GLOSSARY OF SOCCER TERMS

Ballistic: stretching with movement.

Center: to pass the ball from the side of the field into the middle of the field.

Charge: legally upsetting an opponent's balance by shoulder-to-shoulder contact.

Clear: a throw or kick by the goalkeeper or a kick by the defender in an attempt to get the ball away (clear) from the goal area.

Combination play: passing combinations executed by two or more players. The most common example is the wall pass.

Cross: center the ball from the wing to in front of the net.

Defender: primarily a defensive player who assists the goalkeeper in protecting the goal area.

Dribble: a way of advancing the ball by a series of short taps with one or both feet.

Dynamic: moving.

Far post: side of the goal or goal post farthest from the ball.

Forward: primarily an attacking player.

Goalkeeper: the last line of defense. The goalkeeper is the only player who can use his/her hands within the field of play, although only within the penalty area.

Half-volley: kicking the ball just as it is rebounding off the ground.

Halfback: another name for a midfielder.

Hands (Handling): illegal act of intentionally touching the ball with the hands or arms.

Heading: a method of scoring, passing, or controlling the ball by making contact with the head.

Linkman: another name for a midfielder.

Lob: a high, soft kick which lifts the ball over the heads of the opponents.

Marking: guarding an opponent. To "mark up," for example, is to guard opponents for throw-ins.

Midfielder: a player who is primarily responsible for moving the ball from the defenders to the forwards.

Near post: side of the goal or goal post closest to the ball.

Obstructing: preventing the opponent from going around a player by standing in the path of movement.

One-touch pass: a pass made without trapping the ball first.

Overlap: the attacking play of a defender or midfielder going down the touchline past his or her own winger.

Pitch: another name for the field of play.

Pressure: action of a defender to restrict the time and space available to an offensive player.

Save: the goalkeeper stops an attempted goal by catching or deflecting the ball away from the goal.

Screen: retaining possession and protecting the ball by keeping your body between the ball and opponent.

Set play: a planned offensive movement to be executed at a free kick.

Shielding: another name for screen.

Sliding tackle: attempting to take the ball away from the opponent by sliding on the ground and using the feet or legs to block and hold the ball.

Static: stretching against muscle and holding as opposed to bouncing.

Striker: a central forward position with responsibility for scoring goals.

Sweeper: a defender who roams either in front of or behind the defensive line to pick up stray passes.

Tackling: attempting to or taking the ball away from an opponent when both players are playing the ball with their feet.

Takeover: a 2 vs. 1 combination play in which the two offensive players move toward each other and the ball is transferred from one player to the other.

Touchline: The line that defines the side of the playing field. Note - the touchline is part of the field.

Through pass: a pass that goes between two players and behind the defense.

Trap: controlling the ball by means of the feet, thighs, or chest.

Two-touch pass: a passing technique in which one touch is used to control the ball and the second touch is used to pass it.

Volley: kicking the ball while it is in flight. A half-volley is kicking the ball after only one bounce.

Wall pass: a pass to a teammate, followed by a return on the other side of the opponent. Also called "give-and-go."

Wing: an area of the field near the touch line.

Winger: player, usually a forward, who plays outside on either the right or left wing.