Soccer Terminology

Away - Tells a defender to get the ball out their end of the Home - Pass the ball back to the GK to reset play. Settle/Secure - Gain control of the ball before playing
field.
In-Direct - To play short passes in an attempt to Shape - The players positioning on the field in relation to
Back and face - Drop back into position and face the breakdown the opposition. the formation and the ball location.
opponents ready for a counter attack.
Jockey - Slow down the attacking player who has the ball Show - Move from a position with an intervening defender
Balance - The presence of coverage by a team in important with your back to your own goal. to a position with a clear line to the ball.
areas on the pitch.
Jumping In - To overcommit as the 1st defender. Simple - Do the easy things well, don’t over complicate
Ball watching - Defender loses site of his mark because and lose possession.
Keep It - Maintain team possession of the ball, don’t force
he is looking at just where the ball is.
it. Split - Pass the ball between two defenders.
Body Position - Turn body so that you can see the whole
Man on - Communicate with teammate to let them know Square - A lateral pass (straight as in the lines of a square)
field or if central the ball and goal.
defending player is nearby.
Stay Central - Defend the center of the field
Bounce - Pass the ball through a central play to break
Man to man - Follow your mark everywhere.
pressure. Stay Connected - Maintain team shape in proximity to
Mark up - Telling your teammates to leave no one teammates
Caught square/flat - When defenders have been beaten
unmarked.
by a through ball because they were positioned in a straight Step - Pressure the ball or step up defensively to leave
line. One more - Let a crossing pass through or pass to the next opponents in an offside position and/or condense space.
player.
Channel/Lane - Space between center backs and full Stretch the field - Asking the forwards to push the
backs into which a pass can be played for an attacking Open out - Provide width in support (curved run) length of the attack to create attacking space and potential
player. through balls.
Over the Top - Play the ball over the defense into space
Check In/Out - To come back or move away to space to for the forwards to run on to. Support - Players in position to help keep possession of
receive the ball from a teammate or create space for the ball. Behind, ahead and beside the ball
Overlap - When a player runs around and ahead of the ball
another.
for a pass into space. Switch - Changing the point of attack to expose more
Cover - To provide defensive cover (2nd defender) for the space.
Pinch in - Two players closing from the left and right,
defender pressuring (1st defender) the ball.
squeezing the field together. The Hole - Space between an opposition defense and
Cross - Pass the ball across the mouth of the opponent's midfield, hence for an offensive midfielder or defensive
Play feet - To pass a ball directly to a teammate's feet.
goal. forward to play "in the hole".
Play space - To push a ball into an open area of the field
Direct - To play the long ball missing out midfield. Through ball - Serve the ball through a flat defensive
for another player to run on to.
alignment into a forward space creating an opportunity on
Drop - To pass the ball back to a supporting player.
Play the way you’re facing - Keep soccer simple and goal.
Drop and mark - The defending team needs to move to pass the way you are facing then move to space.
Time/Relax - Having enough time to control ball and look
their goal, picking up and marking opponents.
Possess - Don’t force the ball, maintain team possession around before a defender can pressure you.
Dummy/Fake - To let the ball go past or through your
Pressure - Refers to 1st defender placing pressure on his Track - To observe and stay in contact with your mark.
legs to a teammate.
opponent with the ball.
Transition - When team gains possession (goes on offense)
50/50 ball - A loose ball contested by players from each
Push-up - To move defenders away from goal area to or loses possession (goes on defense) of the ball.
team.
engage in the attack or attempt to draw the opposing team
Turn - Telling your teammate he has time to control the
First ball - Challenge for the initial ball (e.g. punt). off sides.
ball and turn up field.
First time - Shoot or pass the ball with the first touch. Recover - When a defender gets beat he turns and sprints
Turn and face - Turn around and get ready for the kick.
to get between the ball and the goal.
Get up/out - Clear defense out of box.
What you see - The player with the ball has no one
Reset - Don’t force the ball, find an open person to restart
Goal-side - The defender positioned between the goal and marking them, in other words, they are unmarked.
a new passing sequence.
the attacking player.
Second ball - Loose ball after initial challenge.
Hold - Usually means hold the ball while a player moves
into a supporting position for a pass.