Understanding common terms used to talk about soccer can be a good first step toward mastering this deceptively simple game.

• Advantage Rule: A rule that allows play to continue after a foul if stopping play would benefit the team that committed the foul
• Assist: A pass that leads to a goal
• Bicycle Kick: When a player kicks the ball backward over their head before falling onto their back
• Charging: Bumping into another player's shoulder to throw them off balance
• Clean Sheet: A shutout, when a team holds their opponent scoreless
• Corner Kick: A kick awarded to the attacking team when the defending team sends the ball out of bounds at their end of the field
• Cross: A pass that sends the ball across the field
• Direct Free Kick: A free kick from which the kicking player can score a goal
• Dribbling: Moving the ball forward using small kicks with both feet
• Drop Ball: When the referee puts the ball into play by dropping it onto the ground between the two teams. A drop ball is used to restart play after the game is stopped because of something other than a penalty.
• Extra Time: Overtime, an extra period of play to decide the winner of a tied game
• Foul: A violation of the rules
• Goalkeeper: The person who defends the goal to keep their opponents from scoring. The goalkeeper is the only player who can play the ball with their hands.
• Hat Trick: When a player scores three goals in one game
• Header: Hitting the ball with the player's head
• High Kick: A foul that happens when a player swings their foot above the waist of another player
• Holding: A foul that happens when a player uses their hands or arms to obstruct another player's movement
• Indirect Free Kick: A free kick from which a goal can't be scored unless another player on the kicker's team touches the ball
• Injury Time: Extra time added to the game to make up for time lost when players are injured or substituted
• Kickoff: When one player kicks the ball to start each half of the game and to restart play after a goal
• Nutmeg: A dribble or pass through an opponent's legs
• Offside: A rule limiting the ability of attacking players to receive the ball near the opponent's goal, so that players don't just stand near the goal waiting for a pass
• Penalty Area: A rectangular area in front of the goal line, inside of which goalkeepers can use their hands
• Penalty Kick: A kick awarded to the attacking team after a defender commits a major foul
• Red Card: A penalty call that removes a player from the game and forces their team to play shorthanded for the rest of the game
• Referee: The official who enforces the rules during a soccer game
• Slide Tackle: An attempt to take the ball from another player by sliding feet first into the ball
• Substitution: The act of replacing a player with a different player during a game
• Tackle: A move that takes the ball away from another player
• Throw-In: How the ball is returned to play after it goes out of bounds on the side of the field
• Yellow Card: A warning given to a player for dangerous or unsporting conduct
• Volley: Hitting the ball while it's in the air
• Wall: A formation of defensive players aiming to block a free kick