Soccer Terms

Agent

Person who represents players and negotiates contracts and transfer moves.

Assist

A pass that releases a player to score a goal. The pass can be on the ground, a flick or a cross.

Away goals rule

In cup competitions if scores are tied over two legs, the team with the most away goals wins.

Back-pass rule

Law stating that deliberate passes from a player to their goalkeeper may not be handled.

Cap

Appearance by a player for their country

Caution

Yellow card.

Chip

A pass propelled into the air from a player to a teammate or as a shot on goal

Counter-attack

A quick attack by a team after it regains possession of the ball

Cross

To send the ball in to the center fro a wide area of the field

Cushion the ball

Use of your body to bring the ball under control by reducing its speed

Derby

A game between two rival teams, usually from the same town or city. i.e. Liverpool and Everton

Direct free kick

A free kick from which a goal can be scored without anyone else on either team touching the ball

Dissent

When a player uses words or actions to disagree with a referees decision in a disrespectful manner

Distribution

The manner in which the ball is released by a goal keeper or player to teammates

Final third

Assuming the field is divided into the back, middle and front, the final third for an attacking team is the front third

Game of two halves

A popular phrase describing a game in which one half is vastly different frm the other in terms of attacking impetus or possession

Golden goal

A system used to decide a winner of a game tied after regulation time. If a team is ahead at the end of the first period of extra time they win the game

Hat trick

The scoring of three goals by one player in a single game

Offside trap

A defensive tactic used by teams to lure opposing attacking players into offside positions

Overlap

To run ahead of a teammate with the ball in order to give them passing options

Professional foul

An intentional foul by a defender on an opposing attacker about to be clear on goal

Reserve team

A team made up mostly of a club's youth and fringe players

Route one

Slang for a style of playing that involves long balls kicked up the field from the defence in search of teammates. Popularized by many English teams in the 80s

Silver goal

A system used to decide a winner of a game tied after regulation time. The first team to score in extra time wins the game

Sixes and Sevens

A British phrase used in soccer to usually describe chaotic defending e.g. "...their defence was at sixes and sevens."

Square pass

To pass the ball to a teammate who is across the field but on the same line

Stoppage time

Time added on by the referee at the end of the regular 90 minutes. Usually for injuries, substitutions and time wasting

Total football

A style of play popularized by Johan Cruyff's Dutch team in the 70s where every player on the team seamlessly switched positions

Volley

A ball kicked by a player when it is off the ground

Wingback

A defender on the side of the field given the freedom to carry the ball up the wing

Zonal marking

A defensive system in which players are responsible for areas of the field as opposed to marking specific opponents

Competitions

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