Football words · Beginner
The words you will hear in your first match, grouped the way you meet them.
B · Beginner · 50 words · Step 1 of 2Basic setup terms
Team
A team has a maximum of eleven players, one of whom must be the goalkeeper. A match may not start or continue if either team has fewer than seven players.
See also: Goalkeeper
Pitch
The playing area, bounded by the touchlines and goal lines (and the goal nets where used). The Laws call it the field of play. Its size, and the ball, can be changed for youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football.
Also called: field of play
Penalty area
The large marked box in front of each goal, 16.5 metres from each goalpost and 16.5 metres into the field. The goalkeeper may handle the ball inside their own, and a direct free kick offence by a defender inside it is a penalty kick. The lines are part of the area.
Also called: the box, 18-yard box
See also: Goalkeeper, Penalty kick, Goal area
Goal area
The small marked box inside the penalty area, 5.5 metres from each goalpost and 5.5 metres into the field. Goal kicks are taken from anywhere inside it.
Also called: six-yard box
See also: Penalty area, Goal kick
Goal
The netted frame at each end of the pitch that teams try to score into, also refers to the act of scoring itself.
See also: Pitch
Goalkeeper
The player who guards the goal. A goalkeeper may handle the ball inside their own penalty area, but may not control it with the hands for more than eight seconds before releasing it, or a corner kick is awarded. Any player can change places with the goalkeeper if the referee is told and play is stopped.
Also called: keeper
See also: Referee, Corner kick
Referee
The main match official, who operates on the field and makes the final decisions. The other match officials work under the referee's control.
See also: Match officials
Assistant referee
A match official with a flag on one half of each touchline who helps the referee, especially with offside and with goal kick, corner kick and throw-in decisions.
Also called: linesman
See also: Referee, Half, Offside, Goal kick, Corner kick
Half
A match is two equal halves of 45 minutes, which can be shortened only if the referee and both teams agree before the start and the competition rules allow it. The half-time interval is no more than 15 minutes.
Also called: halves, half-time
See also: Referee
Additional time
Time added at the end of each half for playing time lost to substitutions, injuries, time-wasting, disciplinary action, drinks and cooling breaks, VAR checks, goal celebrations and other delays. The fourth official shows the minimum, which the referee can increase but not reduce.
Also called: stoppage time, injury time
See also: Referee, Half
Scoring terms
Goal (scored)
A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the posts and under the crossbar, provided the scoring team has not committed an offence. The team with more goals wins.
Clean sheet
When a team's goalkeeper/defence doesn't concede any goals in a match.
See also: Goalkeeper
Hat-trick
When a single player scores 3 goals in one match.
Own goal
A goal scored into a player's own team's goal, which counts for the opponents. Some restarts cannot produce a goal for the kicker's own side: if a throw-in, free kick or kick-off goes straight into the kicker's own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opponents.
See also: Free kick, Kick-off, Corner kick, Throw-in
Draw
A match is drawn when both teams score no goals or equal numbers. Where a winner is needed, only three procedures are allowed: the away goals rule, extra time of two equal periods up to 15 minutes each, and penalties, or a combination of them.
Also called: tie
See also: Away goals rule, Extra time
Fouls and discipline
Foul
An offence against an opponent that is careless, reckless or uses excessive force, such as charging, jumping at, kicking, pushing, striking, tackling or tripping. A foul with contact is punished by a direct free kick, or a penalty kick inside the offender's penalty area.
See also: Penalty kick, Free kick
Yellow card
A caution, which the referee gives for offences such as delaying the restart, dissent, entering or leaving the field without permission, persistent offences, unsporting behaviour or a reckless challenge. Two yellow cards in a match mean a red card.
Red card
A sending-off. The player must leave the field and the technical area, and cannot be replaced once the match has started. Offences include serious foul play, violent conduct, biting or spitting, abusive language, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and a second caution.
Offside
A player is in an offside position if any part of the head, body or feet is in the opponents' half and nearer to the opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. Being in that position is not an offence. It is penalised only if the player becomes involved in active play, and there is no offence from a goal kick, throw-in or corner kick. The punishment is an indirect free kick.
See also: Half, Free kick, Goal kick, Corner kick, Throw-in
Penalty kick
Awarded when a player commits a direct free kick offence inside their own penalty area. The ball is kicked from the penalty mark, with only the kicker and the defending goalkeeper, who must stay on the goal line until the ball is kicked, inside the area.
See also: Goalkeeper, Free kick
Free kick
A restart after an offence, taken from where it happened, with the ball still. It can be direct, from which a goal can be scored against the opponents, or indirect, where another player must touch the ball first. Opponents must be at least 9.15 m from the ball.
Direct and indirect free kick
A direct free kick is awarded for fouls with contact, handball, holding and similar offences, and a goal can be scored directly. An indirect free kick, for example for dangerous play, impeding without contact, dissent, or an offside, needs another player to touch the ball before a goal can count. The referee raises an arm to show it is indirect.
Also called: direct free kick, indirect free kick
See also: Referee, Offside, Free kick, Handball
Handball
An offence when a player deliberately touches the ball with the hand or arm, or touches it when the hand or arm has made the body unnaturally bigger, or scores directly from the hand or arm, even by accident. The upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit. Not every touch is an offence.
The ruleWhen is it handball in football?Match and rule terms
Spirit of the game
The main principles of football, which the referee is expected to apply when the Laws do not cover a case. The referee asks what football would want or expect, and players are expected to respect the match officials and their decisions.
See also: Referee, Match officials
Match officials
The referee, assistant referees, a fourth official who manages the technical area and substitutes, additional assistant referees on the goal lines, a reserve assistant referee and, with video, the VAR and an assistant VAR.
Also called: fourth official, additional assistant referee
See also: Referee, Assistant referee
Restarts and set pieces
Kick-off
The restart that starts each half and follows a goal. The ball is on the centre mark, all players except the kicker are in their own half, opponents are at least 9.15 m away, and the ball is in play when kicked and clearly moves. A goal can be scored directly against the opponents.
See also: Half
The ruleHow does a football match start?Goal kick
Awarded when the whole ball crosses the goal line, having last touched an attacker, and no goal is scored. It is kicked from the goal area by the defending team, and opponents must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play. A goal can be scored directly, but only against the opponents.
Ball in and out of play
The ball is out of play when the whole of it has passed over the goal line or touchline, on the ground or in the air, or when the referee stops play. At all other times it is in play, including when it rebounds off a post, crossbar or corner flagpost.
See also: Referee
The ruleWhen is the ball out in football?Match format and competition terms
Extra time
A method to decide a drawn match: two equal periods of no more than 15 minutes each. Unused substitutes and substitution opportunities can be used in it, and competition rules may allow one extra substitute.
See also: Substitution
The ruleHow does extra time work in football?Penalties (penalty shoot-out)
The way to decide a drawn match after extra time, if needed. Teams take five kicks each alternately, ending early if one cannot be caught, and then continue one kick each until one team leads after equal kicks. Each kick is by a different player until all eligible players have taken one. A player sent off in the match cannot take part.
Also called: penalty shootout, kicks from the penalty mark
See also: Extra time
League
A competition where teams play each other over a season, earning points for wins and draws, to determine a final standing/champion.
Knockout
A tournament format where losing a single match eliminates a team, common in cup competitions like the World Cup's later stages.
Also called: cup
Substitution
Replacing a player with a named substitute, up to a maximum of five in official competitions as set by FIFA, the confederation or the national association. In top-level competitions with five, each team has at most three substitution opportunities, plus half-time. The substituted player must leave within ten seconds of the board being shown.
See also: Half
Formation
The tactical shape/arrangement a team uses on the pitch (e.g., "4-4-2" means 4 defenders, 4 midfielders, 2 forwards).
See also: Pitch
Playing terms
Pass
Kicking (or heading) the ball to a teammate.
Dribbling
Running with the ball while keeping close control of it using your feet.
Tackle
A challenge for the ball with the foot, on the ground or in the air. It is a foul if careless, reckless or with excessive force.
Header
Hitting the ball with your head, often used to score or clear the ball.
Cross
A pass sent from a wide area of the pitch toward the middle, usually aimed at teammates near the goal.
See also: Pitch
Shot
An attempt to score by kicking (or heading) the ball toward the goal.
Save
An action to stop, or try to stop, a ball that is going into or very close to the goal, using any part of the body except the hands and arms (unless a goalkeeper in their own penalty area).
See also: Goalkeeper
Corner kick
Awarded to the attackers when the whole ball crosses the goal line, in the air or on the ground, having last touched a defender, and no goal is scored. It is also awarded when a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than eight seconds or a goal kick is delayed. It is taken from the corner arc, and a goal can be scored directly against the opponents.
See also: Goalkeeper, Goal kick, Defender
Throw-in
Awarded to the opponents of the last player to touch the ball when it crosses the touchline. The thrower faces the field, has part of each foot on or behind the touchline, and throws with both hands from behind and over the head. A goal cannot be scored directly from it.
Assist
A pass or action that directly leads to a teammate scoring a goal.
Nutmeg
A skillful move where a player passes or dribbles the ball through an opponent's legs.
Positions
Defender
Players positioned mainly to stop the opposing team from scoring, closest to their own goal.
See also: Own goal
Forward
Players positioned closest to the opponent's goal, mainly focused on scoring.
Also called: striker
Winger
An attacking player who plays wide near the sidelines, often delivering crosses.
Captain
The team's on-field leader, who must wear an identifying armband. The captain has no special status or privileges but has a degree of responsibility for the team's behaviour. Under the optional 'Only the captain' guidelines, only the captain may approach the referee.
See also: Referee, Only the captain