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SoccerTerminology | M - N - O

M

Man-to-man

A type of defense where each defender is assigned to mark a different forward from the other team; the most common type of defense for national-level teams.

Marking

Guarding a player to prevent him from advancing the ball towards the net, making an easy pass or getting the ball from a teammate.

Match

A soccer game.

Midfield

The region of the field near the midfield line; the area controlled by the midfielders.

Midfield anchor

See Defensive midfielder.

Midfield line or center line

A line that divides the field in half along its width.

Midfielders

The 2, 3 or 4 players who link together the offensive and defensive functions of a team; they play behind their forwards.

MISL

Major Indoor Soccer League - started in the U.S. in 1977 playing games of 6 players per side in modified hockey rinks covered by artificial turf; became the MSL in 1990.

Mismatch

When a particular offensive player is far superior to the defender marking him.

MLS

Major League Soccer - the new U.S. outdoor league scheduled to begin play in the Spring of 1995.

MSL

Major Soccer League - a U.S. indoor league which formed in 1990 from the MISL and folded in 1992.

N

NASL

North American Soccer League - an outdoor league formed in the U.S. in 1967 that attracted great international players including Pele and huge audiences to the U.S. in the 1970s; folded in 1985.

National team

A team consisting of the best players in a country chosen to represent it in international competitions such as the World Cup.

NCAA

National Collegiate Athletic Association - governs and organizes sports at the collegiate level; has its own soccer committee.

Near post

The goalpost closest to the ball.

Net

Hemp, jute or nylon cord draped over the frame of the goal and extending behind it; also used to refer to the goal itself.

NPSL

National Professional Soccer League - a U.S. indoor league that plays its games in a modified hockey rink, much like the former MISL; plays by non-traditional rules to create a faster-paced, higher-scoring game; also, a different league by the same name that played in the 1960s, merging with another league to form the NASL.

O

Obstruction

When a defensive player, instead of going after the ball, uses his body to prevent an offensive player from playing it.

Offense

The function of trying to score goals.

Offensive player

See Attacker.

Offensive team

See Attacking team.

Official game clock

The clock that the referee carries with him on the field so he can signal when each half is over; does not stop during the game, even when play does.

Officials

The referee and 2 linesmen who work together to make sure the game is played according to the rules of soccer; responsible for stopping and restarting play, keeping track of the score and the time remaining and citing violations of the rules, called fouls; they wear uniforms that distinguish them from the players on both teams.

Offside

A violation called when a player in an offside position receives a pass from a teammate; an indirect free kick is awarded to the non-offending team.

Offside position

An attacking player positioned so that fewer than 2 opposing defensive players (usually the goalie and 1 other defender) are between him and the goal he is attacking; a player is not offside if he is exactly even with one or both of these defensive players.

On defense

Describes a team that does not have possession of the ball.

On offense

Describes a team in possession of the ball.

On-side

The opposite of offside.

Open

Describes an attacking player who does not have anyone marking him.

Out of bounds

When a ball is outside the boundaries of the field, having completely crossed a sideline or goal line.

Out of play

When a ball is outside the boundaries of the field or play has been stopped by the referee.

Outlet passes

When a goaltender or defender passes the ball from close to his own goal toward the other team's goal; used to start a counterattack.

Overlap

When a winger moves away from the sideline towards the center of the field to create space for a teammate to advance the ball undefended along the side of the field.

Overtime

The extra periods played after a regulation game ends tied; used in collegiate and championship international matches to determine a winner.