Soccer Terms & Soccer Rule Definitions

(commonly referred to as a heel flick); 2. passing a high 
ball o n to a teammate with the top of the head, whether 
from a throw-in, a clearance or a high pass; 3. an 
instruction used to request a teammate to pass the ball on 
in this way.  
Follow: Used as a coaching instruction to get players to 
follow the ball after a shot has been taken. This 
instruction is geared to preparing the players to get a 
second (or more) shot should a rebound occur. 
Football: See association football."
Footwear: Any of the specialty shoes that are developed 
especially for soccer players. See cleats, flats, turf 
shoes, screw-ins. (Law 4) 
Formation: Often used to describe the number of players 
positioned by a team in the different areas of the field of 
play. Normally, the keeper is not included; thus a 4-4-2 
formation is one with four fullbacks, four midfielders and 
two forwards, while a 3-5-2 refers to playing with three 
backs, five mids and two forwards. See balance and system of 
play. 
Forward: An offensive player, playing closest to the 
opponent's goal. 
Foul: An offense against an opponent or against the spirit 
of the game that results in a free kick. 
Fourth official: In FIFA-sponsored competitions, an official 
with responsibility for supervising substitutions, keeping 
order in the technical areas and so forth. 
Free kick: A method of restarting play. Can be either direct 
or indirect. (Law 13) 
Front foot: 1. The foot closest to the ball. 2. "Front [of 
the] foot" refers to the outside part of the foot near the 
shoe laces and just above the little toes. 
Fullback: A defensive player, playing closest to one's own 
goal. 
Get turned: See turn.
Give-and-go: A tactic used when one player passes to a 
teammate, the first player then sprints into an open area, 
then the second player returns the pass to the first. Also 
called a "wall pass." 
Gloves: Handwear that is specifically designed for the goal 
keeper and field players. These differ in that the keeper's 
gloves provide padding and protection, the field player's 
gloves provide warmth and a rubber palm used to grip the 
ball for throw-ins. (Law 4)  
Goal: 1. The structure defined by two upright goal posts and 
one crossbar that is set on the goal line, a n equidistant 
from each corner. 2. To score (Law 1)  
Goal area: The box that is formed when a line is drawn six 
yards out from each goalpost, along the goal line. The lines