Soccer glossary

Find all the essential soccer terms with clear definitions to understand the game better.

Aerial claim

Goalkeeper intervention on an aerial cross.

Aerial duel

Contest for an aerial ball.

Assist

Final pass directly leading to a goal.

Assistant coach

Coach supporting the head coach.

Assistant referee

Touchline official assisting the referee.

Attacking line

Line formed by the most advanced players.

Attacking patterns

Collective mechanisms used to attack.

Attacking transition

Fast switch from ball recovery to attack.

Ball carrying

Carrying the ball while moving.

Bench

Area for substitutes and coaching staff.

Between-the-lines play

Use of space between opposition lines.

Box-to-box midfielder

Box-to-box midfielder linking defense and attack.

Brace

Two goals scored by the same player.

Build-out pass

First pass to play out from the back.

Build-up

Phase where an attack is prepared.

Captain

Player wearing the armband and leading the team.

Center forward

Central forward playing closest to goal.

Center-back

Defender positioned in the center of the back line.

Central lane

Central zone of the field.

Channel gap

Gap between two players or lines.

Clean sheet

Match where no goals are conceded.

Clearance

Kicking danger away from goal.

Cohesion

Quality of unity and cooperation in the squad.

Contract extension

Agreement extending the contract duration.

Control

First touch used to secure the ball.

Corner kick

Set kick from the corner after a defensive touch.

Counter-pressing

Immediate pressure right after losing possession.

Counterattack

Quick attack exploiting an unbalanced opponent.

Cover

Defensive support behind a teammate stepping out.

Cross

Ball delivered from the flank into the box.

Crossbar

Horizontal bar connecting the two goalposts.

Cup

Knockout competition format.

Curled shot

Curled shot bending around defenders.

Cushion touch

Soft touch used to cushion ball speed.

Cut move

Sharp change of direction with the ball.

Cut-back cross

Cut-back pass from near the byline.

Defender

Player focused on preventing goals.

Defensive line

Line formed by the deepest outfield players.

Defensive midfielder

Midfielder focused on ball recovery and protection.

Defensive organization

Collective structure used to defend efficiently.

Defensive recovery

Quick retreat to rebuild defensive structure.

Defensive shift

Coordinated lateral shift of the defensive line.

Defensive transition

Fast switch from ball loss to defending.

Deflection

Light touch that redirects the ball's path.

Depth

Using depth to threaten behind the back line.

Diagonal switch

Long diagonal switch toward the opposite side.

Direct free kick

Free kick that can be shot directly on goal.

Direct play

Style that attacks depth quickly.

Dive

Goalkeeper dive to reach the ball.

Downward header

Header directed downward to make saves harder.

Drag-back

Sole roll that drags the ball across.

Dribble

Technical ball carrying move to beat an opponent.

Driven cross

Driven cross hit hard across goal.

Dropping movement

Forward movement dropping between lines.

Duel

Direct contest between two players.

End stand

Curved section behind the goal.

Extra time

Extra period played after a draw in knockout games.

Feint

Body or ball movement to deceive an opponent.

Final

Last match deciding the champion.

Finish

Finishing touch from a pass or cross.

Finishing zone

Area near goal where attacks are finished.

Fitness coach

Specialist in fitness and physical preparation.

Fixing move

Drawing an opponent to free another space.

Form

Current performance condition of a player or team.

Formation

Team's tactical shape on the field.

Forward projection

Forward run to support an action.

Free kick

Set kick awarded after a foul.

Full-back

Defender playing on the outside lane.

Goal

Scoring by sending the ball into the opponent's goal.

Goal average

Older term for goal difference.

Goal difference

Difference between goals scored and conceded.

Goal kick

Goal kick awarded when the attacking team puts it out.

Goalkeeper

Player allowed to use hands inside their own penalty area.

Goalscorer

Player who scores a goal in the match.

Ground duel

Contest for a ground ball.

Group stage

Opening stage in mini-league groups.

Half-space

Inside lane between center and wing.

Half-time

Break between the two halves.

Half-volley

Shot struck just after one bounce.

Hat-trick

Three goals by one player in a match.

Head coach

Main tactical leader of the team.

Header

Contacting the ball with the forehead.

High block

Team block positioned high to press early.

Imbalance

Loss of defensive balance created by an action.

Impact

Direct effect of an action on the match.

Indirect free kick

Free kick that must touch another player before a goal.

Injury

Physical issue limiting a player's availability.

Inswinging cross

Cross with curl bending toward dangerous zones.

Intensity

Level of effort and aggression in actions.

Interception

Winning a pass before it reaches its target.

Key zone

Decisive area where actions carry high value.

Kick-off

Restart at the center spot to begin or resume play.

Knock-and-run

Pushing the ball past one side and running around.

Knockout stage

Stage where one loss means elimination.

Kop

Popular stand where dedicated supporters gather.

Layoff

Return pass, often played first time.

Layoff option

Player acting as a support point for the carrier.

Leadership

Ability to guide and positively influence teammates.

League

Regular competition played over many rounds.

Line alignment

Keeping a compact and coordinated line.

Line break

Action breaking a line through run or carry.

Loan

Temporary move to another club.

Locker room

Room where players change before and after games.

Lofted pass

Lofted pass over an opponent.

Long pass

Long pass used to gain territory.

Long-ball play

Approach relying on longer passes.

Low block

Team block positioned deep near its own goal.

Man marking

Defending by following a specific opponent.

Marking

Tracking an opponent to limit their influence.

Match sheet

Official report listing lineups, score, and incidents.

Mentality

Psychological side that impacts performance.

Mid block

Team block positioned around midfield.

Midfield line

Reference line around midfield.

Net

Mesh behind the goal that catches the ball.

Number 10

Creative attacking midfield profile.

Number 6

Holding midfielder screening the back line.

Number 9

Main finishing forward.

Numerical equality

Situation with equal numbers in an area.

Numerical inferiority

Situation with fewer players than the opponent.

Numerical superiority

Situation with more players than the opponent in an area.

Nutmeg

Passing the ball through an opponent's legs.

Off-ball run

Run to offer a forward passing option.

Officiating

Application and management of the rules in a match.

Offside

Illegal attacking position when the pass is played.

Offside trap

Stepping up together to catch attackers offside.

One-two

Two-pass combination with an immediate return.

Oriented control

First touch that sets up the next action.

Own goal

Goal accidentally scored against one's own team.

Pass

Playing the ball to a teammate.

Penalty area

Area in front of goal where some fouls result in a penalty.

Penalty kick

One-on-one shot from the penalty spot.

Penalty shootout

Series of penalties used to separate teams.

Penalty shot

Single penalty attempt from the spot.

Penalty spot

Marked spot where penalty kicks are taken.

Physical engagement

Ability to repeat duels and contact efforts.

Pitch

Playing surface, natural or synthetic.

Playing out

Way of progressing from the defensive third.

Playmaker

Creative player organizing attacking play.

Positional attack

Structured attack against a set defense.

Post

Vertical upright on either side of the goal.

Pressing

Collective pressure on the ball carrier.

Provider

Player who delivers the assist.

Quarter-final

Round featuring the final eight teams.

Red card

Sending-off card for serious misconduct.

Referee

Main referee who controls the match on the field.

Release clause

Fee allowing early contract termination.

Restart

Action of restarting play from the center.

Rhythm

Overall speed of circulation and execution.

Round of 16

Round featuring the final sixteen teams.

Save

Goalkeeper stop on a shot on target.

Scout

Person identifying and evaluating talent.

Second ball

Ball recovered after a duel or rebound.

Semi-final

Round played before the final.

Sending off

Removal of a player from the match.

Set ball

Restart situation from free kick, corner, or penalty.

Set-piece phase

Game situation coming from a set-piece restart.

Shielding

Using the body to shield possession.

Short pass

Short pass used to keep possession.

Short passing play

Approach based on short ground passes.

Shot

Action of striking the ball at goal.

Shutout

Situation where the team allows no goal.

Sliding tackle

Sliding intervention to dispossess an opponent.

Staff

Group of coaches and support personnel.

Stand

Seating or standing area for spectators.

Standings

Order of teams based on results.

Starter

Player selected in the starting lineup.

Starting selection

Being selected in the starting lineup.

Stoppage time

Minutes added at the end of each half.

Striker

Attacking player expected to score goals.

Strong hands

Strong, secure goalkeeper handling.

Substitute

Player beginning on the bench.

Substitution

Replacing one player with another.

Support

Nearby support to secure possession.

Supporter

Person who actively supports a team.

Suspension

Temporary ban from playing after sanctions.

Switch of play

Changing play quickly to the far wing.

Tackle

Defensive intervention with the foot to win the ball.

Tempo

Pace imposed on the game by a team.

Through ball

Pass played into space behind the defense.

Throw-in

Throw-in from the touchline to restart play.

Top corner

Upper corner of the goal, hard for the goalkeeper to reach.

Tournament

Competition with multiple teams over a set period.

Transfer

A player moving from one club to another.

Transfer window

Official period when player deals are made.

Transition

Moment of switching between defensive and attacking phases.

Treble

Three goals scored by the same player.

Triangular play

Three-player circulation creating passing angles.

Ultras

Highly organized and passionate supporter groups.

Video analyst

Analyst reviewing matches through video.

Volley

Shot taken before the ball touches the ground.

Warning

Official caution given by the referee.

Wide channel

Wide zone on either side of the field.

Width

Using wide areas to stretch the opponent.

Winger

Wide attacker providing width and one-on-one threat.

Yellow card

Caution shown for misconduct.

Zonal marking

Defending by protecting spaces.