Ultimate Guide for Youth Soccer Terminology

Why is an essential list of soccer terms important? Often considered the most popular sport in the world, soccer is loved by millions around the globe. Sometimes referred to as football, “The Beautiful Game” is a great introduction to the world of sports for youth athletes.

If you’re a first-time soccer player or youth sports parent, a basic understanding of soccer terminology will go a long way in enhancing your knowledge of the sport. Here is a quick guide of essential soccer terms. 

Origin of the Term Soccer

According to History.com, modern soccer traces back to English schools in 1863. These schools called the new version of this game “association football” in order to differentiate from “rugby football.” As a habit of British slang, the players would add “-er” to abbreviate “association” into “assoc” and “assocc-er”, eventually become full soccer football.

Essential List of Soccer Terms

Pitch

Official name for a soccer field. 

Goal

Rectangular frame located at each end of the pitch. It is formed with a pair of posts standing vertically and one crossbar joining the posts. A net covered the back portion of each goal. 

This is also the main scoring achievement in soccer matches. When the ball crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar, scoring teams earn a point.

Sideline

Runs the longer sides of the field and represents the pitch vs. out-of-bounds.

Goal Line

Two goal lines connect the two sidelines to form a rectangle. Goals sit in the middle of each goal line. 

Corners

Represented by the four corners of the field, this is the intersection of the goal line and the sidelines. 

Pass

Using your feet, a move from one player to another player on your team. 

Dribble

Controlling the ball while running on the field. 

Tackle

The act of taking the ball away from an opponent. 

Header

Done in both passing and shooting mechanisms, striking the ball with your forehead in a specific direction. 

Assist

Assists are awarded to a player for setting up a pass/play for a teammate who then scores a goal. 

Save

A move when goalkeepers prevent the opposing team from scoring on a shot. 

Offside

A rule preventing offensive players from positioning themselves behind all defenders before the ball is passed to them. 

Yellow Card

One of two disciplinary actions available for the referee. This is for a player being “cautioned” by the referee for illegal actions on the field. 

Red Card

The more severe disciplinary action available to the referee. Players shown a red card are not allowed to play the remainder of the game and the team is not allowed to substitute a player for them. 

Advantage

Although a penalty has occurred, referees are allowed to let the team that has just been fouled continue their offensive motion if stopping play would be non-beneficial to this specific momentum. 

Slide Tackle

A defensive action where a player slides on the ground and knocks the ball free from the opposing team, while in control. This play can often turn into penalties if the defensive player makes physical contact with the player before hitting the ball. 

Nutmeg

To pass and control the ball between an opponent’s legs. 

Press

A defensive strategy in which the defensive team adds heightened pressure to an opposing offense, attempting to regain control of the ball in less time. 

Counter Attack

An offensive strategy in which a team that just recovered possession quickly advances up the pitch. Counter attacks are performed immediately during the transition from defense to offense and attempts to take advantage of open field space left by opposing teams. 

First Touch

A skill in which players are able to immediately get the ball under control after their initial contact.

Give-and-go

A two-player maneuver in which the one player with the ball passes to a teammate and immediately repositions themselves in order to receive a return pass in a better position to advance or score. 

Aggregate Score

Aggregate score refers to a situation where multiple matches are played between two of the same opponents to determine a single result. The aggregate score is the combined scoring effort of these multiple matches to determine a winner.

Dead Ball

Soccer is unique because of its running clock, but a dead ball still refers to any regular stoppage of play. This may be from a ball out of bounds, after a goal, or after a penalty. While the play is stopped from this dead ball, the clock often continues to run.

Hand Ball

Soccer players cannot use their hands. Refers to a player touching the ball with their hands and results in the other team being awarded the ball.

Types of Kicks

When considering essential soccer terminology used for youth soccer teams, you have to include the variety of types of kicks in soccer. Below we have a list of the different types of soccer kicks and how they apply in a soccer game.

Free Kick

Officials award free kicks to a team when they are penalized (an illegal action) by the opposing team. Used as a method for restarting play. 

Corner Kick

Awarded to a team when the opposing team knocks the ball out-of-bounds on their own goal line (without scoring a goal). A player takes a kick from the corner of the field to restart play. 

Penalty Kick

Awarded to a player when the opposing team commits an illegal action in the penalty area in front of their own goal, a rectangular box surrounding the goals. Officials award the offensive team a kick towards the goal, in a 1-on-1 situation against the goalie from the penalty spot (a circle in the center of the penalty area in front of the goal). 

Bicycle Kick

A type of kick in which a player jumps backward into the air and kicks the ball above his or her head.

Scissors Kick 

A varying term for bicycle kick.

TeamSnap for Soccer Teams & Clubs

Hit the pitch with a full understanding of this beautiful game now that you’re geared up with a great starting list of essential soccer terms. 

Lots of youth soccer clubs are taking advantage of the right youth sports technology to enhance their ability to enjoy the game we all love. Soccer coaches, parents, and players rely on the TeamSnap mobile app, while youth soccer administrators are turning to TeamSnap for Business run all their administrative tasks from one easy-to-use platform.