Coach / Guides / Glossary

Football words

45 words coaches, commentators and players use, in plain English. Where the site shows it, follow the link to see it drawn.

Find a word

A

Advantage: When the referee lets play go on after a foul because stopping it would help the team that broke the Law. See it

Back-pass rule: A goalkeeper may not pick the ball up when a teammate deliberately kicks it to them, or straight from a teammate's throw-in. It applies from 5v5 upwards. See it
Ball mastery: Lots of small touches with every part of both feet, usually on your own, to build close control. See it
Body shape: How a player stands to receive the ball. "Open" body shape means side-on, so they can see more of the pitch. See it
Box-to-box: A midfielder who both attacks and defends, running from one penalty area to the other.
Build-up: Moving the ball forward from the back with passes, usually starting with the goalkeeper. See it

Channel: A strip of the pitch running from end to end, such as the space between a full-back and a centre-back.
Counter-attack: Attacking quickly the moment you win the ball, before the other team can get back into shape. See it
Counter-press: Pressing straight away to win the ball back in the seconds after you lose it. See it
Cover: The second defender's job: a few metres behind the first, at an angle, ready if they are beaten. See it
Cut-back: A pass from near the goal line back towards the penalty spot, for a teammate arriving to shoot. See it

Drop ball: How play restarts after the referee stops it for something that isn't a foul, such as an injury. The ball goes to the team that last touched it. See it

Facilitator: The adult who helps a 3v3 game run, instead of a referee. They help the children decide things for themselves. See it
False nine: A centre-forward who drops deep into midfield instead of staying up front, to drag a defender out or make an extra midfield player.
First touch: How a player controls the ball when it arrives. A good first touch moves it where they want to go next. See it
Formation: The shape a team lines up in, written from the back: a 4-3-3 has four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards. The goalkeeper isn't counted. See it

Half-space: The strip between the wing and the middle of the pitch, a good place to receive the ball between defenders.
Half-turn: Receiving the ball side-on, so the first touch can go forwards instead of back. See it
High press: Pressing the other team near their own goal, to win the ball close to yours. See it

Jockeying: Defending side-on and on your toes, backing off slowly and waiting for the moment to tackle. See it

Low block: A team defending deep, close to its own penalty area, with little space between its lines. See it

Offside: A Law that stops attackers waiting behind the defence for the ball. Not used in 3v3, 5v5 or 7v7. See it
Overlap: A run round the outside of a teammate who has the ball, usually a full-back going past a winger. See it
Overload: More of your players than theirs in one part of the pitch, such as 3 against 2 on one wing. See it

Pass-in: In 3v3, 5v5 and 7v7, the ball is passed or dribbled back in from the touchline instead of thrown. See it
Power play: An optional rule in some 5v5 and 7v7 leagues: a team that is several goals behind may add a player until the gap closes. See it
Pressing: Closing down the player with the ball to stop them playing forward or to win it. See it
Pressure: The first defender's job: close down the ball, slow the attacker and show them one way. See it

Retreat line: In 3v3 to 7v7, the team without the ball drops behind a line, usually halfway, at goal kicks and when the keeper has the ball, until it is in play. See it
Rolling substitutes: Players can come off and go back on as often as the coach likes. Used in all youth formats from 5v5. See it
Rondo: A keep-ball game with players round the outside and defenders in the middle, such as 4 against 1. See it

Scanning: Looking around, over each shoulder, before the ball arrives, so you already know what to do with it. See it
Second-last opponent: The player offside is measured against: usually the last outfield defender, because the goalkeeper is the last. See it
Show them inside or outside: Where a defender stands to force the attacker one way, usually away from goal or onto their weaker foot. See it
Sin bin: A temporary dismissal for dissent, used in grassroots football in England. How long it lasts depends on the length of the match, so check your league's rules.
Small-sided game: A game with fewer players on a smaller pitch, such as 4v4. More touches and decisions for everyone. See it
Switch of play: Moving the ball quickly from one side of the pitch to the other, where there is more space. See it

Tekkers: Slang for technique: skill on the ball. "He's got tekkers."
Third-man run: A run timed so that a pass goes from A to B and straight on to C, who was already moving. See it
Transition: The moment the ball changes hands, when a team has to switch from attacking to defending or the other way round. See it

Underlap: Like an overlap, but the run goes on the inside of the player with the ball.

Wall pass: A one-two: pass to a teammate and run, and they pass it straight back into your path. See it
Weaker foot: The foot a player uses less. Practising with it early makes a big difference later. See it

Zonal marking: Defending by covering an area of the pitch rather than following one opponent.