About Real Salt Lake
Soccer Glossary
B
Backs
Also called Defensive Backs or Fullbacks, these players stay in the defensive end of the field near their own goal. In a diamond formation, the first defender is called the Stopper and the last is called the Sweeper.
Bend
To kick the ball so it spins and has a curved trajectory. This type of shot is often called a Banana Kick because of the banana-shaped line it follows. If the ball curves toward the goal it is call an In-Swinger; if it bends away from the goal it’s an Out-Swinger. And if it bends down into the goal it’s called Pulling the String.
Boots
This is the most common name for soccer-specific footwear. Boots for field soccer are called Cleats and boots for indoor soccer are called Flats or Indoors.
Brace
2 goals in a single game by a single player.
C
Cap
An appearance in an international game on a national team. From the old tradition of giving hats to international guests.
Card
Also Book, to flash either a yellow or red card to a player for a serious foul. A yellow card is a Caution; a red card is an ejection. Two yellow cards equal a red card.
Carry
Also called Dribbling, to move with the ball on your feet.
Clear
To kick the ball as far away from your own goal as possible, usually not aiming for anyone.
Club
A Team or an organization. In a match, a team may be referred to as a Side. FC is the prolific abbreviation for Football Club.
Cross
A pass from one side of the field to the other side, also called reversing the field. A cross is also a pass from the outside into the center of the field near your opponents’ goal.
D
Dive
Also flop, the shameful act of pretending to be fouled to gain an advantage.
E
Equalizer
A goal that ties the score.
Extra Time
Also overtime, if a game is tied at the end of regulation, usually it is left as a draw, but in tournament play where a winner needs to be decided, extra 15-minute periods are added to the game. There are a few other ways to decide a game as well, depending on the league: Golden goal is soccer’s version of sudden death, the next goal wins. A shootout lets each team take an equal number of shots on goal from the penalty spot; the team with the most goals wins.
F
FIFA
Fédération Internationale de Football Association, the governing body for soccer on a global level.
Fifty-Fifty Ball
A loose ball between two opponents that each player has an equal chance of winning, infamously called a Hospital Ball because it creates a dangerous situation where two players run full-speed at each other.
Finish
A goal coming at the end of an organized attack.
Forwards
The attackers that play toward the opponents’ goal. The ones that play wide out by the touchlines are called wingers or wings; the ones that play toward the center of the field, and are responsible for scoring most goals, are called strikers.
Friendly
A soccer match that has no bearing in a league. It either for fun or for show or for practice (an exhibition game or training match).
G
Goalkeeper
Also Keeper or Keep or Goalie, stays in goal and protects against scoring, tooth and nail and hands.
Goal Line
Also By-Line or End Line, the boundary line on each end of the field.
H
Hat Trick
3 goals scored in a single game by a single player.
J
Juke
Also feint, to fake out or put a move on a defender.
K
Kickball
An undeveloped style of play where no passing is involved, just kicking the ball hard toward the opposing goal. Bunchball is a similarly confused and childish method of play where every player chases the ball regardless of position.
Kit
Another word for uniform.
L
Laws
For purists, in soccer there are no rules, only laws.
M
Man On or Man Coming
A warning call from teammates that a defender is present or coming, usually from behind.
Midfielders
Also halfbacks, these players work the middle of the field coordinating the offense and defense. The midfielder that plays nearest to his own goal is often called the midfield anchor or defensive midfielder.
N
Nil
Zero, nothing.
Nutmeg
Commonly called a ’meg, playing the ball between a defender’s legs.
O
Own Goal
When a player somehow, anyhow, scores a goal for the opposing team.
P
Pinny
Shortened form of pinafore, a pinny is just a sleeveless practice vest or bib.
Pitch
The playing field. The field is also called the carpet when emphasizing keeping the ball out of the air, e.g., “keep it on the carpet.”
Penalty Arc
Also the Dee, the arc on the top of the penalty area that keeps players properly distanced from a penalty kick.
PK
short for Penalty Kick, awarded for fouls committed in the Penalty Area or 18-Yard Box: a player takes a direct kick on goal from the Penalty Mark or Penalty Spot, which is a dozen yards from goal.
Professional foul
Also Tactical Foul, committing a foul to stop play where the penalty for the foul is a better alternative to what would’ve happened had play continued.
R
Rainbow
That move where the first foot rolls the ball up the calf of the second, then the heel of the second pops the ball over the player’s head, landing in front. It’s way cooler to watch than to explain.
Restraining Line
The imaginary line drawn level with the 2nd last defender, which marks the offsides position.
S
Scorpion Kick
This kick was made famous by René Higuita in a friendly between Colombia and England. The player dives forward and flips his feet up behind him, striking the ball with the soles of his shoes.
Set Piece
A formation or strategy used during restarts like free kicks and corner kicks.
Sombrero
A move where the player chips a ball up and over a defender's head, runs around the player, and continues with the play.
Stoppage time
Also Injury Time, time added to the end of any period to make up for time lost on injured players, substitutions, etc.
Square
Just means someone is laterally positioned to the player with the ball.
T
Tackle
A way of dispossessing a player of the ball in which the defender drops to the ground, placing his foot or leg (or even body) in front of the ball so the ball stops and the offender flies over the now-stopped ball or the defender.
Toe-kick
Also toe-punch or toe-poke, an improper kicking technique using the pointed front of the shoe instead of the laces, because you obviously don’t play soccer very much.
Touch Line
Also sideline, either of the boundary lines running the length of the field.
Trap
To receive or “catch” the ball with the foot or body.
V
Volley
To kick the ball while it is in the air. When the ball is to the player’s side and the player kicks it with one foot planted, it’s called a Side Volley. When both feet leave the ground it becomes a Scissor Kick; and when the ball is above the player, causing the player to flip upside down and kick, it is called a Bicycle Kick or La Chilena.