Attacker/attacking
The attacker is a player with the ball moving towards the other team’s goal. Attacking is the act of taking the ball towards the opposite team’s goal with the intent to score
Ball gymnastics
Exercises helping increase coordination with the ball
Examples: Boxes: quickly moving the ball from the inside of one foot and back
Toe taps: quickly tapping the top of the ball with toe of each foot
Chop
A movement to change direction while maintaining control of the ball. Inside of foot chop: the player brings his/her foot around the front of the ball, protecting it from the defender, and pushes it backwards to change directions.
Outside of foot chop: the player swings the outside of the foot in front of the ball, protecting it from a defender, pushing the ball back to change directions
Croyff
A movement to change directions. With the inside of the foot, a player pushes the ball backwards between his/her own legs after faking a shot with the same leg, and then spins around to retrieve the ball thus changing directions
Cut
Any move pushing the ball in a new direction while maintaining control
Defensive delay
A defender slowing the progress of an attacking player by getting it his/her way. The basic defensive stance is on the balls of the defender’s feet, leaned slightly forward, knees slightly bent, one foot in front of the other
Dribbling
Moving with the ball at the feet.
Drop pass
A pass backwards towards one’s own goal. Used when there are no other passing or attacking possibilities
Feint
Any movement which an attacking player uses to outwit a defender
Fifty/fifty ball
A loose ball, one that can be won by either team
First, second and third defender
First, second and third attacker
Give-and-go pass
A pass to a teammate followed by a forward run and return pass
Heading
Using the forehead to move the ball.
Juggling
An exercise to develop touch and balance. Using various parts of the body, thigh, foot or head, to keep the ball in the air. The number of touches is the number of times the ball touched keeping it aloft.
Neutral player
In a scrimmage; a player assigned to one task to be used by both side, usually as an offensive player. This player can be played to by either team but must play the ball back to the team who gave it to him/her.
Parrying
When the keeper cannot catch a shot above his/her head, instead tapping over the back and behind the net
Pull-back
A move to change directions. The player stops the ball with the sole of the foot and pushes it behind turning to collect the ball.
Shielding
Keeping the ball away from an opponent by using foot or body position
Small-sided games
Games using fewer than 11 players a side. In practices, this refers to using very small numbers to simplify problem solving and increase touches on the ball
Step-over
A move to beat a defender: The player steps forward over top of the ball with one foot and pushes the ball to the side with the outside of another then running to collect the ball
Tackling
The act of stealing the ball from another player.
Throw-in
When play is restarted after the ball goes out of bounds, a player uses two hands to throw the ball over his/her head into the field of play. Both feet must be touching the ground at the point of the ball’s release.
Trapping
The act of catching a ball with a part of the body.
Volleying
Kicking a ball that is off the ground
The "w" catch
The basic hand position a goalkeeper uses to catch a ball. The ball is caught on the sides with fingers spread, forming a "w" between the hands.