Soccer Terms Every Parent Should Know
Soccer is an exciting sport that many children in Massachusetts are eager to play. If you’re new to the world of youth soccer, understanding some basic terms can help you navigate your child’s journey and make watching their games much more fun. Whether you’re cheering on the sidelines or just trying to keep up with the coach’s instructions, this guide will walk you through the essential soccer terms every parent should know.
14 Basic Soccer Terms Every Parent Should Know
Pitch: Soccer fields are often referred to as “the pitch.” In youth soccer, fields can vary in size depending on the age group.
Goalkeeper (Goalie): The player whose primary responsibility is to prevent the other team from scoring. They are the only ones allowed to use their hands, but only within the penalty area.
Defenders: These players focus on protecting the goal. They typically stay behind the midfielders and help block shots and intercept passes from the opposing team.
Midfielders: Positioned in the middle of the field, these players often assist both in defense and attack, covering the most ground and connecting the defensive and offensive plays.
Forwards (Strikers): The offensive players whose main job is to score goals. They usually stay closer to the opponent’s goal and focus on attacking.
Offside: A violation that happens when an attacking player is closer to the opponent’s goal than the second-to-last defender when the ball is passed to them.
Corner Kick: When the ball goes out of bounds over the goal line (but not into the goal) after being touched by a defender, the attacking team is awarded a corner kick from the nearest corner.
Goal Kick: If the ball crosses the goal line after last being touched by an attacking player, the defending team gets a goal kick. The goalkeeper or a defender kicks the ball back into play from inside the penalty area.
Throw-In: If the ball goes out along the sideline, the team that did not touch it last gets a throw-in from where the ball left the field. The player must throw the ball with both hands over their head while keeping both feet on the ground.
Penalty Kick: Awarded when a foul is committed inside the penalty area by a defending player. The attacking team takes a shot directly at goal from the penalty mark, with only the goalkeeper defending.
Free Kick: A kick awarded after a foul or handball. There are two types: direct free kicks (where a player can score directly) and indirect free kicks (which require the ball to touch another player before a goal can be scored).
Dribbling: The act of moving the ball forward by tapping it with your feet, while keeping control of it, and avoiding defenders.
Clearance: When a defender kicks or heads the ball away from their goal area to stop an attack by the other team.
Cross: A pass made from the side of the field into the middle, near the opponent’s goal, in an attempt to set up a scoring opportunity.
A Parent’s Cheat Sheet to Soccer Lingo
To help you feel like a soccer pro on the sidelines, here are a few extra soccer phrases you’ll hear often. With these terms in mind, you’ll feel much more confident as you support your child from the sidelines!
Mark Your Man: This means to stick closely to an opposing player to prevent them from receiving the ball or making a play.
Through Ball: A pass that is played between defenders into space for an attacking player to run onto.
Nutmeg: When a player successfully passes the ball through an opponent’s legs, usually as a clever trick to bypass them.
Press: This refers to putting immediate pressure on the player with the ball to force them into making a mistake or losing possession.
