What is a clean sheet in soccer?
A clean sheet in soccer is a game in which a team does not let in a single goal. In the United States it is also called a shutout, and although the goalkeeper gets the credit, the whole team earns it by defending well.
Other names: shutout.
Soccer is called football in most of the world. This guide is part of Futbol Island’s free football lessons for kids aged 7 to 12.
Clean Sheet: diagram
How a team keeps a clean sheet
- Defenders stay between the attackers and the goal.
- When one player goes to the ball, a teammate covers behind.
- When the ball is lost, everyone gets back and protects the middle first.
- The goalkeeper stands in the right place, stays on their toes and waits for the shot.
Common mistakes
- Thinking a clean sheet is only the goalkeeper’s job.
- Ball watching while a runner arrives at the far post.
- Defending so deep that the other team can shoot from close to the goal.
In 7v7, 9v9, 11v11 and futsal
The idea is the same in 7v7, 9v9, 11v11 and futsal. In 4v4 games for the youngest players there are no goalkeepers, and the U.S. Soccer standards say results should not be recorded, so nobody counts clean sheets yet.
Questions about the clean sheet
Is a 0-0 game a clean sheet?
Yes, for both teams. Neither one let in a goal.
Who gets a clean sheet, the goalkeeper or the team?
It is counted for the goalkeeper and for the team. Defenders and midfielders do much of the work.
What is the difference between a clean sheet and a shutout?
None. Shutout is the word used in American sports, and clean sheet is the word used in most soccer countries.
Lessons that teach it
- Stay Between the Ball and Goal (7v7 lesson)Move with the attacker while keeping yourself between the ball and your goal.
- Who Goes, Who Helps? (11v11 lesson)Decide together. One player puts pressure on the ball; another looks after the next danger.
- Keeper: Defend the Goal or the Space (Futsal lesson)Adjust the goalkeeper’s depth to the attacker’s threat and whether a defender still provides cover.
- Lost It? Protect the Middle (7v7 lesson)After losing the ball, protect a route to goal; approach when a teammate can cover.
Related soccer terms
- Goal-SideStanding between an attacker and your own goal.
- MarkStaying close to an opponent, between them and your goal, so they cannot receive the ball easily.
- PressRunning to close down the player with the ball so they have less time, while a teammate covers behind.
- Hat-TrickThree goals scored by one player in one game.
- All soccer terms, A to Z92 soccer words in plain English, from advantage to yellow card, 18 with a diagram
- Soccer rules for kids16 rules explained for kids, each with a diagram: offside, handball, throw-ins and more
Futbol Island is a free football (soccer) learning game for kids aged 7 to 12. Every idea on this page is taught on a pitch with moving players, then checked with a quick quiz.