third player helps when the direct pass is covered. You don’t need an extra pass when it’s already open.

Questions about soccer words

• What are the basic soccer terms a beginner should know?

  Start with the restarts (kick-off, throw-in, goal kick, corner kick), the areas (penalty area, goal area, touchline) and four ideas: pass, dribble, mark and support.

• Why do some people say pitch and others say field?

  They mean the same place. Pitch, kit, boots and nil are British words. Field, uniform, cleats and zero are the American ones.

• What is the difference between soccer and football?

  They are the same game. Most of the world calls it football. In the United States and Canada it is called soccer.

• What do coaches mean by “shape”?

  How the team is arranged on the field: its formation, and how far apart the players are.

Keep reading

• Soccer rules for kids16 rules explained for kids, each with a diagram: offside, handball, throw-ins and more
• Soccer positions for kidsEvery position and the numbers 1 to 11
• Soccer formations for kidsShapes for 7v7, 9v9, 11v11 and futsal
• Soccer age groups explainedU6 to U19 and which game each one plays