Soccer Vocabulary - Ladera Ranch AYSO Region 1455

Did we miss any terms below? Ask us in the comments!

Parts of the field (8u and below):

Goal Line – The edges of the field on either side (on which the goals rest)
Goal Area – The rectangle right outside the goal. Goal kicks are started from here
Touch Line – The edges of the field perpendicular to the goals
Halfway Line – Line through the middle of the field. Opposing players must retreat behind this line during opponent goal kicks and kick offs
Center Circle – The circle line in the middle of the field. Opposing players can’t enter during kick off
Center Mark – The dot in the very middle of the field. The ball is started here on a kick off
Corner Arc – The small arc in each corner of the field. A corner kick is taken from here
Corner Flag – The flag denoting the corner of the field

Additional parts of the field (10u)

Penalty Area – The outer box surrounding the goal area. Fouls by the defensive team inside the penalty area result in penalty kicks. Keeper can use hands in this zone
Penalty Mark – The dot inside the penalty area where penalty kicks are taken
Build Out Line – The line halfway between the halfway line and the penalty area. Opposing players must retreat behind this line on goal kicks and keeper possessions. Also used for offside

Field 12u and up:

Build Out Line – Removed

Terminology

Advantage – If calling a foul would benefit the team committing the foul, the referee at their sole discretion can allow play to continue. Typically signaled with one or two outstretched arms to the front
Assist – The pass that led to the attacker who scored a goal
Assistant Referee – The referees that line up on either touchline
Attacking third – The third of the field towards the opponents goal
Ball – Size 3 for 8u and below, size 4 for 10u and 12u, size 5 for 14u and up
Boot – Another name for soccer cleats. Also means to give the ball a big kick upfield
Building Out (from the back) – The concept of moving the ball up field while maintaining possession of the ball. As opposed to kicking the ball upfield and hoping to regain possession closer to the opponents goal
Captain – A ceremonial position that will call the coin toss
Caution – An official warning demonstrated with a yellow card by the referee. Two cautions equate to a red card and dismissal from game. Rarely used in AYSO below 14u
Check in/out – Movement in relation to a teammate with the ball. A player can check in (or back) to move towards the teammate in possession or check out (or away) to move away from the teammate
Chip – A shot (“chip shot”) or pass played in the air over a short distance
Clear – A kick that attempts to remove the ball from a dangerous area inside ones defensive third. The main objective is to give time to the defensive team to regroup and is not specifically aimed at a teammate
Cleats – Mandatory foot equipment. Must be soccer cleats (not baseball, etc). Sometimes called a “boot”
Coin Toss – Referee will start every game with a coin toss between captains to determine who kicks off and which side each team defends
Corner Kick – A restart when a ball is kicked over the defensive team’s own goal line. The opposing team receives a direct free kick played from inside the corner arc
Cover – To stay close to (or mark) a specific opponent
Cross – To play the ball in from either side to the middle of the field, generally meant to mean in front of the opposing goal
Dead Ball – Play stoppage. The ball is not playable by either team, either because it is out of bounds or the referee has whistled for a game stoppage
Defender – A player in the back line of a team’s formation closest to their own goal. Comprised of centerback and fullback positions
Defensive Line – A defensive concept where all defenders stay in line across the field. Also used to mean the line by which, if crossed, an opposing player will be in an offside position
Defensive third – The third of the field closest to one’s own goal
Delay – A defensive concept where a player does not commit themselves to a tackle but instead applies just enough pressure to slow the advance of the ball carrier
Depth – The space between the furthest forward and rear players on a team. Adding depth means to extend that space
Direct Free Kick (DFK) – A free kick awarded to the other team from a committed foul. Free kicks can be shot on goal directly without any other player needing to touch the ball
Dive – An intentional fall by a player hoping to draw a foul. Extremely rare under 14u
Dribble – To control and play the ball with a player’s feet in direct control of the ball
Extra Time – Time a referee has added beyond the set time of a game to make up delays in the game. This is discouraged in AYSO
False 9 – A positional tactic where the #9 position (center forward in the US numbering system) plays back on attack similar to a #10 drawing central defenders forward which allows for outside wingers to make a less contested run up the middle
Feint – A fake or movement that tries to unbalance an opponent so that you can move the ball around them
Formation – The general shape and makeup of the team. The formation will determine what positioned are used for the lineup
Forward – The position that plays closest to the opposing team’s goal
Foul – Award of possession (direct free kick or indirect free kick) of the ball due to an infraction of the Laws of the Game by the opposing team
Fullback – The outside defensive position
Give and Go – An attacking concept of penetration when a player plays the ball to their teammate who then immediately plays the ball back to and ahead of them (typically around an opponent)
Goal – A score when the ball completely crosses the goal line
Goal Kick – A restart where a team receives a direct free kick from within their own goal area due to the opponents kicking the ball out of bounds over the goal line in the defensive team’s side
Goalkeeper – Only mandatory position on the field in 10u on up. Guards the goal and generally plays inside their own penalty area where they are allowed to use their hands–whereas outside the penalty area they cannot
Half – Soccer matches are officially broken down into 2 even halves. The match length is the player’s age group multiplied by 5 minutes. So a 10u team plays two 25 minute halves. Rest time and game clock stoppage happens between halves.
Half Time – The official break between halves. In AYSO half time is 5 minutes
Half Volley – Act of kicking or shooting the ball after the ball has bounced and is on its way back up
Halfback – Another name for a midfielder
Handball – An infraction when a player uses their hands or arms to play the ball. It is a very involved Law which involves the player’s arm position, how long did they have to move it out of the way, and did they gain an advantage by doing so. See details here.
Header – Playing the ball with your head. Disallowed below 14u
Holding Midfielder – A defensive midfielder that covers space in between the defensive line and other midfielders
Indirect Free Kick – A free kick awarded to the other team for committing a foul. Indirect free kicks must contact another player before being able to count as a goal
Instep drive – A type of soccer kick where the player strikes the ball with their laces
Jersey – Official jerseys must be worn at every match or a player is not allowed to play
Keeper – Short hand version of Goalkeeper
Kick-Off – Start of the match and as a restart after a goal is scored. The ball is placed on the center mark. The opposing team must be on their half of the field outside the center circle
Kicks from the Mark – Used in playoff games to decide a tie game. Groups of 5 players from each side take turns taking penalty kicks until one team outscores the other. Also called a penalty shootout
La Salida Lavolpiana – A set of tactics involving players switching their typical field positions to gain numerical superiority. Example, and central midfielder drops to central defender when trying to build out from the back
Lay off (pass) – A pass that sets up a teammate to play the ball in a single touch
Line of confrontation – A defensive tactic using an agreed spot upon on the field that once the opposing team reaches (e.g. center circle), the defending team moves to full press. In this case the defending team is conceding a third of the field to the attacking team
Line of restraint – Also called the “restraining line”, it is the imaginary line that extends across the field even with the 2nd to last defender. Beyond this “line” a player on the opposing team is in an offside position. Keeping a “high line” for example implies that a defensive unit presses forward aggressively in order to move offensive players away from the goal area
Linesman – Deprecated term for an Assistant Referee (as they call more than the sideline)
Mark – To cover an opposing player closely. Can also be shorthand for the penalty dot or center dot
Midfielder – A position that covers the middle portion of the field in between the backs and forwards
Offside – A complicated Law that prevents opposing players from “cherry picking” goals by standing behind the opposing team’s defense. See details here.
Offside Trap – A defensive tactic where the defensive line purposely advances up the field to place the opposing forward in an offside position just before the ball is played up
One Touch – The number of touches on the ball refers to every single touch including trapping and shooting. So if a player traps the ball, plays the ball ahead of them, then shoots, it is considered 3 touches on the ball. A one touch simply means the player makes their play (pass, shot, etc) without trapping and controlling the ball first
Overlapping Run – A penetrating tactic where a player runs out of their normal position past the ball handler to receive a pass
Pass – Playing the ball deliberately to a teammate
Penalty Kick – The award for an infraction of the other team in their own penalty area. It is a direct free kick taken from the penalty mark where all other teammates and opponents must be out of the penalty area and penalty arc
Ping – An aerial pass over a longer distance (vs a “chip” over a short distance)
Pitch – The British term for a field. Typically used by adults who spend too much time watching Premier League Soccer
Possession – The act of keeping your team in control of the ball
Press – To apply active pressure to the opponent with the ball. A “high press” is a style meaning to press in your attacking third, soccer is played this way by default. More developed teams can choose to alter this to play a lower press, meaning to concede possession to the opponent until they cross a particular point on the field (e.g. the center circle)
Punt – A drop kick by a goalkeeper. Disallowed below 12u
Push pass – A pass using the side of the foot. It’s more accurate than the instep drive and should be introduced to 8u players
Quarter Break – A play stoppage (but not clock stoppage) approximately halfway between each half. In AYSO this is used for a water break and for substitutions
Red Card – A severe Law infraction resulting in player being ejected from the game. Extremely rare in AYSO
Referee – A god among men, women, and children on the soccer field. Listen to them and be nice to them. Without these volunteers soccer cannot be played!
Rondo – A popular practice drill. It refers to any possession/keep away activity where there is an overload situation: 4v2, 5v2, 6,3 etc. Players losing possession often become the player in the “middle”.
Set Play – A preplanned play carried out by a team during a restart such as a corner kick or direct free kick
Settle – To bring a bouncing ball under control to ground
Shift – Generally meant to move to the side of the field where the ball is in play
Shinguard – Required shin protection. Players are not allowed to play without it
Shot – A kick on goal attempting to score
Slide Tackle – A slide by a player attempting to play the ball. Disallowed under 14u
Square pass – A ball played across the field (perpendicular to the touchline)
Stopper – See holding midfielder
Striker – See forward
Support – Players that are moving to get open to receive a pass from the ball carrier, more typically referring to a player getting open behind the ball carrier
Sweeper – An antiquated position that would play behind the defensive line. Also known as “last man”. Has been consolidated with centerback for all intents and purposes
Switch – To change the side of the ball deliberately trying to take advantage of more space on the other side of the field. This typically denotes a pass to a teammate to advance the ball upfield
System – See formation
Tackling – The act of trying to dispossess an opponent of the ball
Technical Area – The area off the touchline approximately the width of the center circle where coaches must stay during a match
Through ball – A ball played to space in behind the opponents defensive line
Throw-In – A restart when the ball goes over the touchline resulting in the other team getting to throw the ball in over their head to a teammate
Track – To slowly move around the field to stay between the ball and the goal. Used for defenders and keepers
Trap – To stop and control the ball
Tuck In – Term used on defense when you want a player to move in and closer to teammates to maintain a more compact shape
Turn – To change direction with the ball under control
Volley – Striking or shooting a ball while it is descending towards the ground before it bounces
Wall – A defensive tactic where players stand in a line front of an opponent taking a free kick to block portions of the goal
Wall Pass – A pass that is played as a one touch give and go back to the original player
Weight – The strength of a pass
Width – An offensive concept where you play the ball to the sides of the field where there is likely to be more space and less defensive pressure
Work Rate – The amount of running off the ball by a player. For example, midfielders have a higher work rate than defenders
Yellow Card – A card shown the referee to denote a caution to a player. Rarely used in AYSO