Soccer Glossary
Glossary explained in plain English for parents learning Soccer.
| Term | Plain-English Meaning | Example | Also Known As |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pitch | Another name for the soccer field. | The coach may tell players to spread out across the pitch. | Field |
| Touchline | The sideline boundary of the soccer field. | When the whole ball crosses the touchline, play usually restarts with a throw-in. | Sideline |
| Goal line | The end line that runs across the field through the goal. | A ball over the goal line can lead to a goal kick, corner kick, or goal depending on what happened. | End line |
| Penalty area | The marked box near each goal where the goalkeeper can usually use hands and where penalty kicks can be awarded for certain fouls. | A goalkeeper may pick up an allowed ball inside the penalty area. | Box |
| Possession | Control of the ball by a team or player. | The blue team has possession when it is passing and dribbling toward goal. | Control |
| Attack | The phase when a team is trying to move the ball toward the other goal. | A team may attack quickly after winning the ball in midfield. | Offense |
| Defense | The phase when a team is trying to stop the other team from scoring. | Defenders recover toward goal when the other team wins the ball. | Defending |
| Transition | The moment possession changes and both teams adjust from attacking to defending or defending to attacking. | After a blocked shot, the other team may transition quickly upfield. | Change of possession |
| Dribble | Moving the ball with controlled touches while running or walking. | A winger may dribble down the sideline before crossing. | Carry the ball |
| Pass | Intentionally sending the ball to a teammate. | A midfielder passes to a forward checking back to the ball. | Ball movement |
| Shot | An attempt to score a goal. | A forward takes a shot after receiving a pass near the penalty area. | Finish |
| Save | A goalkeeper stop that keeps the ball out of the goal. | The goalkeeper makes a save and then gathers the rebound. | Stop |
| Clearance | A defensive kick or header that moves the ball away from danger. | A defender clears the ball after a corner kick. | Clear |
| Throw-in | A restart from the sideline after the whole ball crosses the touchline. | If red touches the ball last before it goes out on the sideline, blue usually gets the throw-in. | Throw |
| Goal kick | A restart for the defending team after the attacking team last touches the ball over the defending team's goal line without scoring. | A missed shot that goes over the end line may restart with a goal kick. | Goal area restart |
| Corner kick | A restart for the attacking team after the defending team last touches the ball over its own goal line without a goal. | If a defender blocks a shot and it crosses the end line, the attacking team may get a corner kick. | Corner |
| Free kick | A restart given after many fouls or rule violations. | After a trip, the referee may award a free kick near where the foul happened. | Restart |
| Direct free kick | A free kick that can usually score directly without touching another player. | Some contact fouls restart with a direct free kick. | Direct kick |
| Indirect free kick | A free kick that must touch another player before a goal can count. | A referee may hold one arm up to show an indirect free kick. | Indirect kick |
| Penalty kick | A kick from the penalty mark awarded for certain fouls by the defense inside its own penalty area. | A careless trip in the box may lead to a penalty kick if the age group uses them. | PK |
| Foul | An unfair or unsafe action such as tripping, pushing, holding, or handling the ball when not allowed. | The referee whistles for a foul after a player trips an opponent. | Infraction |
| Handling | An illegal touch of the ball with the hand or arm, judged by the referee. | A field player swats the ball away and the referee calls handling. | Handball |
| Offside | A rule that prevents an attacker from gaining an unfair head start near the other team's goal when a teammate plays the ball. | A player standing beyond the second-to-last defender may be offside if they become involved when the pass is made. | Offside position |
| Build-out line | A youth-soccer line used in some leagues to help young teams pass out from the goalkeeper and modify offside. | After the goalkeeper gets the ball, opponents may need to retreat behind the build-out line. | Youth line |
| Advantage | A referee decision to let play continue after a foul because the fouled team still has a useful attack. | The referee says play on when the fouled team keeps the ball in open space. | Play on |
| Yellow card | A caution for misconduct or repeated unsafe play in leagues that use cards. | An older youth player may receive a yellow card for a reckless challenge. | Caution |
| Red card | A send-off for serious misconduct in leagues that use cards. | A red card is rare in many youth games but means the player must leave the match. | Send-off |
| Substitution | Replacing one player on the field with another player from the bench. | A player waits at midfield until the referee allows the substitution. | Sub |
| Assistant referee | An official on the sideline who helps the referee with out-of-bounds, offside, and other decisions. | The assistant referee raises a flag for offside. | AR;line judge |