- ChannelThe space between defenders.
- ChantSongs or shouts made by fans.
- ChipA lofted shot or pass designed to go over an opponent's head.
- 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.
- Clean TackleTaking the ball away from an opponent without fouling.
- ClearanceThe action of kicking the ball away from one's own goal.
- ClinchTo secure, as in "clinching a victory".
- ClinicalEfficient and effective play, especially in front of goal.
- Close DownTo approach the player with the ball to reduce their space.
- ClubAn organized soccer team.
- 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.
- CONCACAF CONCACAF is the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football. It is the governing body for soccer (football) in the region that includes North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. CONCACAF is one of six continental confederations recognized by FIFA(...)
- Cooper Test Cooper Test, also known as the Cooper 12-minute run, is a fitness test that measures a person’s aerobic endurance capacity.
- Corner KickA set-piece taken from the corner of the field, awarded to the attacking team when the ball goes out of play over the goal line, last touched by a defending player.
- COSAFA Council of Southern Africa Football Associations is the governing body of football-playing nations in Southern Africa. CAF was formed in 1983.
- Counter-attackAn attack that comes immediately after repelling the opponent's attack.
- CrossA pass played from a wide area into the penalty area.
- CrossbarThe horizontal bar at the top of the goal.
- 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)
- CurlA spin on the ball that causes it to move in a curved path.
- Cut InsideA winger moving from the sideline to a more central position.
- Dead Ball A synonym for 'Set Piece.' Usually referring to a direct free kick.
- Dead Ball Specialist A player who is skilled at taking set-pieces like free-kicks, corners, and penalties.
- DeadlockWhen neither side has scored.
- DeepFar from the opposing goal.
- 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(...)
- Defensive MidfielderA player positioned in front of the defense to break up opposing attacks.
- DerbyA match between two teams from the same city or region.
- Direct PlayPlaying forward aggressively rather than keeping possession.
- DispossessTo take the ball away from an opponent.
- DissentVerbal or physical disagreement with the referee's decision.
- DiveA player's exaggerated fall in an attempt to deceive the referee.
- Diving SaveA save where the goalkeeper dives to reach the ball.
- 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
- DrawA match that ends with both teams having the same number of goals.
- DribbleTo control the ball at one's feet while running.
- Dribbling The skill of controlling the ball while running or walking to move it past opponents.
- Dropped BallA method to restart play when the referee stops the game for a reason other than a rule infraction.
- Dummy Run A decoy movement made by a player without actually receiving the ball to confuse defenders and open up space for others.
- Early BallA pass or cross made sooner than expected.
- Early CrossA cross made quickly before defenders set.
- Edge of the BoxThe boundary of the penalty area.
- ElasticoA dribbling move where the player uses the outside of their foot to push the ball in one direction and then quickly snaps it back in the opposite direction with the inside of the same foot.
- ElasticoA dribbling move where the player uses the outside of their foot to push the ball in one direction and then quickly snaps it back in the opposite direction with the inside of the same foot.
- End-to-EndA game where both teams are attacking and creating chances, leading to action at both ends.
- EqualizerA goal that levels the score.
- 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.
- Fair PlaySportsmanship and respecting the rules and players.
- 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.
To Fuel the Passion of the Beautiful Game.
