Listed below are words and phrases used on and around the soccer field as well as on this website. This glossary is a quick reference guide with more elaborate explanations found in the categories listed in the right margin. By the way, a good team will constantly talk to each other as opposed to being quiet as church mice - acceptable in church or school but detrimental on the soccer field. Use many of these terms during a soccer game and your teamwork will improve dramatically.
Back – Lets your teammate (with the ball) know she has offensive support from behind. Many times you should pass the ball backwards to build a better attack. Also, back passes to midfielders in the scoring zone can be the best way to put the ball into the “back” of the net.
Balance – to maintain good “soccer shape” away from the ball.
Ball - After making a pass to a teammate, shouting “ball” let’s her know to give you a quick return pass (known as a wall pass in soccer or a give and go pass in basketball).
Ball Side - a term used on defense which has dual meanings - to get between the ball and the goal line or to get between the ball and the player you are marking. Good marking requires being both ball and goal side.
Blind Side (Run) - standing/moving behind an opponent who is suppose to be marking you.
Carry - dribble the ball.
Channeling - a defender forces an opponent (with the ball) to dribble toward the sideline (force out) or to the middle of the field (force in) by overplaying her to one side.
Changing Fields or Changing the Point of Attack - moving the ball from one side of the field to the other to find open attacking space.
Check To The Ball or Show For The Ball - supporting a teammate with the ball by quickly moving toward her for a pass. When tightly marked by an opponent, sometimes it's better to "check away" (move away from the ball) before you "check to" the ball.
Closing Down - challenging an opponent who has the ball. A catchy phrase to remind us of the correct closing down technique is "Fast-Slow-Sideways Low".
Compactness – a defensive tactic to shrink attacking space laterally and/or vertically on the field by having teammates crowd to the ball. The best way to counter this defensive technique is for the attacking team "change fields".
Counter Attack - mounting an attack at the moment when your opponents lose possession of the ball.
Cover (Line) - As a player challenges for the ball on defense, her teammates support her from behind in case she gets beat. This often looks like a pyramid - the challenging player at the top and her 2 teammates supporting from behind on either side. A sweeper is a simple way to provide cover/support for the rest of the defending backs.
Danger Zone – the defending third of the field. This would be the "shooting zone" for the attacking team.
Delay - slowing down the forward progress of an opponent (with the ball) instead of making a challenge for the ball. This is recommended when the defender does not have support from a teammate.
Down the Line – telling your teammate to pass the ball down the sidelines.
Face Up – On offense - turn with the ball and face your opponent to dribble or make an attacking pass.
Far Side - area of the field farthest (across/width) from the ball. Also called the “weak side”.
Far Post - goal post (area around that post) farthest from the ball. A great percentage of goals are scored in this area.
Fifty/Fifty Ball - a challenge for the ball when neither player has a distinct advantage. Aggressiveness and staying over the ball (not stabbing at it) usually pays off.
Finish - the ability to score a goal.
Flank – areas on the field about 10 yards in width and extending up and down each sideline. Back in my day we called it the “Wing”.
Funneling - making a recovery run inward and toward your own goal to get ball side and goal side to your mark (the opponent you are guarding).
Goal Side - a term used on defense to get between your marked opponent and the goal.
I’ve Got Ball - Lets your teammate know that you will be making a challenge for the ball and she should give you support from behind.
Man On – Your teammate (receiving the ball) is getting pressure from an opponent. Shouting “man on” lets her anticipate this pressure with body shielding and/or a quick pass.
Man-to-Man – marking a specific player regardless of where she is on the field.
Mark Up – Although we play a zone defense (not man to man), it's important to specifically mark (guard) an opponent in your zone. Generally, our defenders, midfielders, and strikers mark their strikers, midfielders, and defenders in that order. Also, the greater the distance from the ball, the more space you can give your marked opponent thereby cheating to the ball and compressing attacking space.
Mobility – moving without the ball on offense.
Near Post - goal post (area around that post) nearest to the ball. Goalie should always protect this area as her #1 priority.
Near Side - area of the field closest to the ball. Also called the “strong side”.
Nutmeg – to push the ball through an opponent’s legs.
Obstruction – a player (without the ball) who intentionally blocks an opponent’s movement on the field. As opposed to basketball, "setting a pick" is illegal in soccer.
Overlap - run behind and to the other side of your teammate with the ball to create a 2 v 1 advantage.
Pass to Feet - passing the ball to a stationary teammate on the field.
Pass to Space - passing the ball to a teammate moving to open space (e.g. thru pass, square pass).
Penetration – moving the ball down the field and behind our opponent’s defense.
Pitch – another word for the soccer field.
Point of Attack - an area of the soccer field where the offense is attempting to move the ball forward to score.
Pressure - challenging for the ball.
Push up-Pull back - moving the defense forward on the attack and back on defense.
Scanning – looking away from the ball to see attacking or defending options. To do this, good players develop the habit of having a “twitchy head”.
Scoring Zone – the attacking third of the field.
Shape - the geometry of soccer. On offense - support/width/depth (diamond). On defense - pressure/support/balance/compactness.
Show Feet - be visible to your teammate who has the ball.
Send It - telling your teammate with the ball to serve it long down the field.
Set Plays/Pieces - change of possession re-starts such as: kick offs, corner and goal kicks, drop balls, throw ins, direct and indirect kicks including penalty kicks.
Shield - using a body part to protect the ball while dribbling.
Short Corner - a corner kick with an attacking teammate standing close to the kicker as a passing option. Remember, during any free kick, our opponents must stand at least 10 yds. from the spot of the ball.
Sideways On - keeping your hips open (45%) so you can see the ball and look down the field (offense) or watch your mark (defense).
Spread Out - telling your teammates to get into good attacking shape (high and wide).
Square – Tells your teammate (with the ball) to make a lateral pass to space into which you will come back and receive the ball.
Stay Wide - a reminder to wing midfielders and attackers to hold their position toward the sidelines.
Striker - an offensive player who stretches the play down the field. Her job is to provide depth rather than width to the attack.
Stopper - a center defender who stops her opponents by either providing double team support; plugs up the middle of the field; or constantly marks the #1 goal scorer of the other team.
Support – telling your teammate who has the ball (or challenging for the ball) that you can help her from behind (best support - 45% angle goal side). Another word for support is “cover”.
Sweeper - a lone defender who plays behind her defense to support them and intercept any thru balls played by the other team. Generally, the sweeper has no marking responsibilities.
Tackle - a defender makes a challenge to take the ball away from her opponent.
Take Over - run towards your teammate with the ball and take the ball from her - kind of like a football hand off in soccer.
Thru – Lets your teammate (with the ball) know to make a pass behind the defense of the other team. This can take the form of a diagonal or straight thru pass.
Touch Line – sideline line
Tracking - following your mark as she moves around the field.
Turn – Your teammate (receiving the ball) is wide open. Shouting “turn” tells her to go with the ball rather than stopping it and slowing down the attack.
Underlap – run in front of and to the other side of a teammate who has the ball.
Volley - strike the ball while it's in the air.
Zone Defense – defending a specific area of the field as opposed to man-to-man coverage.
Zonal Man-to-Man – a combination of defending an area of the field and marking a player within that zone.
IN SUMMARY
Silence on the field fosters confusion and disunity - like the fabled 3 blind mice. Communication is a must in order to become a good team.
Listed below are words and phrases used on and around the soccer field as well as on this website. This glossary is a quick reference guide with more elaborate explanations found in the categories listed in the right margin. By the way, a good team will constantly talk to each other as opposed to being quiet as church mice - acceptable in church or school but detrimental on the soccer field. Use many of these terms during a soccer game and your teamwork will improve dramatically.
Back – Lets your teammate (with the ball) know she has offensive support from behind. Many times you should pass the ball backwards to build a better attack. Also, back passes to midfielders in the scoring zone can be the best way to put the ball into the “back” of the net.
Balance – to maintain good “soccer shape” away from the ball.
Ball - After making a pass to a teammate, shouting “ball” let’s her know to give you a quick return pass (known as a wall pass in soccer or a give and go pass in basketball).
Ball Side - a term used on defense which has dual meanings - to get between the ball and the goal line or to get between the ball and the player you are marking. Good marking requires being both ball and goal side.
Blind Side (Run) - standing/moving behind an opponent who is suppose to be marking you.
Carry - dribble the ball.
Channeling - a defender forces an opponent (with the ball) to dribble toward the sideline (force out) or to the middle of the field (force in) by overplaying to her to one side.
Changing Fields - moving the ball from one side of the field to the other to find open attacking space.
Check To The Ball (Show For The Ball) - supporting a teammate with the ball by quickly moving toward her for a pass. When tightly marked by an opponent, sometimes it's better to "check away" (move away from the ball) before you "check to" the ball.
Closing Down - challenging an opponent who has the ball. A catchy phrase to remind us of the correct closing down technique is "Fast-Slow-Sideways Low".
Compactness – a defensive tactic to shrink attacking space laterally and/or vertically on the field.
Counter Attack - mounting an attack at the moment when your opponents lose possession of the ball.
Cover (Line) - ball side and goal side support to the 1st and 2nd defender.
Danger Zone – defending third of the field.
Delay - slowing down the forward progress of an opponent (with the ball) instead of making a challenge for the ball. This is recommended when the defender does not have support from a teammate.
Down the Line – telling your teammate to pass the ball down the sidelines.
Face Up – On offense - turn with the ball and face your opponent to dribble or make an attacking pass. On defense – turn and face your opponent’s attack as opposed to running toward your own goal.
Far Side - area of the field farthest (across/width) from the ball. Also called the “weak side”.
Far Post - goal post (area around that post) farthest from the ball. A great percentage of goals are scored in this area.
Fifty/Fifty Ball - a challenge for the ball when neither player has a distinct advantage. Aggressiveness and staying over the ball (not stabbing at it) usually pays off.
Finish - the ability to score a goal.
Flank – areas on the field about 10 yards in width and extending up and down each sideline. Back in my day we called it the “Wing”.
Funneling - making a recovery run inward and toward your own goal to get ball side and goal side to your mark (the opponent you are guarding).
Goal Side - a term used on defense to get between your mark and the goal.
I’ve Got Ball - Lets your teammate know that you will be making a challenge for the ball and she should give you support from behind.
Man On – Your teammate (receiving the ball) is getting pressure from an opponent. Shouting “man on” lets her anticipate this pressure with body shielding and/or a quick pass.
Man-to-Man – marking a specific player regardless of where she is on the field.
Mark Up – Although we play a zone defense (not man to man), it's important to specifically mark (guard) an opponent in your zone. Generally, our defenders, midfielders, and strikers mark their strikers, midfielders, and defenders in that order. Also, the greater the distance from the ball, the more space you can give your marked opponent thereby cheating to the ball and compressing attacking space.
Mobility – moving without the ball.
Near Post - goal post (area around that post) nearest to the ball. Goalie should always protect this area as her #1 priority.
Near Side - area of the field closest to the ball. Also called the “strong side”.
Nutmeg – to push the ball through an opponent’s legs.
Obstruction – a player (without the ball) who intentionally blocks an opponent’s movement on the field. As opposed to basketball, setting a pick is illegal in soccer.
Overlap - run behind and to the other side of your teammate with the ball to create a 2 v 1 advantage.
Pass to Feet - passing the ball to a stationary teammate on the field.
Pass to Space - passing the ball to a teammate moving to open space (e.g. thru pass, square pass).
Penetration – moving the ball down the field and behind our opponent’s defense.
Pitch – another word for the soccer field.
Point of Attack - an area of the soccer field where the offense is attempting to move the ball forward to score.
Pressure - challenging for the ball.
Push up-Pull back - moving the defense forward on the attack and back on defense.
Scanning – looking away from the ball to see attacking or defending options. To do this, good players develop the habit of having a “twitchy head”.
Scoring Zone – the attacking third of the field.
Shape - the geometry of soccer. On offense - support/width/depth (diamond). On defense - pressure/support/balance/compactness.
Show Feet - be visible to your teammate who has the ball.
Send It - telling your teammate with the ball to serve it long down the field.
Set Plays - change of possession re-starts such as: kick offs, corner and goal kicks, drop balls, throw ins, direct and indirect kicks including penalty kicks.
Shield - using a body part to protect the ball while dribbling.
Short Corner - a corner kick with an attacking teammate standing close to the kicker as a passing option. Remember, during any free kick, our opponents must stand at least 10 yds. from the spot of the ball.
Sideways On - keeping your hips open (45%) so you can see the ball and look down the field (offense) or watch your mark (defense).
Spread Out - telling your teammates to get into good attacking shape (high and wide).
Square – Tells your teammate (with the ball) to make a lateral pass to space into which you will come back and receive the ball.
Stay Wide - a reminder to wing midfielders and attackers to hold their position toward the sidelines.
Striker - an offensive player who stretches the play down the field. Her job is to provide depth rather than width to the attack.
Stopper - a center defender who stops her opponents by either providing double team support; plugs up the middle of the field; or constantly marks the #1 goal scorer of the other team.
Support – telling your teammate who has the ball (or challenging for the ball) that you can help her from behind (best support - 45% angle goal side). Another word for support is “cover”.
Sweeper - a lone defender who plays behind her defense to support them and intercept any thru balls played by the other team. Generally, the sweeper has no marking responsibilities.
Tackle - a defender makes a challenge to take the ball away from her opponent.
Take Over - run towards your teammate with the ball and take the ball from her - kind of like a football hand off in soccer.
Thru – Lets your teammate (with the ball) know to make a pass behind the defense of the other team. This can take the form of a diagonal or straight thru pass.
Touch Line – sideline line
Tracking - following your mark as she moves around the field.
Turn – Your teammate (receiving the ball) is wide open. Shouting “turn” tells her to go with the ball rather than stopping it and slowing down the attack.
Underlap – run in front of and to the other side of a teammate who has the ball.
Volley - strike the ball while it's in the air.
Zone Defense – defending a specific area of the field as opposed to man-to-man coverage.
Zonal Man-to-Man – a combination of defending an area of the field and marking a player within that zone.
IN SUMMARY
Silence on the field fosters confusion and disunity - like the fabled 3 blind mice. Communication is a must in order to become a good team.