- Advantage Rule Allows play to continue if the team that has been fouled will benefit from ongoing play.
- Assist An acclamation to a player who makes the final pass that leads to a goal. A tally of player assists is kept as contributing factors to season performance awards.
- Assistant Referee The assistant referees, formerly known as linesmen, are two officials who assist the referee in making decisions. They are mainly responsible for indicating when the ball has gone out of play, offside situations, and sometimes helping to identify fouls that may occur out of the referee's(...)
- Backheel Kicking the ball using the back of the foot.
- Beep Test Also known as the Multi-Stage Fitness Test, the Beep Test is a twenty-meter (20m or 21.9 yds) cardiovascular endurance assessment that measures your VO₂ max. The beep test is a standardized test that is often used at the elite level to gauge a player’s fitness in the form of VO₂ max.
- Booking A record made by the referee of a player who receives either a yellow or red card. Usually refers to a yellow card caution, as a red card booking will result in removal from the pitch.
- CAF Confederation of African Football is the administrative body of association football in African. CAF was formed on February 8, 1957, in Khartoum Sudan.
- Captain A title awarded to a player whom the whole team trusts to lead on and off the field. The captain wears an armband to signify his or her role and is the only player that is permitted to talk to the referee outside of those directly involved in incidents on the pitch.
- Catenaccio In Italian literally means "Door Bolt." An Italian tactical system that has a heavy emphasis on defending and closing spaces to prevent goal-scoring opportunities.
- Center Circle The circle in the middle of the pitch from which kick-offs are taken.
- Clean Sheet Also known as “shut-outs,” a clean sheet is when a team manages not to concede a goal in a soccer/football game. This is a massive feat, especially for goal-keepers in general and they thrive on achieving such results in a tournament like the World Cup.
- Coefficient of Restitution The relation of a ball’s velocity to the height it returns to after contact with a surface. Simply, a measurement of the bounciness of a soccer ball. Also known as COR.
- Cooper Test Cooper Test, also known as the Cooper 12-minute run, is a fitness test that measures a person’s aerobic endurance capacity.
- COSAFA Council of Southern Africa Football Associations is the governing body of football-playing nations in Southern Africa. CAF was formed in 1983.
- Cuju The earliest recorded form of a soccer-like game is ‘Cuju,’ which originated in ancient China from the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE)
- Dead Ball A synonym for 'Set Piece.' Usually referring to a direct free kick.
- DefenderThe defender’s main job is to defend the goal. Some defenders play a more attacking role, especially on the outside (the 2 full-backs on the left and the right). However, their main priority is defending their own team's goal. Any other roles assigned to the defenders depend entirely on the(...)
- Double Jeopardy If the goalkeeper commits a foul inside the box while attempting to go for the ball is a yellow caution instead of a straight red. If the goalkeeper does not attempt to play the ball and commits a deliberate foul, however, he or she will receive a straight red.
- Drag Force A term in fluid dynamics sometimes referred to as resistance, is caused by the motion of an object through a fluid, such as water or air
- Extra Time Additional time played in a game if the score is tied at the end of 90 minutes in a knockout stage. Extra time is two 15-minute halves.
- False NineA forward who is given the freedom to drop deep to receive the ball and become a part of the midfield. The false nine usually plays alone up top. When the false nine drops into the midfield, the wingers are expected to pinch in to provide a goalscoring threat from the middle.
- Far post The opposite, or furthest, goal post from the player's location. For example, if a player has the ball on the left side of the goal, then the far post would be the right post from the player's point of view.
- FAZ Football Association of Zambia is the governing body of Zambian football. FAZ was founded in 1929 and affiliated with FIFA in 1964. It is also a full member of CAF and COSAFA.
- FIFAThe international governing body of soccer. FIFA organizes the World Cup and other international competitions and decides on national team world rankings.
- Fifth Official The fifth official is an additional official in some competitions, primarily for high-stakes matches like finals of major tournaments. The fifth official typically has duties similar to those of the fourth official but can also be designated specific roles such as monitoring the teams'(...)
- Finishing Touch Accurately placing the ball in the back on the net, usually sacrificing power for precision and often done but not restricted to the inside of the foot.
- First TouchThe initial contact with the ball the player makes when receiving it. A good first touch is controlled in power and direction. If the ball travels in a direction not intended by the player as he or she receives it. Then he/she is said to have had a bad "first touch." Vice Versa: If the(...)
- FMF The Mexican FA. Created in 1922, and a member of FIFA since 1929, the FMF is the governing body of soccer/football in Mexico.
- Formation The tactical positioning of a team, denoted by the number of players in each line of players. For example, 4-4-2 is a formation that has four defenders, four midfielders, and two forwards (and 1 GK, but the GK is not specified as it is in every formation).
- Fourth Official The fourth official assists the other officials but is not on the field of play. They are responsible for various duties such as supervising substitutions, displaying the time added on at the end of each half on an electronic board, and generally helping the referee manage the game. The(...)
- Goalkeeper Tasked with being the last line of defense in stopping the ball from going into the net. Each team has 1 goalie, and usually, keep 1 goalie as a sub. The goalkeeper usually stays back in their own penalty box, in order to protect the goal. The goalkeepers are the only players that can use(...)
- Goal-Line Technology This is an electronic aid to determine whether the entire ball had crossed the goal line in the event of a goal being scored.
- Golden Glove Award An award given to goalkeepers who achieve the most clean sheets or are the best performing goalkeeper in a season or tournament.
- High Line A defensive tactic where defenders play their defensive line further up the pitch, closer to the halfway line.
- Hospital-Ball Jargon for a loose ball that can result in a 50-50 challenge that puts both players at risk of getting injured or picking up a knock as they are both challenging for the same ball with no advantage to either side.
- Injury Time Injury Time is the time allowance a referee adds on to the regularly played minutes in a game.
- Libero A specialized type of center back: a mix between a center-back and a defensive/holding midfielder. The libero is employed as either a part of the defense or as part of the midfield line. When playing as part of the defense, Liberos are usually used in 5-defender or 3-center-back(...)
- MidfielderThe midfielder is tasked with being on both sides of the play. They contribute to both attacking and defending. There are many different types of midfielders: from holding midfielders to inverse wingers. We’ll get to the more advanced topics a bit later. The term midfielder is a little vague(...)
- National Team A soccer/football team that represents a particular nation in an international tournament. ex. The US Men’s National Team is representing the United States in the world cup.
- Offside Detection System An electronic system that helps referees make decisions about offside calls. Semi-automated offside technology typically involves using multiple cameras and computer algorithms to quickly analyze player positions in relation to the ball and the opposing team’s defensive line.
- Outside the Box A term referring to the area outside of the 16.5m (18 yd) penalty box.
- Own Goal When a player puts the ball into his or her own team's net, the goal is considered an own goal (OG). For a goal to be attributed as an own goal in the case of a deflection, the last touch on the ball must change its natural flight.
- Pattern of Play The default style of play and sequences of passes that are mapped out, instructed to the players, and practiced on the training field until it is second nature.
- Plant-foot The foot on the non-kicking leg. The foot that remains on the ground before a player takes a shot or passes the ball.
- Referee The referee is the chief official in a soccer game responsible for enforcing the Laws of the Game. The referee has the final say on all judgments, including awarding fouls, free kicks, and penalties, and can issue yellow or red cards to players for misconduct. The referee is easily(...)
- Regista The regista's main priority is distributing the ball and linking the defense to the midfield. The regista must constantly move as a playmaker to keep an open lane with the ball. A playmaker who can receive the ball can make the difference between winning and losing. Positioning is key.
- Rondo In soccer, a "rondo" refers to a training drill where one group of players tries to maintain possession of the ball while being pressured by an opposing group of players. Typically, rondos are set up with a larger outer circle of players attempting to pass the ball among themselves while(...)
- Second Striker The second striker plays deeper than or behind a traditional center forward. The second striker needs to play killer balls, dribble under pressure, take shots, score goals, and create chances. Occasionally, the second striker will be required to drop into the midfield to help in applying(...)
- Senior LevelHigh-level competition involving important player with fewer restrictions on participation
- Set Piece Any stoppage in play that allows the team to set up a pre-prepared tactic. Set pieces include free kicks, corner kicks, penalty kicks, throw-ins, and kick-offs.
- Shin Guard Pads that are placed under the socks to protect the shin bone. There are many different sizes and styles. Some old-school shin guards use velcro and have ankle protectors. However, modern shin guards are smaller, lighter, and are held in place either with a shin guard sock, tape or held in(...)
- Shot on Target A strike of the ball that if uninterrupted would go in between the posts and into the goal. A shot that hits the post and does not pass the goal line is not a shot on target. However, a shot that hits off-the-post and into the goal is considered a shot on target. Shots that are blocked by a(...)
- Single-elimination A type of knockout competition format in which a single game is played to determine which team goes through to the next round.
- Square Ball A pass that is made horizontally across the width of the pitch and not vertically (across its length). Square balls help retain possession of the ball, but a loose square ball is easily intercepted and allows the opposition to go on a counterattack.
- Striker Employed on the pitch for one purpose: to get goals. Whether they are poaching loose balls or playing deeper in-between the lines to produce assists or take long-range shots on goal, strikers are significantly involved and relied upon in the final (attacking) third.
- Supporters' Club A supporters’ club in soccer is an organized group of fans who share a common devotion to a specific soccer team. The fans themselves typically organize these clubs, although some teams have official supporters’ clubs that the soccer club endorses.
- Sweeper-keeper The sweeper-keeper is a goalkeeper who will play off their line when their team has the ball. This role pairs well with a team that plays a high defensive line. In this setup, the goalkeeper must close down and press any ball that breaks the defensive line.
- UEFA Union of European Football Associations. Organizing body for soccer/football in Europe. Most notably hosts UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Euros, and Euro Nations League
- USSFUnited States Soccer Federation. It is the official governing body of soccer in the United States and is a full member of FIFA.
- Video Assistant Referee Commonly known as VAR, the Video Assistant Referee is used in football when a questionable call needs to be reviewed. VAR utilizes cameras and additional referees to make the correct call and notify the main referee of what decision should be taken.
- VO₂ Max VO₂ Max stands for the maximal volume of oxygen your body can absorb. Essentially, it is a measurement of how fit a person is by indicating the efficiency of their aerobic health.
- Vuvuzela The vuvuzela is a long, horn-shaped plastic instrument that produces a loud, monotonous sound resembling an elephant's trumpet or a foghorn. It gained international fame during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where stadium fans widely used it. The vuvuzela has its roots in(...)
- Wing Back The wing-back is a player that sits between the midfield and defensive lines on the outsides. Because he/she is usually without support in the wings, the wing-backs must provide width on the attack, and mark the opposition wide threat on defense. The wing-back can even provide extra pressure(...)
- xG xG stands for "Expected Goals" in soccer (football). It is a statistical measure that aims to quantify the quality of a goal-scoring opportunity.
- y/o Years old
