| Like every sport, soccer has its own unique | | | | Indirect Free Kick: A free kick which requires a touch |
| vocabulary, derived from years of history and | | | | on the ball by a second player before a goal may be |
| tradition. Some soccer terms are familiar, others are a | | | | scored, awarded as a result of a technical or |
| bit more obscure. | | | | non-penal infraction. |
| Added Time: Playing time added to the end of a half | | | | Jumping: The act of leaving the ground under one's |
| to compensate for playing time lost to injuries, | | | | own power by leaping. If directed at an opposing |
| substitutions, time-wasting, or other any other cause | | | | player in an unfair manner to prevent the opponent |
| for which the referee deems appropriate. Also called | | | | from making a play on the ball, it is a penal foul. |
| "stoppage time"or "injury time." | | | | Keeper: A goalkeeper. |
| Advantage: A decision by the referee to allow play | | | | Kicking: A penal foul consisting of unfair contact |
| to continue, despite witnessing an act of foul play, | | | | against an opponent by means of the foot or leg. |
| when doing so would benefit the fouled team. | | | | Kick-off: The means of starting a half, or restarting |
| AR: An assistant referee | | | | the game following a goal, taking place from the |
| Assistant Referee: An official positioned along the | | | | middle of the center circle. |
| touch line, who communicates with the referee by | | | | Kicks from the Mark: A method of obtaining a result |
| means of a flag signal; formerly called a "linesman." | | | | following a draw, where the rules of the competition |
| Attacker: A player who is in the opposing half of the | | | | require a winner, consisting of a series of penalty |
| field; or any player whose team is in possession of | | | | kicks. |
| the ball. | | | | Misconduct: An act deemed by the referee to be |
| Backpass: The common name for the technical | | | | unsporting, reckless, violent, or flagrantly in violation |
| offense of a keeper handling the ball following a | | | | of the laws and spirit of the game, and punishable by |
| deliberate kick or throw-in to him by a teammate, | | | | a caution (and yellow card) or a send-off (and red |
| punishable by an indirect free kick. | | | | card). |
| Caution: A formal warning by the referee to a player | | | | Offside Line: An imaginary line signifying the furthest |
| or substitute whose behavior or play has become | | | | point down field that an attacker may be without |
| unacceptable, signified by the display of a yellow card. | | | | risk of being penalized for being offside. |
| Center Circle: A circle in the middle of the field | | | | Offside Offense: The act of participating in play from |
| marking the ten-yard radius from spot of a kick-off. | | | | an offside position. Also called "offside infraction." |
| Charging: Bodily contact undertaken against an | | | | Offside Position: A position in the attacking half of |
| opponent in order to win or obtain possession of the | | | | the field in which a player is closer to the opposing |
| ball. If done unfairly, it is a penal foul. | | | | goal than (a) the ball, as well as (b) the next-to-last |
| Club Linesman: A non-neutral official, pressed into | | | | defender. |
| service on one of the touchlines due to the absence | | | | Obstructing: The act of physically obstructing or |
| of a qualified assistant referee, and asked to signal | | | | impeding the progress of an opponent. Also known |
| when the ball goes out of play. | | | | as "impeding." |
| Coach: The team official allowed along the sidelines, | | | | Outside Agency: Any force acting on or influencing a |
| who is entitled to pass tactical advice and instruction | | | | match which is not part of game, or part of the |
| during the match; sometimes called the manager. | | | | physical field. |
| Competition Authority: The organizing league or | | | | Penal Foul: An infraction resulting in a direct free kick; |
| agency which is organizing a soccer competition. | | | | often called simply a "foul." |
| Corner Arc: A one-yard quarter circle from the corner | | | | Penalty Arc: The marked arc extending outside the |
| of the field, marking the spot for a corner kick. | | | | boundary of each penalty area, marking 10 yards |
| Corner Kick: The restart of play occurring when the | | | | from the penalty spot. |
| ball passes over the end line after last being touched | | | | Penalty Area: The marked area around each goal, |
| by a defender. | | | | measuring 18x44 yards, within which the defending |
| CR: The referee (or "center referee"). | | | | keeper has the privilege of handling the ball, and inside |
| Dangerous Play: A technical foul, consisting of any act | | | | which a penal foul by the defensive team will result in |
| considered by the referee to be dangerous to an | | | | a penalty kick. |
| opposing player. | | | | Penalty Kick: A direct free kick from the penalty |
| Defender: A player on his own half of the field; or a | | | | spot, pitting the attacker taking the kick directly |
| player whose team is not in possession of the ball. | | | | against the defending keeper; sometimes called a |
| Direct Free Kick: A free kick from which a goal may | | | | "spot kick." |
| be scored, awarded as a result of a penal foul. | | | | Penalty Spot: The marked spot 12 yards from the |
| Dissent: A form of misconduct consisting of | | | | middle of each goal, from which penalty kicks are |
| protesting a call by any of the officials, punishable by | | | | taken. |
| a yellow card. | | | | Persistent Infringement: The misconduct of |
| Dropped Ball: A means of restarting play after a | | | | continuous or repeated foul play, punishable by a |
| stoppage caused by something other than an | | | | yellow card. |
| offense by a player. Also called a "drop ball." | | | | Pitch: Another name for the soccer field. |
| End Line: The boundary line at each end of the field, | | | | Player: A competitor at a soccer game. |
| upon which each set of goals rests. Also called a | | | | Pushing: A penal foul resulting from the unfair use of |
| "goal line" or "bi-line." | | | | the arms or body to push, shove, or otherwise force |
| Extra Time: The additional period or periods of play | | | | an opponent into changing position or direction. |
| to obtain a result at the end of a match that ends in | | | | Red Card: The misconduct card shown to a player |
| a draw, usually during the later stages of tournament | | | | who is being sent off either for a serious act of |
| play where the match requires a winner. | | | | misconduct, or for receiving a second caution. |
| Free Kick: A kick awarded to a team due to an | | | | Referee: The match official responsible for |
| infraction committed by the opposing team, free | | | | supervising and controlling a soccer match; also called |
| from interference by the opponents. | | | | a "Center Referee" or "CR." Often called other |
| Fourth Official: An extra official appointed by the | | | | names, as well. |
| competition authorities to assist at the match and | | | | Restart: Any method of resuming the game after a |
| serve as a substitute official for the referee or | | | | stoppage of play. |
| assistant referee. | | | | Result: The final outcome of a soccer match, |
| Game Report: The official account of a match, | | | | whether a draw, or a victory by the team scoring |
| including the score and any misconducts issued, | | | | the greater number of goals. |
| prepared by the referee. | | | | Send-off: The dismissal of a player following the |
| Goal: (1) The targets of both teams, consisting of | | | | display of a red card, either for a serious act of |
| two uprights and a crossbar, placed at the end line | | | | misconduct or for receiving a second caution in the |
| on opposite ends of the field and defended by each | | | | same match. |
| respective team. (2) A score, occurring when the ball | | | | Serious Foul Play: A misconduct, often violent, which |
| passes entirely over the end line and into the goal. | | | | consists of the clearly disproportionate use of |
| Goalkeeper: The player on each team designated as | | | | physical force against an opponent during a contest |
| the one entitled to handle the ball inside its own | | | | for the ball on the field, and while the ball is in play. |
| penalty area and required to wear a distinct jersey, | | | | Spitting: A penal foul, consisting of the deliberate |
| different from the rest of the team. | | | | attempt to direct bodily fluid from the mouth onto |
| Goal Line: The end line; usually, the end line between | | | | the person of someone else. It is also an act of |
| the goal posts. | | | | misconduct, punishable by a red card. |
| Goal Posts: The physical boundaries of the goal, | | | | Striking: A penal foul, most often resulting from the |
| usually made of metal or wood; often described by | | | | unfair use of the hands or body to hit an opposing |
| their components, consisting of a cross bar, and two | | | | player, or to hurl an object that strikes an opposing |
| upright posts. | | | | player. If done intentionally, it is usually a misconduct, |
| Half-time: The interval of time between the end of | | | | often a form of violent conduct. |
| the first half, and the beginning of the second half of | | | | Stoppage Time: Playing time added to the end of |
| a soccer game. | | | | each half at the discretion of the referee to |
| Half-way Line: The physical line marking the center of | | | | compensate for lost playing time; see "Added Time." |
| the field extending from one touchline to the other. | | | | Substitute: A non-participating player along the |
| Handball: Another name for "handling." | | | | sidelines, who is eligible to replace a player on the |
| Handling: A penal foul, consisting of the deliberate use | | | | field. |
| of the arm or body to control the ball. A goalkeeper | | | | Tackle: An attempt to obtain possession of the ball |
| cannot be guilty of handling the ball inside his own | | | | by using the feet. If a tackle results in contact with |
| penalty area. | | | | an opposing player before contact is made with the |
| Holding: A penal foul, consisting of unfairly hindering or | | | | ball, it is a penal foul. |
| restraining the progress of an opponent, usually by | | | | Throw-in: The method of restarting play after the ball |
| means of the arms or hands. | | | | has gone out of bounds over a touch line. |
| Impeding: The act of physically obstructing or | | | | Touch Line: The boundary lines marking each sideline |
| impeding the progress of an opponent. Also known | | | | of the field. |
| as "Obstructing." | | | | Tripping: The penal foul of tripping an opponent. |