American English: soccer terms

The game starts with a kick into the opposing team’s side.

The object of soccer is to score more goals than your opponent. Only goalies are allowed to use their hands.

There are 11 total players on the field. The team is comprised of the following:  one goalie, four defenders, four midfielders, and two strikers.

Attacker: The attacker is the player that possesses the ball.

Corner (kawr-ner): A corner is when a player touches the ball last and it travels out of bounds. The game restarts with a kick from the closest corner.

Crossbar (kraws-bahr): A long diagonal pass.

Defenders: The Defenders that stay in back of the midline to try and prevent goals from being scored.

Dribble (drib-uhl): Moving the ball forward by using the feet.

Forwards/strikers. The forwards are the ones kicking the ball into the goal.

Goal (gohl): When the ball is scored by a player it is called a goal. All goals under international law must be scored. The size of the goal is 24 feet by 8 feet.

Goalkeeper or Goalie (goh-lee): The Goalie protects the goal and is the only one allowed to use his arms. He must be fast, strong and smart.

Heading (hed): Using your head to direct the balls flight.

Linesman (lahynz-muhn): An assistant referee.

Midfielders: The Midfielders control most of the motion of the ball through the field.

Obstruction (uhb-struhk-shuhn): A player uses his body to block another player from getting the ball.

Off sides: Off sides is called when a player is in front of the ball or in the opponent’s half.

Penalty (pen-l-tee) spot: A small spot 12 yards out from the center of the goal where penalty shots are made.

Red card: The final card after two yellow cards throwing the player out of the game.

Send off (send-awf): When the player is removed.

Shielding: Shielding is keeping possession of the ball by using your body to block the opponent.

Shot (shot): A shot is when the ball is kicked or headed directly at the net to score a goal.

Tackling (tak-uhl): Tackling is using the feet or the shoulder to get the ball away from the carrier.

Throw-ins: A throw-in is when the ball travels outside the field, the opposing team gets to throw the ball back into the field. Some of the rules for the throw-in include: the player must throw the ball back into the field with both hands over his head and his feet must be on the ground. He must throw the ball from the spot where it went out.

Violations that result in a red card are: tripping a player, kicking a player, charging a player, spitting at a player, handling the ball, illegal blocking, charging the goal keeper, goal keeper using his hands when a team mate kicks the ball, wasting time.

Yellow card: A referee issues a yellow card as a warning violation to a player, when the player receives two yellow cards he issues a red card which removes the player from the game.