Soccer Glossary
Attacker
Usually, we think of an attacker as an offensive player who is trying to score, but an attacker can also be anyone who is in possession of the soccer ball.
Corner Kick
When the ball goes over the end line and is last touched by the defending team, a corner kick is awarded to the offensive team. Corner kicks are "direct" kicks and will count as a score with or without another player making contact with the ball before it enters the goal. The ball must be placed within a small arc in the corner on the side of the field where the ball went out of bounds.
Defender
A player in the teams formation whose primary duty is to stay relatively closer to her own goal to prevent the other team from scoring a goal. Some defenders will push forward on the filed to support the offensive efforts of her teammates.
Direct Kick
A direct kick is one where the ball can be kicked directly into the goal without touching another player first and will count as a valid goal.
Forward
As the name indicates, forwards push forward toward their opposition's goal. Forwards (including "strikers") primary task to put pressure on the opposing team's defense and score goals.
Free Kick
When a team is awarded a free kick, the opposition must keep a distance of 10 yards. Free kicks are awarded for several reasons. Free kicks are used for starting a half, corner kicks, goal kicks, penalty kicks, and for a foul being committed outside the penalty areas.
Fullback
The fullback position is a defender that generally is positioned back behind the midfielders in the formation. Fullbacks can contribute on offense when the ball is deep within the opponents territory.
Goal
When the entire soccer ball fully crosses the plane of the goal line, below the crossbar, between the two side posts, as long as no fouls were committed. One point is awarded for scoring a goal.
Goal Area
The goal area is also called the six-yard box and it's sole purpose is to limit where the soccer ball can be placed in order to make a goal kick.
Goal Kick
Also called a "6 kick" because the ball must be placed on the edge of or within the 6 yard box. The goal kick is a free kick that is awarded to the defending team when the offensive team was the last to touch it before it went over the end line.
Goalie
The term goalie is a shortened version of goalkeeper and is also called the keeper. The goalie's main tasks are to keep the ball out of the net and to distribute the ball effectively after a save or from taking the six yard (goal) kick.
The goalie is the only player on the field that can use their hands on the soccer ball, provided the ball is within the penalty area.
Hand Ball
The soccer phrase hand ball refers to an illegal touch of the ball with a players hand or arm. It's up to the referees judgement on whether a handball is accidental or intended, as well as if the hand ball affected the play.
Kickoff
When the first or second half of a soccer match begins, the kickoff is started directly in the middle of the field. The player who starts with the initial kick can not touch the ball a second time until another plyer from either team has touched it next.
Midfielder
This is another one of those soccer words that describes its own meaning. Be aware, that a midfielder can be an offensive midfielder or a defensive midfielder. Depending on the specific formation that a soccer coach employs, mot midfielders have certain intended levels of offensive and defensive duties that can change quickly during a match.
Offsides
A perfect understanding of offsides in soccer can be challenging because there are several parts that come into play that determine whether an offsides violation occurred.
A player is in an offsides position when she is closer to her opponents goal line than both the soccer ball and the second to last opponent.
Additionally, you're not in an offsides position when receiving a throw in, nor can you be offsides on your own defensive half of the field.
Penalty Area
The penalty areas are 44 yards wide and 18 yards deep and are in front of the goals at each end of a full-sided soccer field. The penalty area is also called the 18-yard box. Committing an infringement of certain rules foul by the defense in the penalty area causes a penalty kick to be awarded to the offensive team.
Penalty Kick (PK)
The term penalty kick is often abbreviated as PK. A penalty kick is a free direct kick from a spot 12 yards in front of the goal.
Striker
Also may be referred to as a forward. The term striker comes from the developed ability of that player to strike the soccer ball with accuracy and power and score goals. Strikers are typically the player positioned as far forward as possible without being offsides.
Throw In
Throw ins are used to return the soccer ball back onto the playing field after it has gone out of play over one of the sidelines (touchlines). The team that did not touch the ball last before it went out is the team that gets to throw the soccer ball.