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Soccer Terminology | A - B - C

A

Advantage rulen

A clause in the rules that directs the referee to refrain from stopping play for a foul if a stoppage would benefit the team that committed the violation.

Advantages

Situations where a team has possession of the ball and outnumbers the opposition near the opposing goal.

American football

A term used by non-Americans to distinguish the popular U.S. sport of football from soccer which they also call football.

APSL

American Professional Soccer League - the nation's only outdoor professional soccer league since 1991, consisting of 8 teams in the U.S. and Canada (expanding to 12 by 1995).

Assist

The pass or passes which immediately precede a goal; a maximum of two assists can be credited for one goal.

Attacking midfielder

The most forward-playing midfielder, playing right behind the forwards; he supports the offense by providing passes to forwards to set up goals.

Attacker

Any player on the team that has possession of the ball.

Attacking team

The team that has possession of the ball.

AYSO

American Youth Soccer Organization - an administrative body of youth soccer which sets rules and provides information and equipment to youth league referees, coaches and players.

B

Back

A defender.

Back header

A player's use of his head to direct the ball backwards.

Back tackle

An attempt by a defender to take the ball away from a ball carrier by swinging the defender's leg in front of the ball from behind.

Ball carrier

A player that has possession of the ball.

Banana kick

a type of kick that gives the ball a curved trajectory; used to get the ball around an obstacle such as a goaltender or defender.

Beat

To get the ball through or around an opponent by dribbling or shooting.

Behind the defender

The area between a defender and his goal.

Bicycle kick

When a player kicks the ball in mid-air backwards and over his own head, usually making contact above waist level; an acrobatic shot.

Break

When a team quickly advances the ball down the field in an attempt to get its players near the opponent's goal before the defenders have a chance to retreat; also called an advantage.

Breakaway

when an attacker with the ball approaches the goal undefended; this exciting play pits a sole attacker against the goalkeeper in a one-on-one showdown.

Bundesliga

The German professional soccer league.

C

Cap

A recognition earned by a player for each appearance in an international game for his country.

Carrying the ball

A foul called on a goalkeeper when he takes more than 4 steps while holding or bouncing the ball.

Caution

see Yellow card.

Center

A pass from a player located near the sideline towards the middle of the field; used to get the ball closer to the front of the goal; also called a cross.

Center circle

A circular marking with a 10-yard radius in the center of the field from which kickoffs are taken to start or restart the game.

Center line

See Midfield line.

Center spot

A small circular mark inside the center circle that denotes the center of the field from which kickoffs are taken to start or restart the game.

Central defender

A player who guards the area directly in front of his own goal in a zone defense; does not exist in a man-to-man defense.

Charge

To run into an opponent; legal if done from the front or side of the ball carrier; illegal against a player without the ball or from behind.

Chest trap

When a player uses his chest to slow down and control a ball in the air.

Chip pass

A pass lofted into the air from a player to a teammate; used primarily to evade a defender by kicking the ball over his head.

Chip shot

A kick lofted into the air to try to sail the ball over the goalkeeper's head and still make it under the crossbar into the goal.

Clear

To kick the ball away from one's goal.

Cleats

The metal, plastic or rubber points in the bottom of a soccer shoe used to provide a player with traction; term also used to refer to the shoes themselves.

Club

A team that plays in a league.

CONCACAF

The Confederation Norte-Centroamericana y Del Caribe de Footbal - the regional organization of North American and Central American soccer under which World Cup qualifying matches are played; member countries include the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Central American and Caribbean countries.

Consolation match

A tournament game played between the losers of the 2 semifinal matches to determine the third-place team.

Corner arc

a quarter-circle with a radius of 1 yard located at each of the 4 corners of the field; on a corner kick, the ball must be kicked from inside this arc.

Corner flag

The flag located at each of the 4 corners of the field, inside the corner area.

Corner kick

A type of restart where the ball is kicked from the corner arc in an attempt to score; awarded to an attacking team when the ball crosses the goal line last touched by the defending team.

Counterattack

An attack launched by a defending team soon after it regains possession of the ball.

Creating space

When a player from the attacking team moves without the ball to draw defenders away from the ball carrier and give him space.

Cross or crossing pass

A pass from an attacking player near the sideline to a teammate in the middle or opposite side of the field; used to give the teammate a good scoring opportunity.

Crossbar

The horizontal beam that forms the top of a goal and sits on top of the two posts; it is 24 feet long and supported 8 feet above the ground.

Cut down the angle

When the goalie comes out of the goal several feet to make himself closer and larger to an attacker, leaving the attacker less net to shoot at.

Cut off

When a defensive player keeps his body between an attacker and the defender's goal, forcing the attacker out towards the sidelines.