Glossary of Soccer Terms

FOR SPECIFIC, IN-DEPTH RULES, SEE "THE RULES OF SOCCER: SIMPLIFIED"

ATTACK
A team is on the attack, regardless of field position, when it is in possession of the ball.

CORNER KICK
Awarded to the attacking team if a defender was the last player to touch the ball before it went out of bounds over the goal line. The kick is taken from the corner of the field closest to where the ball went out of bounds.

CROSS
A pass from one side of the field to the other.

DANGEROUS PLAY
Ruled by the referee when a player does something that is likely to cause injury. Bringing the foot up above shoulder level or putting the head down to head a low ball are examples of dangerous play. The offending team loses possession and the opponent is awarded an indirect free kick from the point of infraction.

DEFENSE
A team is on defense, regardless of team position, when the opponent has possession of the ball.

DIRECT FREE KICK
A kick from which a goal may be scored directly. It is awarded as a result of a personal foul, such as kicking, tripping, pushing, or holding, and is taken from the point of infraction.

DROP BALL
Called when a referee is not sure who last touched a ball before it went out of bounds. It is also called on a restart if the referee stopped the game because of injury or temporary suspension. The referee holds the ball between two opposing players and then drops it. Neither player may touch the ball until it hits the ground.

GOAL
Scored when the ball passes completely over the goal line under and between the uprights and crossbar. A goal counts as one point.

GOAL KICK
Awarded to the defending team if the attacking player last touched the ball before it went out of bounds over the goal line.

GOAL LINE
The end boundaries of the field.

INDIRECT FREE KICK
Awarded for infractions of playing rules such as ungentlemanly conduct, delay of game and offside. For a goal to be scored as a result of an indirect free kick, the ball must also be touched by another player on either team. The kick is awarded from the point of infraction.

OFFSIDE
A player is ruled offside if (1) he is nearer to his opponent's goal than the ball, (2)there are less than two opponents (goalie included) between him and the goal and (3) the ball is passed in his direction. A player may be in the offside position, i.e. (1) plus (2), but is not offside until the moment the ball is served to him. A player cannot be offside in his own half of the field, or during a corner kick, goal kick, throw-in or drop ball.

PENALTY AREA
The area, eighteen yards from the goal line by 44 yards wide (on a full size field), in which the goal keeper may use his hands on the ball.

PENALTY KICK
Awarded for any direct fouls or intentional handling of the ball by defensive players within their own penalty area. The kick is taken from the designated spot 12 yards (on a full size field) from the goal line in the center of the penalty area, with only the goalkeeper defending against it.

PITCH
An English term commonly used in place of "field".

TACKLING
Taking the ball away from an opponent by using the feet.

THROW-IN
Awarded to the team opposing the player who last touched the ball before it went over the touchlines. The thrower must use a two-handed, over-the-head throw and have both feet on the ground as he releases the ball. The ball may not spin horizontally. The throw-in is taken from the point where the ball went out of bounds.

TOUCHLINES
The side boundaries of the field.