Welcome to the SKH soccer glossary! You will find dozens of soccer terms explained here, with links to the respective article published on our site for more information. If you have any questions about our soccer glossary or would like clarity on a particular term, drop us a comment below and one of our writers will get back to you!
A
Advantage: The referee permits the game to continue after a foul has been committed for the benefit of the team in possession of the ball. See advantage in soccer for more information.
AFC: An acronym for Association Football Club. Learn more about AFC in soccer here.
Aggregate: The final score of a soccer match after two legs. Learn more about how aggregate works in soccer here.
Anchorman: A defensive midfielder that sits in front of the defense. Find out more about the anchorman role in soccer here.
Assist: The act of passing the ball to a teammate who then scores a goal. Find out more about assists in soccer here.
B
Behind closed doors: A match played without supporters present. Learn more about why matches are played behind closed doors in soccer here.
Brace: Scoring two goals. Discover why it’s called a brace in soccer here.
C
Cap: Awarded to a player when they are called up to represent their national team. Learn all about caps in soccer here.
Carrilero: A specialist central midfielder with Spanish roots. Learn more about the role of the carrilero in soccer here.
Catenaccio: An Italian tactical system that focuses on defensive structure and nullifying the threat of counter attacks. See catenaccio in soccer for more information.
Clean sheet: The act of preventing the opposition team from scoring a goal, ending the match with zero goals conceded. Find out more about a clean sheet in soccer here.
Conceding: The act of losing a goal in a soccer match. Find out all about conceding in soccer here.
Consolation goal: Scoring a goal that has no impact on the final score. Learn about consolation goals in soccer here.
Corner: The method of restarting play when the ball goes behind the goal line after being touched by a defender or the goalkeeper. Learn more about the soccer corner here.
Corridor of uncertainty: The area of a soccer pitch between the last line of defense and the goalkeeper. Find out why it’s called the corridor of uncertainty in soccer here.
Counter attack: Soaking up pressure from your opponents before hitting them on the break at pace. Learn how to launch a counter attack in soccer here.
Crossing: The act of delivering the ball into the penalty area to create a chance for your team mates. Learn about the art of crossing in soccer here.
D
Danger zone: The area of the eighteen-yard box directly in front of the goal where goalscoring opportunities are created. Learn more about the danger zone in soccer here.
Deep lying forward: A central attacking position where the player is responsible for linking the midfield and the attack. See deep lying forward in soccer for more information.
Designated player: A rule specific to MLS that deals with the signing of players. Learn all about the MLS designated player rule here.
Dribbling: Moving with the ball at your feet during a soccer game. Find out more about what dribbling means in soccer here.
Dugout: The area in which the coaches and substitutes sit during a match. Learn all about the dugout in soccer here.
E
Eighteen-yard box: Also known as the penalty area or penalty box. It is the area where the goalie can handle the ball. Also, fouls committed here on the attacking team result in a penalty being awarded. See eighteen-yard box in soccer for more information.
Excessive force: A foul committed with excessive force is punishable by a red card in soccer as it endangers the opponent. Find out what excessive force in soccer means here.
F
False nine: A deep lying forward deployed in specific tactical systems. Learn how to deploy a false nine in soccer here.
FC: An acronym for football club. Learn more about FC in soccer here.
Formation: The organized way in which a team sets up with their eleven players, split into defense, midfield, and attack. Find out more about the best soccer formations here.
Free kick: Awarded at the spot a foul is committed outside of the eighteen-yard boxes on the soccer pitch. See indirect vs direct free kicks for more information.
Friendly: A match arranged outside of competitive leagues or cup competitions, usually in the summer months. Learn more about friendly matches in soccer here.
Full back: A defender that plays on the right or left side of the defensive unit. Learn more about the position of full back here.
Full time: The end of a soccer match indicated by the referee. Learn all about full time in soccer here.
G
Gegenpressing: A German soccer philosophy that necessitates winning the ball back as quickly as possible from the opposition. Learn more about gegenpressing in soccer here.
Glory hunter: Someone who supports a soccer team due to the team’s success on the field. Find out more about glory hunters in soccer here.
Goal difference: The sum total of goals conceded minus goals scored used in league standings. Learn more about goal difference in soccer here.
Goal hanging: An informal term for an attacking player that positions themselves close to the penalty area. Learn all about goal hanging here.
Goal side: Taking up a position between your opponent and your own goal. Find out exactly what goal side in soccer means here.
Golden goal: A former rule that meant the only goal scored in a period of extra time brought the game to a close. Learn more about the golden goal rule in soccer for more information.
Green card: A green card in soccer is used in two ways – first as a symbol of fair play and second as a red card alternative in some types of soccer. Learn more about the use of the green card in soccer.
H
Half back: A position used in old soccer formations, similar to the role of a defensive midfielder in modern soccer. Learn more about the half back position in soccer here.
Half time: A 15-minute interval in the middle of a soccer match. Discover what happens at half time in soccer here.
Hospital pass: A dangerous square pass in a team’s defensive third that can result in the concession of goal or an injury. Learn more about the hospital pass in soccer.
I
Inverted winger: A right footed winger that plays on the left wing and a left footed player that plays on the right wing. See inverted winger in soccer for more information.
L
Loan: In professional soccer, a loan is where one team borrows a player from another, with various conditions attached. Find out more about loans in soccer here.
M
Man marking: The act of closely marking an opposition player, normally at set pieces. Learn more about man marking in soccer here.
Man on: A term shouted by a player indicating that their team mate is under pressure. Find out all about the term ‘man on’ in soccer here.
Match officials: The collective term for the referee and assistant referees. Find out more about the role of match officials here.
Metodo system: A system first deployed by Italian soccer coach Vittorio Pozzo in the 1930s that utilized a 2-3-2-3 formation. Learn more about the Metodo system in soccer and how it’s used.
Mezzala: A central midfielder that moves into wide areas of the field. Learn all about the mezzala role in soccer here.
N
Nutmeg: The act of kicking the ball directly through the legs of an opponent. Learn why it’s called a nutmeg in soccer here.
O
Obstruction: Intentionally impeding the progress of an opponent by committing a foul. See the obstruction rule in soccer for more information.
Own goal: Scoring a goal past your own goalkeeper. Learn more about own goals in soccer here.
P
Parking the bus: An idiom that describes a defensive approach to soccer in which keeping a clean sheet is the main priority. Find out more about parking the bus in soccer here.
Pass back: Passing the ball back to the goalkeeper. If the outfield player passes the ball to the goalie with their feet, the goalie cannot touch the ball with their hands. Learn more about the pass back rule in soccer.
Penalty: Awarded when an attacking player is fouled in their opponent’s penalty area, providing the team with a chance to score past the goalie from 12 yards. Learn more about penalties in soccer here.
Penalty shoot out: Takes place following a period of extra time to settle a knock-out soccer match. Each team has five penalties apiece to win the game. Learn more about how penalty shoot outs work in soccer.
Pitch: Another term for the soccer field. Find out why it’s called a soccer pitch here.
Pitch inspection: Conducted by the referee before the match starts to determine if it’s safe for the game to start. Learn more about pitch inspections in soccer here.
Playmaker: The player in a team responsible for creating chances. Discover more about the role of the playmaker here.
Poacher: A forward who is responsible for finishing off attacking moves and scoring goals for their team. See poacher in soccer for more information.
Points: In soccer, one point is issued for a tie (draw) and three points for a win. Learn more about point scoring in soccer here.
Promotion: When a team finishes near the top of the league and is moved to the league above for the following season. Find out more about promotions in soccer.
R
Raumdeuter: A specialist attacking role modeled on Thomas Muller. Learn about how to deploy a raumdeuter in soccer here.
Red card: Issued by the referee for a serious foul or following two yellow cards. A player must leave the field when shown a red card. See what do players do after a red card for more details.
Regista: A deep-lying playmaker in soccer responsible for building attacks and dictating the tempo of play. See regista in soccer for more details.
Relegated: When a team finishes towards the bottom of the league and is demoted to the league below for the following season. Find out how relegation works in soccer.
Result: The final score between two teams. Learn more about getting a result in soccer here.
Route one: An approach to soccer that sees a team move the ball as quickly as possible from back to front. Learn more about the route one approach in soccer here.
S
Second-season syndrome: A theory that a team that performed well in their first season after promotion will be relegated the following season. See second-season syndrome in soccer for more information.
Set play: A dead ball situation during a soccer game, including corners, free kicks, and throw ins. Learn more about set plays in soccer here.
Shin guards: Safety pads that a player must wear to cover their shins during a match. Learn more about why shin guards are an essential piece of soccer kit.
Simulation: Attempting to con the referee into awarding a foul by diving or feigning injury. See simulation in soccer for further details.
Sliding tackle: A method of winning the ball back from the opposition by going to ground and sliding across the grass. See sliding tackles in soccer for more details.
Stoppage time: A period of additional time allocated at the end of each half, determined by the referee. Learn more about stoppage time in soccer here.
Substitution: Replacing one player on the soccer field with another. See soccer substitution rules for more information.
Sweeper: A player deployed behind the defensive line to offer additional protection. Learn more about the sweeper role in soccer here.
T
Tackle: The act of dispossessing an opponent by taking the ball from them. Learn about tackling in soccer here.
Target man: A central forward responsible for holding the ball up and scoring goals. Learn more about the role of the target man in soccer here.
Through ball: A defense-splitting pass that can lead to a goalscoring opportunity. Find out more about a through ball in soccer here.
Throw in: The method of restarting play when the ball leaves the pitch via the touchline. Read more about throw ins in soccer here.
Tie: When both teams score the same number of goals by the full time whistle (also known as a draw). Learn more about ties in soccer here.
Trequartista: An advanced playmaker in the number ten position tasked with creating goalscoring opportunities for their team. Learn more about the trequartista in soccer here.
Twelfth man: A term of endearment for a soccer team’s supporters. Find out more about the twelfth man in soccer here.
U
Ultras: An extremely passionate and loyal group of soccer supporters, sometimes known for their violence. Learn more about soccer ultras here.
Utility player: A player who can play in multiple positions to help their team. Discover the value of utility players in soccer here.
V
VAR: An acronym for video assistant referee. Find out how VAR works in soccer here.
Vertical tiki taka: A tactical approach that prioritises possession-based soccer to build attacks. Learn more about vertical tiki taka in soccer here.
Volley: A shot or pass that you complete when the ball is in the air. Learn more about volleys in soccer here.
W
Wall: A group of players lined up ten yards in front of an opponent who is standing over a set play. Learn how to build a defensive wall in soccer here.
Winger: The player on a soccer team deployed in an attacking right or attacking left position. Learn more about wingers in soccer here.
Woodwork: Another term for the goalposts. Learn more about why they’re called the woodwork in soccer here.
X
xG: Expected goals – the number of goals predicted for a team based on the quality of chances created. Learn more about xG in soccer here.
Y
Yellow card: Issued by the referee for various offenses committed on the soccer field. Two yellow cards for the same player in one match lead to a red card. Learn about the differences between yellow and red cards in soccer here.
Z
Zonal marking: An approach to defending set plays that focuses on marking areas, as opposed to players directly. Find out more about zonal marking in soccer here.