Soccer Terms

Knowing soccer terms will both help you understand the sport and make you sound like a better player. Having a basic vocabulary of soccer terms will increase your confidence while you play and allow you to improve more quickly. You will understand what other people are saying and be able to effectively communicate with them.

1. Learn the different positions in soccer. There are several different positions in soccer and you need to know the terms for each one of them. Forwards, also called strikers, play offense and attack the opposing goal and try to score. Midfielders run up and down the entire field and play both offense and defense. Defenders protect the goalie and are the second to the last line of defense. Stopper and sweeper are two additional terms for defenders. The goalie protects the goal and is the only player allowed to use his or her hands.
2. Learning the different types of kicks is important when learning soccer terms. Kick-off occurs at the start of the game in the very center of the field and it also happens after halftime. One team gets to have possession of the ball in the first half and another team gets to have possession in the second half. Kick-off also occurs after each goal scored and the team who was scored on has possession. Direct kicks or free kicks occur after penalties such as fouls or hand balls. Corner kicks happen in the corners of the field and occur when the defending team kicks the ball out of bounds on their side. Penalty kicks occur when someone is fouled or there is a hand ball in the box. This allows a team to kick the ball at the goal with nobody defending it except the goalie.
3. Learn the penalties and you will have a better understanding of soccer terms. A hand ball is when a player hits, intentionally or unintentionally, the ball with his or her hand. The opposing team gets a free kick and has possession of the ball after this. A foul is when someone uses excessive force or does an illegal tackle or slide-tackle. A yellow card is a warning and two yellow cards equal a red card. Yellow cards are given for excessive fouling or arguing with the referee. Red cards are automatic expulsions from the game and sometimes they lead to expulsion from the next game as well.