POSITION TALK

Backs – See Defender.

Defender – A player who works mainly in the defensive third of the field. They are primarily focused on stopping the opposition’s attackers from scoring.

Forward – A player who is responsible for most of a team's scoring. They play in front of the rest of their team (or in the attaching third of the field) where they can take most of the shots.

Fullback – See Defender.

Goalie – See Goalkeeper.

Goalkeeper – The player positioned directly in front of the goal who tries to prevent shots from crossing the goalline; the only player allowed to use their hands and arms, though only within the 18-yard penalty area.

Keeper – See Goalkeeper.

Midfielder – A player generally positioned in the middle third of the field between the forwards and defenders. Their job is to link the defense and the offense through ball control and passing. They play both an attacking role and a defensive role.

Striker – Generally the same as a forward, though it sometimes refers to a forward that is his team’s primary scoring threat.

SOCCER TALK

Angles - most often used for goal keepers, "narrowing the angles"

Ball - the spherical object that the game revolves around!

Blind side - playing the ball to the opposite side of where an opponent is focused

Block tackle - strong frontal tackle

Box - the penalty area / 18 yard box where strikers do the damage

Breakaway - counter attack where rapid movement is made into forward space. Counter attacking soccer is a strategy employed by teams when playing away from home.

Channels - area approximately 15 yard from the touchline

Chip - short lofted pass or shot that gets the ball in the air

Commit - getting your opponent to commit to a course of action that your player can then do the opposite too

Control (ball) - bringing the ball under control by cushioning its arrival at a player with a surface on the body

Cover - defensively where a second soccer player provides cover to another player. This follows the defensive soccer principles of first and second defender.

Cross - a long pass often in the air that is played diagonally from the flanks or channels into the box

Decoy run - where a soccer player executes a run to draw attention from the intended play. Also known as creating space.

Dribbling - the art of close control while moving with the soccer ball at the feet

First touch - vital skill of any soccer player is to be able to get the ball under control and set up their next option, often known as their first touch

Flight - referred to the flight of the soccer ball

Give and go - were a player passes the ball and them moves to receive the ball back from the player they played it to also known as wall pass or 1 - 2

Goal - something every team needs to focus on, whether it’s defending or scoring!

Jockeying - delaying and holding up play, not diving in with a tackle but staying up right and preventing the advancement of the opponent

Juggling - Keep the ball in the air with any part of the body (no hands or arms). Used for practice and developing coordination

Late tackle - an unfair challenge, where a soccer player commits a tackle after an opponent has already played the ball

Line (holding the) - defensive term where the defenders keep an imaginary line to catch opponents offside

Mark - to cover a player who may or may not have the ball, prevent a player from receiving the ball

Nutmeg - In football/soccer when you dribble the ball between the defender's legs

Off the ball - movement of players, to create space and provide options

One touch - players move the ball quickly and immediately when they receive it

Two touch - see give and go

Pace - the speed of a player or ball

Pass - technique to move the ball from one player to another. Various techniques apply, chip, half volley, push, lofted etc.

Penetration - a phase of play where a team breaks through the opponent’s defense 

Pitch - the lovely green turf, where soccer should be played

Receiving - technique required to control an incoming ball

Running with the ball - player in possession exploits space by carrying the ball quickly and efficiently, different to dribbling a player must beat an opponent

Save - when the goal keeper or defender prevents a goal!

Shielding - keeping possession and control of the ball by using the body to come between the ball and the opponent

Show - when a player makes them self available

Sliding tackle - when a defending player goes to ground and uses an extended leg to win the ball

Space - creating, exploiting, and running into space

Support play - team mates move into and create space and options for the player in possession (offensively or defensively)

Tackle - a challenge to win the ball off an opponent

Throw-in - The only time a player may use his hands. Used to bring the ball back in play after it crosses out of bonds on the sidelines. Two hands must be used and the ball must be throw from behind the players head.  Both feet must be on the ground, behind the side line.

Volley - striking the ball before it lands, difficult skill to master but very powerful

Wall - line of players that organize themselves to prevent a direct attack on goal from a dead ball situation