What is a hat-trick in soccer?
A hat-trick in soccer is three goals scored by the same player in one game. The goals can come at any time and in any way, with either foot or from a penalty kick, and two goals in a game is called a brace.
Other names: hat trick.
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.
Hat-Trick: diagram
How strikers score often
- Arrive in front of goal as the ball does, instead of standing and waiting.
- Run to a different place each time: near post, far post or the penalty mark.
- Follow every shot in. The goalkeeper may drop the ball or push it back out.
- Stay onside by timing your run with the pass.
Common mistakes
- Shooting from anywhere to reach three goals when a teammate has an open goal.
- Counting goals instead of helping the team defend.
- Standing next to the goalkeeper, where the ball rarely arrives.
In 7v7, 9v9, 11v11 and futsal
A hat-trick means three goals in every form of the game, futsal included. In 4v4 games for the youngest players the U.S. Soccer standards say results should not be recorded, so the count matters less than the fun of scoring.
Questions about the hat-trick
How many goals is a hat-trick?
Three, by one player, in one game.
Do penalty kicks count for a hat-trick?
Yes. A goal from a penalty kick during the game is a goal like any other.
What is a brace in soccer?
Two goals by one player in one game.
Lessons that teach it
- Watch What Happens After the Shot (7v7 lesson)A wide midfielder reads a loose rebound or a goalkeeper’s controlled ball before deciding whether to approach or recover.
- Arrive at the Far Post (Futsal lesson)Time support across goal, and keep another option when that route is covered.
- Run When the Pass Is On (11v11 lesson)Run when the pass is on, and leave as it is played so you stay onside (Law 11). If the pass is blocked, check toward the ball first.
Related soccer terms
- CrossA pass from a wide area into the space in front of the goal.
- CutbackA pass from near the goal line back toward a teammate arriving in front of goal.
- Through BallA pass played between or behind the defenders into space, for a teammate to run on to.
- Clean SheetA game in which a team does not let in any goals. In the United States it is also called a shutout.
- 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.