For more information, call (650) 593-5161 or email info@sayso.org.

 San Andreas Youth Soccer Organization

1250 Fifth Avenue, Suite 123

Belmont, CA 94002

"We ate their lunch."
"We beat the pants off of them."
"We cleaned their clock."
"We destroyed [hammered, pulverized, punished, trounced, wasted, whacked, etc.] them.
"We did them in."
"We dusted their jackets."
"We fed them their lunch."
"We gave 'em a whoopin' [beating, hiding, leathering, licking, pasting, rubdown, shellacking, tanning, walloping, whacking, whopping, etc.]."
"We kicked their arse."
"We kicked them about."
"We knocked seven bells out of them."
"We knocked the $#!t (stuffing) out of them."
"We knocked them into a cocked hat."
"We knocked them into the middle of next week."
"We licked 'em."
"We made mincemeat of them."

"We made them sing small."
"We panned their heads."
"We pasted them."
"We put on a clinic [for them]."
"We schooled them."
"We showed them how it is (supposed to be) done."
"We tanned their hides."
"We taught them a lesson."
"We took all of their biscuits."
"We took them for a ride."
"We took them out behind the woodpile."
"We wailed on them."
"We went home with all the marbles."
"We whacked them."
"We wiped [dusted, mopped, etc.] the floor with them."
"We worked them over."

Phrases that start with numerals 

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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1 + 1 (2 + 2, 3 + 3, etc.) - a training situation in which both sides have the given number of players and the coach makes suggestions as play continues

1 v 1 (2 v 2, 3 v 3, etc.) - a competition or game in which both sides have the given number of players

1-Man System - a system of refereeing in which a single official controls the game from within the field, without use of assistant referees

1-Touch - a style of play in which the ball is passed on or distributed without touching the ball more than once

12th Man - the fans, supporters, and crowd that helps the home team gain an advantage over the visiting team

18 (The) - See "18-Yard Box"

18-Yard Box - (British) - the penalty area; the large box adjacent to the goal mouth, extending 18 yards out into the field from the goal line and 18 yards in each direction from the goal posts to towards the corners

2-Man System - a system of refereeing in which two officials control the game from the sidelines

2-on-1 Break - 2 attacking players breaking against 1 defensive player

2-Touch - a style of play in which the ball is passed on or distributed after only two touches

2-3-5 - formation featuring 2 fullbacks, 3 halfbacks and 5 forwards, developed by the British in the 1890's and used until the 1940s; also known as the Pyramid Formation

2LD - second-to-last defender

3 Blind Mice - a derogatory term referring to the game officials

3 D's of Defense - deny, delay, and destroy

3-Man System - a system of refereeing in which the game is controlled by a center referee with two assistant referees (i.e., lines(men))

3 Stripes - three rings around the top of a sock signifying a referee (e.g., "Here come the three stripes.")

3-Touch - a style of play in which the ball is passed on or distributed after only three touches

3-on-1 Break - a break with 3 attacking players against only 1 defensive player

3-on-2 Break - a break with 3 attacking players against 2 defensive players

3-5-2 - a formation featuring a goalkeeper, a sweeper and two marking backs, five midfielders and two forwards

3-4-3 - a rarely played formation, most often employed when a team is behind in a game and needs a goal. It features a goalkeeper, 3 defenders, 4 midfielders and 3 forwards.

360 - (pronounced, "three-sixty") - a complete turn around

4^th Official – see “Fourth Official”

4-2-4 - a formation that consists of 4 defenders, 2 midfielders and 4 forwards. Made famous by the lighting-quick World Cup champion Brazilians in 1958. The two deep wing backs initiated attacks along the touchlines, transforming the team into 2-4-4.

4-3-3 - a formation that consists of 4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 forwards

4-4-2 - a formation that consists of 4 defenders, 4 midfielders and 2 forwards, one of the most popular formations currently used by teams

4-5-1 - a formation that consists of 4 defenders, 5 midfielders and 1 forward

50-50 Ball - a ball that neither attacker nor defender have an advantage of winning; a loose ball that both players have an opportunity to acquire

6 (The) - See "6-Yard Box"

6-Yard Box - goal box - the small box adjacent to the goal mouth, extending 6 yards out into the field from the goal line and 6 yards in each direction from the goal posts to towards the corners

6's and 7's (British) - a state of disarray and total confusion. Can be used with various prepositions ("at" is the most common, but "on" is also used) or without. ("The defense was at sixes and sevens." Or, "The defense was sixes and sevens.")

U8, U9, (etc.) - Not having achieved the designed age (e.g., 8, 9, etc.) before August 1 of the current year

Phrases that start with numerals 

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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A

A-Level – see “Class-1”

Abandon the game - A situation where the referee leaves the field due to weather or  a serious situation that makes continued play intolerable.

Abronzino – the Class-1 league within CYSA-N District 2

Abuse – verbal (nonphysical) questioning, criticism, mockery, disagreement, or characterization

AD – Athletic director (high school usage)

Add (n) – a player added to the team’s roster after publication of the goldenrod

Adrift - (British arcane) apart (different) in goal scoring ("the two teams were two goals adrift")

Advanced (House) – see “Class-3”

Advantage - (1) when play is permitted to continue by the referee following an infraction but the team on whom the foul is committee maintains possession of the ball, and the official feels that the team which has been fouled would be punished further by stopping play; (2) when a team quickly advances the ball down the field in an attempt to get its players near the opponent's goal before the defenders have a chance to retreat; (3) where a team has possession of the ball and outnumbers the opposition near the opposing goal

Advantage Rule - a clause in the rules that directs the referee to refrain from stopping play for a foul if a stoppage would benefit the team that committed the violation.

Aerobic – with oxygen (with lots of breathing, over a relatively long period of time)

aet or A.E.T - See "After Extra Time"

AFC - the governing body of soccer in Asia; acronym stands for Asian Football Confederation; based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; founded in 1954; membership of approximately 41 nations

African - (British) a play in which the ball is passed on one side past an opponent with the passing player running around the other side of the opponent to retrieve the ball

After Extra Time - This phrase indicates that the match was finished by penalty kicks from the spot. Also, see "KFS" and "KFTPM".

Against the Run of Play - (1) describing a particular play or outcome occurring in favor of the less-dominant team (e.g., "They scored against the run of play."); (2) describing a counterattacking play launched by a defending team soon after it regains possession of the ball

Age-Pure – a condition where all players on a team have been born within the same 12-month period

Aggregate Goals - the total number of goals scored by a team from more than one match

AGM – Annual General Meeting

Air Mail - (British) slang for a ball sent way over the head of an intended recipient

All Ball - a phrase meaning that a tackling player got the ball first and then tripped the opponent second, usually implying that the tackle was properly made. (Even "all ball" tackles can be whistled for dangerous play.)

Ambitious - (British) - a description of a ball (or player) that is played recklessly and with little chance of success

American (Rules) Football - what the rest of the world calls U.S. football (with the quarterback, first down, and dozens of referees throwing yellow handkerchiefs); "pointy" football

Anaerobic – without oxygen (without breathing, over a relatively short period of time, such as less than 5 seconds)

Answer - (slang) - star player (e.g., "He's the answer."), possibly facetious depending on the intonation

Appeal - an action or administrative filing used to contest the administrative action of a ruling body to the next higher level

AR – see “Assistant Referee”

Arc - the half-circle at the top of the penalty box; alternatively, the quarter-circle at each corner of the field in which the ball is placed for a corner kick

Area (The) - The penalty area (box), aka "The 18-yard box".

Assimilated - slang for captured, picked-off, or intercepted ("His pass was assimilated.")

Assignor (or Referee Assignor) - the person in charge of assigning officials to games

Assist - a pass to a teammate that ultimate results in a goal. One or two passes prior to a goal may be considered assists.

Assistant Referee (AR) – ARs signal out of bounds, goal kicks, corner kicks, and offside positions, and they assist the Center Referee (CR) Prior to 1996, ARs were known as linesmen/lineswomen/linespersons.

Assault – physical contact (direct or indirect), restraints, or threats thereof

Assist - the pass or passes that immediately precede a goal. Only the last pass or the last two passes can qualify as an assist to go in the record book.

Assistant Referee - One of the two game officials who work the sidelines. Previously referred to as "linesman."

Association (The) – (1) The organization sponsoring a competition, tournament, or league. (2) What CYSA-N is sometimes referred to as.

Association Cup – CYSA-N’s statewide competition for Class-3 (competitive) teams

Association Football - traditional term for the game in England to distinguish it from rugby football. (This was abbreviated "assoc". Over time, the prefix was dropped and in English custom, "er" added to the end to form the word soccer.)

ATR - Advice to Referees (on the Laws of the Game)

Attack - an attempt to score

Attacker - (1) a player who is moving into position to score; (2) any player on the team that has possession of the ball

Attacking Cone - a (roughly) triangular portion of the field starting with where you are and pointing (with the apex) at the opponent's goal

Attacking Half - the half of the field containing the opponent's goal

Attacking Midfielder - the most forward-playing midfielder, playing right behind the forwards

Attacking Team - the team that has possession of the ball

Attacking Third - the third of the field containing the opponent's goal

"Away" - a command, as yelled by the goalkeeper meaning, "Clear the ball out of the area!"

Away (Game) - a game not played on a team's home field

Away Strip - the strip used for away games

AYSO - American Youth Soccer Organization

Phrases that start with numerals 

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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B

"B" International - an international game in which the teams are not the true national teams (e.g., are U23 players or second-string)

B-Level – see “Class-2”

Back - (1) fullback; (2) a communication term used by a supporting player to let the ball-handler know he/she has support from behind

"Back and Face" - a request to the advanced players (who have just lost possession) to get behind the ball, face the opponents, and play defensively

Back Door - the area on the opposite side of the goal mouth from where a cross or corner kick is taken

Back Four - a formation of deep defenders comprised of the left and right outside fullbacks and two other central defenders, often called a stopper and a sweeper. (Also, see "Flat Back Four".)

Back Header - a player's use of their head to direct the ball backwards.

Back Heel (Pass) - see "Heel"

Back of Square - a location just behind where a direct square ball would be passed

Back Pass - a pass made to a player behind

Back Post - (1) the post supporting the goal's crossbar that is farthest from the ball; (2) a position or location directly next to the post farthest from the ball; (3) a position or location that is directly in front of, but some distance removed, from the post farthest from the ball; (4) someplace in the general vicinity of the post farthest from the ball.

Back Side - see "Weak Side"

Back Swing - the distance a kicker brings their kicking foot behind himself before kicking the ball

Back Tackle - an attempt by a defender to take the ball away from a ball carrier by placing the defender's leg in front of the ball

Back-to-Goal - a stance or orientation where a player's back is towards the opponent's goal (i.e., the player is facing his/her own goal)

Back-to-Pressure - a stance or orientation where a player has turned so that his/her back is towards the nearest (usually, very near!) opponent

Bad Foot (Leg) - referring to the foot (leg) that is not dominant; weak foot (leg)

Badge - (1) the symbol used to represent a club or team and to distinguish itself from others. (2) the patch worn by a referee. (3) a reference to authority ("You can interpret the laws of the game any way you want when you have the badge.")

Baggio - (named after Roberto Baggio's World Cup shootout performance) - (n) a slang term referring to a shot that goes far over the goal

Balance - the positioning of players in such a manner that the team maintains its shape and effectiveness.

"Ball" - short for "I got ball.", meaning that the speaking player is going for the ball

Ball Carrier - a player that has possession of the ball

Ball Denial - defensive player positioning in order to keep the ball away from an opposing player

Ball Playing the Hand - See "Ball to Hand"

Ball-Side - a location that is between the ball and another player

Ball-to-Hand - an unintentional handling of a ball by a player other than the goal-keeper in the penalty area

Ball Watchers - players that focus on the ball exclusively, losing track of attacking players and the movement of those attackers to get into position to receive the ball

Ball Watching - focusing on the ball, not opponents

Banana Kick - a kick (usually a long corner kick) that curves so much that the path takes the shape of a banana

Baseball Throw - a type of throw used by goalkeepers to move the ball over medium distances

Beat You (to) – eat your lunch; hand you your lunch; clean your clock

Beckenbauer Sweeper - defensive position named after Franz Beckenbauer who, in the late 1960's as part of the NASL New York Cosmos' , was one of the most complete players ever, transforming the sweeper position into both an attacking and defensive position

Behind the Defender - the area between a defender and their goal

Bench - the area or structure in which the coach and substitutes remain during a game

Bend (Bending) Runs - runs made by players on the team with the ball that are not straight

Bend the Ball - make the ball curve (around a wall)

Between the Pipes - between the vertical posts of the goal

Bib - see "Pinafore"

Bicycle Kick - a play made famous by Pele of the New York Cosmos (but invented in Chile) where a player kicks the ball in mid-air backwards and over their own head, usually making contact above waist level

Bifurcate – to separate into two (or more) groups

Bike - see "Bicycle Kick".

"Bite" - a phrase spoken by a supporting defender instructing the closest defender to strip the ball from an attacker

Blank (v) - to shut out the other team. ("Chelsea blanked Arsenal 2 to 0.") Also, see "Shooting blanks."

Blast - a hard hit, quick paced shot

Blind Side - the side of the player away from the ball

Block Tackle - a way of tackling an opponent head-on and gaining possession of the ball while still standing

Blow (n) - a breather or chance to rest

Body, to give the - to play physically, as in "Arsenal have been giving Liverpool the body."

Boil (n) - a condition of being effective. ("Jimmy has gone off the boil.")

Bolt - center back (archaic), which later evolved into a sweeper

Bomb - a hopeless, long, wild, desperation shot from a long distance that remarkably results in a goal

Book; Booked; Booking - a term referring to a player's name being written down by a referee for either a yellow or red card infraction. ("His name goes in the book.")

Bookended - See 'Sandwiched'.

Boom Ball - a derogatory term used to describe a style of soccer in which the players just kick the ball without any attempt to connect with anyone or anything.

"Boot It" - clearing the ball from danger by kicking it up field or or out of bounds. The kick usually has no intended receiver and is usually done to relieve pressure in the goal area. Usually yelled by parents (and, some coaches!) who believe that soccer is a game of boom ball and who get frantic during a game.

Boots - (British) soccer shoes or cleats

Bouncer - See "Goalkeeper"

Box - see "18-Yard Box"

Brace (of goals) - a pair of goals scores; 2 goals, as in "He scored a brace."

Brazilian Soccer - s term used to describe the Brazilian way of playing (i.e., creative, highly technical, and passing-oriented)

Break - when a team quickly advances the ball down the field in an attempt to get its players near the opponent's goal before the defenders have a chance to retreat.

Breakaway - when an attacker with the ball approaches the goal undefended; this exciting play pits a sole attacker against the goalkeeper in a one-on-one showdown

Brilliant - (British) - well-executed, difficult play

Broadway - slang for down the middle ("His run was straight down Broadway.")

Buddy Holly - (e.g., "caught it on the Buddy Holly") - see "Volley"

Build from the Back (to) - (1) to start an offensive play with the goalkeeper or defenders, who subsequently pass possession on to the midfielders, and finally to the forwards. (2) to select players (for a team or for a game) to ensure that the defense is exceedingly competent.

Bulge in the Old Onion Bag - phrase used to describe a scored goal

Bunker Defense - a defensive style of play used by weaker teams which puts the majority of a team behind the ball, making scoring by the opponents very difficult

By-Kick - (Scottish) - a kick taken from the by-line (i.e., a goal kick).

By-Line - the field boundary running across its width at each end; what Americans call the goal line. (An infrequent misuse, noted among television commentators, is to refer to the touch line (i.e., the sideline) as the by-line.)

Bye – a normal game date (i.e., weekend) on which a team has no game

Bye Line - see "By-Line".

Phrases that start with numerals 

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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C

C3PL – Prior to 2003, the name of District 2’s Class 3 Playing League, now referred to as the DelGado League.

CAF - organization representing African soccer; acronym stands for Confederation Africaine de Football; based in Cairo, Egypt; founded in 1956; membership of approximately 51 nations

Calcio - Italian word for soccer

Call - a decision made by the referee

Calling - communication on the field between teammates

Candy League - a league (e.g., for very young players) that has special rules that would normally not be used in soccer

Cap(s) - recognition earned by a player for each appearance in an international game for their country. In the "old" days (e.g., 1900), when a team would go (i.e., sail) to another country to play, the hosting team would give each member of the visiting team a brimmed hat as a symbol of goodwill. Today, caps are not exchanged, but the term "cap" continues to represent games against foreign teams, where you represent your country. There are no formal rules that say you must be playing on foreign soil when you represent your country or that you must be a member of the country's national team in order to get "capped". When used with youth teams, a cap is loosely interpreted as a game against a team from another country, regardless of the game location.

Captain - an individual, usually designated by an armband, that is usually selected by the coach to control the team, communicate with the game officials, and to represent the team at selected functions

Carbs; Carbos; Carbohydrates - any of a large group of compounds in which hydrogen and oxygen, in the proportions in which they exist in water, are combined with carbon; the formula of most of these compounds may be expressed as C_m(H₂O)_n. As used in sports drinks, "carbohydrate" usually means "sugar".

Card; Carding a player - showing the card as symbol of booking

Carpet - (British) grass or turf

Carry - to dribble the ball

Catenaccio - (Italian for "chain") - A defensive playing style (formation, etc.) developed by the Italians, often using a sweeper, that gives up few goals while degrading the game to boredom.

Caught in Possession (being) - a situation where a ball handler is displaced of the ball after being stopping or being stopped

Caught Flat-Footed (being) - a situation where a defender is standing still or is too slow to react to a play because he/she was not mobile when the play began

Caught Square (being) - a situation where two players (e.g., backs) are equidistant from the goal (i.e., parallel with the goal line) and between which a through ball is passed or dribbler proceeds

Cauldron - (as in a witch's cauldron) - the turbulent area, replete with offensive and defensive players "bubbling" though it, in front of the goal. Also, see "Mixer".

Caution - A disciplinary action (yellow card) taken by the referee against a player or a coach for misconduct

CCS – Central Coast Section of the CIF

Celebration (after a goal) - any action (removing one's jersey, running to the sidelines, doing a flip, or the entire team making a snake or chain) which is performed after the scoring of a goal

Center (to) - to pass the ball from a player located near the sideline towards the middle of the field

Center Circle - a circular marking with a 10-yard radius in the center of the field from which kickoffs are taken to start or restart the game

Center Forward - the middle forward (striker) in a three-across formation

Center Line - the line that divides the field in half along its width, parallel to the goals

Center Mark - the exact center of the field, on the half-way line, equidistant from the sides

Center Pass - to pass the ball from the sides to the center of the field

Center Referee (CR) - the official on the field in the Diagonal System of Control

Center Spot - the small mark inside the center circle that denotes the center of the field from which kickoffs are taken to start or restart the game.

Central Defender - a player who guards the area directly in front of their own goal in a zone defense

Central Forward - a team's most powerful and best-scoring forward who plays towards the center of the field

Central Midfielder - the midfielder most responsible for organizing play in the midfield area

Ceremonial Free Kick (or Ceremonial Restart) - a free kick or other restart for which the referee has instructed the players to wait for his signal before taking the restart. Often used in free kick situations when the referee has to manage the setting of the defensive wall at the minimum distance.

Certification - a credentialing process whereby a coach or referee is given formal recognition and credit for having achieved some level of training

Chaining - combining several moves, steps, procedures, or actions into a larger, more complex action

Chalk - The powdered white material that, in the past, was the primary method of creating lines on the field. (See, "Out to Chalk".)

Challenge - an attempt to strip an opponent of the ball

Championship Game - final game used to determine the overall winners

Change of Pace Move - a move in which the speed of play (e.g., dribble) is varied between fast and slow (or, stopped)

Channel - (1) (as a verb) to guide, drive, or force a dribbler to the outside or another location more advantageous to the defense; (2) (as a noun) an imaginary alley or lane running lengthwise through the field to which a player confines him/herself

Charge (to) - to make contact with an opponent

Charging - a method of unbalancing (using one's shoulder and arm) the player who has possession or is attempting to gain possession of the ball

Check (Run) - a run towards, away from the ball handler, or both made to receive the ball

Check Away - a movement away from the ball handler

Check To - a movement towards the ball handler

Cheeky - (British) risky and technically difficult (move or play)

Chest Trap - use of a player's chest to slow down and control an air ball

Chileno - see "Bicycle Kick"

Chip - a high soft kick used to lift a ball over another player's heads

Chip Pass - a pass lofted into the air from a player to a teammate

Chip Shot - a kick lofted into the air to try to sail the ball over the goalkeeper's head and still make it under the crossbar into the goal

Chip the [Goal]Keeper - Using a chip to beat the goalkeeper. (See 'Chip Shot'.)

Chop - a rapid, powerful redirection of the ball with the foot;  more forceful than a cut

Chunking - the awareness of other players existence and positions; vision

CIF - California Interscholastic Federation

CK - corner kick

Class-1 - First division or A-level select competition teams whose players are selected via tryouts. A higher level of play than competitive (class-3) play. Usually plays soccer in the Fall and following Spring. In District 2, plays in Abronzino or the State Premier Youth Soccer League. Traveling teams that participate in Class-1 tournaments often require overnight stays.

Class-2 - A class-1 team that is not age-pure. (This classification is effectively not used in CYSA-N.)

Class-3 - Upper level, advanced developmental teams whose players are normally selected via tryouts. A level of play between house league and competition teams. In District 2, plays in the DelGado League or Redwood Junior Soccer League.

Class-3 Playing League - (Also known as the C3PL and DelGado League.) The district-wide class-3 league in CYSA District 2.

Class-4 - (As defined by CYSA District 2) Recreational or house teams normally formed on the basis of geographical distribution. These teams are usually intended to be equal in strength when formed. AYSO teams are equivalent to this CYSA/USYS level of performance.

Classic soccer - a classification used in youth soccer synonymous with "competitive soccer" or "select soccer", to distinguish it from "recreational soccer"

Clean Sheet - a game that ends zero-zero (i.e., a shut-out) (British)

Clear (prep.) - ahead ("2 points clear")

Clear (Clearing) (v) - the action of moving the ball out of the vicinity of one’s own goal area by throwing (goalkeeper only) or kicking it (generally up the sideline or out of play)

Clearance - A ball that is kicked rapidly away from the danger area

Cleats - (1) the metal, plastic or rubber points in the bottom of a soccer shoe used to provide a player with traction; (2) the shoes themselves

Climb the ladder - jumping up very high to head the ball

Clinic (putting on) - "Putting on a [scoring] clinic" during a game implies that there was a notable difference in skill or performance between one team, and that the winning team dominated.

Clinical Goal - a textbook goal scored that was shot and scored perfectly

Clogged Midfield - when the defense has made it virtually impossible for the offense to attack up the middle of the field by sheer numbers and high pressure

Close Down (to) - to pressure the player with the ball immediately by getting at close as possible, without letting the attacker get past

Club - (1. Professional International Definition) A formal business organization whose specific purpose is the development of individuals with extremely high soccer skills, fitness, and knowledge of tactics and strategy for the professional soccer industry. (2. Common U.S. definition) An assemblage of individuals with a common interest in the sport of soccer that looks to the outside (e.g., an association such as CYSA) for its league play.

Club Lines(man; person) – an individual (e.g., parent) related to one of the players by blood, marriage, or association that has come to watch a game and who is subsequently “drafted” to serve as an AR in the game

Club Referee – see “Club Lines”

Club Soccer - Soccer whose players, coaches, and teams are organized by a soccer club, academy, or superclub (such as SAYSO), and that looks to the outside (e.g., to an association such as US Club Soccer, Super-Y League, or CYSA) for its league play. In northern California, until approximately 2000, "Club Soccer" has generally been synonymous with "CYSA Soccer" ("CY Soccer"), since most club teams played in leagues organized by CYSA-N. Since 2000, many top teams, clubs, academies, and leagues have migrated to US Club Soccer and/or Super-Y League. Leagues organized by the PAL, the YMCA, and other associations can also provide club soccer opportunities if those associations accept teams from the outside (i.e., clubs). In the United States, "Club Soccer" is understood to exclude the activities of the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), which does not permit outside clubs to bring teams into its leagues of play. (Use your Brower's "Back" button to return to your previous page.)

Club Team - A team that is organized and trained by a club or independent coach, not the (association providing the) league of play. A "club team" does not necessarily have to belong to a club. The adjective is used to distinguish club semi-permanent teams from seasonal recreational teams.

Coachable Moment - a quick freeze of the action during a drill

Coat of Arms - a collection of heraldic symbols (e.g., a shield, crest, helm, etc.) used to identify a soccer club or team

Coerver Method - Dutch coach Weil Coerver's philosophy of soccer moves and total soccer concepts that rely on repetition to develop footwork and ball handling skills

Coin Toss - a method used by the referee to determine which of two teams kicks off and the respective directions of the two teams

Collapse - see "Compress"

Collecting - the technique of catching a soccer ball with some part of the body and bringing it under control

Comeback Win - (1) a game victory that comes only after previous losses, and sufficient to prevent relegation or being dropped from the competition, or (2) a game victory in a home-away pair of games with a single opponent that comes after previously having lost the first game

Combination (Play) - a play in which two or more members of the same team pass the ball amongst themselves

Come off (your man) - getting away from the opponent marking you

Commit - to decide (usually, unconsciously) on a direction or action, followed by action

Commit the opponent - inducting an opponent to commit to a (wrong) direction of motion or action by use of a move or feint

Committee - a group of players in one place, as in "On the free kick, a committee formed around the ball to shield it from the goalkeeper."

Comp - see “Competitive”

Competitive – see “Class-3”

Complex (the) – (northern California usages) may refer to either the Belmont Sports Complex or the Morgan Hill Soccer Complex

Concentrate - (v) to place more players in a particular location

Cool-Down – a low-energy workout following a period of high intensity (e.g., a game) that is designed to increase the subsequent recovery rate of the players

Compress (v) - the process of defensive players (and, a majority of the team) coming closer around an attacking player, reducing the area in which attacking forwards can move without being offside.

CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Football) - represents the region of North and Central America and the Caribbean basin

Cone - (slang) a useless player on the field

Conference – a grouping of teams or organizations (typically, universities) that by virtue of some commonality (e.g., geographical location) have elected to schedule common competitions; a “league” of play

CONMEBOL - organization representing South American soccer region; acronym drawn from full name -- Confederacion Sudamericana de Futbol; based in Asuncion, Paraguay; founded in 1916; membership of approximately 10 nations

Consolation Game; consolidation round – a “final” game between two teams to determine 3^rd and 4^th place rankings. 

Consolation Match - a tournament game played between the losers of the 2 semifinal matches to determine the third-place team

Contain (to) -  to slow down an attacker in order to get adequate defense in place; to not permit an attacker to get by you

Copa - (Spanish) cup

Copa America - one of the oldest international soccer events, the Copa America pits the national soccer teams of the CONMEBOL; first held in 1917 and has been played at least every four years but often special editions are scheduled in off years; the tournament takes place in a host country

Copa Libertadroes - a club competition that matches the winners of the 10 South America soccer associations; the tournament began in 1960 but has
undergone several format changes

Copa Mundial - (Spanish) World Cup

Corner - see "Corner Kick"

Corner Arc - a quarter-circle with a radius of 1 yard located at each of the 4 corners of the field; on a corner kick, the ball must be kicked from inside this arc

Corner Area - see "Corner Arc"

Corner Flag - the flag located at each of the 4 corners of the field, inside the corner area

Corner Kick - a direct free kick taken by an attacking player from the corner of the defending team's end of the field in an attempt to score

Counterattack - an attack launched by a defending team soon after it regains possession of the ball

Cover - (i) defensive support, usually from behind; (ii) the word a supporting player calls to a player ahead indicating support from behind; (iii) the act of supporting a player nearby.

COY - coach of the year

CR – center referee

Cracker - (British slang) - a hard shot

Crank it - strike the ball sharply, smartly, and strongly

Create space - move into a new area, sometimes taking opponents with you, allowing a teammate to use the open space just vacated. (Space can also be created for yourself by moving away from an opponents or teammate.

'Cricket' (Soccer) Program (League) – SAYSO’s Class-4 rec-to-comp Spring soccer league for 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, and young 8-year olds

Crafty Play - starting a play that many players and spectators would not have thought of

Creating Space - a player creates space by drawing an opponent away from his/her teammates or away from the area that is wanted open

Creative Midfielder - the central midfielder responsible for creating scoring opportunities for the attackers and other players

Creative Play - a play that many players and spectators would not have thought of

Crest - see "Coat of Arms"

Cross - a kick into the middle of the goal box, a pass from an attacking player near the sideline to a teammate in the middle or opposite side of the field

Cross Fields - an offensive movement of the ball from one side of the field to the other, to set up an open attack on the other side of the field

Crossbar - the horizontal beam that forms the top of a goal and sits on top of the two posts

Crossing Pass - a kick into the middle of the goal box, a pass from an attacking player near the sideline to a teammate in the middle or opposite side of the field

Cruyff (Turn) - a footwork move named after Dutch player Johann Cruyff who used it in the early 1970's with great success

Crossover Runs - a series of runs, typically performed by two outside forwards, wherein players simultaneously exchange sides of the field

Cuauteminha (Cuauhteminha) - a ball trick introduced at World Cup France '98 by (and, named after) Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Mexico) in which the dribbler jumps over intended tacklers with the ball trapped between his/her own feet.

Cup – a tournament

Curving the ball - kicking the ball so it curves as it travels through the air

Cushioning - see "Deadening the Ball"

Cushion layoff - see "Layoff"

Cut - a small change of direction while carrying the ball, less dramatic than a chop

Cut Back - dribbling the ball backwards, away the goal, in an attempt to keep possession of the ball

Cut Down the Angle - movement by the goalkeeper coming out of the goal several feet to make him/herself closer and larger to an attacker, leaving the attacker less open net to shoot at

Cut Off - when a defensive player keeps his/her body between an attacker and the defender's goal, forcing the attacker out towards the sidelines, making the attacker less dangerous

Cut Off the Line - a defensive tactic against teams that throw "down the line" on throw-ins

CYSA – California Youth Soccer Association; CYSA-N and CYSA-S are separate and distinct organizations. (For all practical purposes, California has been divided into two different "states".)

CYSA-N – CYSA North (north of Bakersfield)

CYSA-S – CYSA South (south of and including Bakersfield)

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D

D (the) - see "Dee"

D2 - see "District 2"

DB - drop ball

Dangerous Play - when a player attempts a play that the referee considers dangerous to that player or others

Darby - see "Derby"

Dead Ball – stationary (stopped) ball after the official signals an infraction, and requiring a restart such as a free kick or corner kick

Deadening the Ball - a method of taking away the balls momentum and making it easier to control; stopping the ball against a part of the body when it comes to a player

Deck - the packet of cards (i.e., the red and yellow cards) that the referee carries in his pocket during a game

Decoy Run - creating a diversion for your teammate by running off the ball

Dee - the curved arc (of 10 yard radius) just outside the 18-yard box, used to "restrain" attacking players during prior to the taking of a penalty kick. Also, see "Penalty Arc."

Deep - close to the penalty area or goal line (e.g., "The ball was kicked deep into the opponent's field of play.")

Defender - a player who functions primarily in the defensive third of the field and whose major role is to repel attacks on the goal by the opposing team

Defending Team - the team that does not have possession of the ball

Defense - a team's function of preventing the opposition from scoring

Defensemen - the 3 or 4 players on a team whose primary task is to stop the opposition from scoring

Defensive Midfielder - the player positioned just in front of their team's defense

Defensive Pressure - close marking by a defender

Defensive Stance - Defensive positioning in which a defender stays an arm's length from the ball handler, knees bent and weight on the balls of the feet

Defensive Third - The third of the field closest to one's own goal

Deflection - the ricochet of a ball after it hits a player (including the goalkeeper) or a referee

Delaying - a defensive tactic which allows members of one team to get into a stronger position which may stop the attack from getting any farther

DelGado League - see "Class-3 Playing League"

Denying an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO) -- a foul committed against an attacker who is close to the goal (and heading towards the goal) with only one defender (typically the goal keeper) in front of him.

Depth - a defensive methodology in which two or more players support each other and form successive "layers" through which an attack must penetrate

Derby - (as used in soccer) an encounter, contest, fight, or game against a longtime rival (e.g., Manchester City v. Manchester United).  Pronounced "darby" by the British.

Development(al) team – see “Class-3”

DFK - See "Direct Free Kick"

Diagonal Run - a run made diagonally across the field, usually without the ball

Diagonal System of Control (DSC) - 3-man officiating system with a center referee and two assistant referees (linesmen). The Center Referee usually moves in a diagonal fashion across the field while moving from end to end.

Dicked (to be) - (British; slang) - to lose a game with a very mismatched score (e.g., 15-0)

Direct Free Kick - a free kick that is awarded for substantial infractions of the laws of the game

Direct Kick - See "Direct Free Kick"

Direction Play - see "Possession Play"

Disguise Run - see "Decoy Run"

Dispossess (to) - to take the ball aware from a player

Dissent - Disagreement with a decision made by the referee

Distribute - (as referring to the goalkeeper) - to give the ball to another teammate

Distribution - (as referring to the goalkeeper) - the act of giving the ball to another teammate

District 2 (CYSA-N) - One of 9 geographical regions in which CYSA-N has isolated youth soccer players in northern California. District 2 covers the area from Burlingame to King City (southern point of Monterey County) and the coastal areas from Half Moon Bay down to to Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Carmel.

District Cup – a district-wide tournament

District Team – the district’s ODP team (common meaning)

Dive (to) - to fall to the ground, sometimes feigning injury, in an effort to draw a foul or penalty kick on an adjacent player

Dive in (to) - approaching an opponent rapidly without slowing down, usually resulting in the opponent side-stepping and easily avoiding the approach

Diving Header - a ball struck near ground level by the head of a diving player

Division (Abronzino) - the class-1 playing league for CYSA-N District 2

Division (AYSO) – player age category (obsolete); Division 6 corresponded to U8; Division 5 corresponded to U10; Division 4 corresponded to U12; Division 3 corresponded to U14; Division 2 corresponded to U16; Division 1 corresponded to U19.

Division (NCAA) - university athletic classification system

Division 1 (Some state soccer associations) - See "Class 1"

Division 2 (Some state soccer associations) - See "Class 3"

Division 3 (Some state soccer associations) - See "Class 4"

DOB – date of birth

DOGSO - see "Denying an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity"

DOGSOH - "Denying an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity by Handling"

Dominant Foot - the foot that a player tends to be a stronger kicker with

Doorman - See "Goalkeeper"

Double Banker - (British) - two back-to-back games, generally with the same teams playing. Duration of halves is halved or at least reduces so that the two games take approximately the same amount of time as a single game.

Double Dual System - a 3-official officiating system occasionally used in high school games. Three officials, each with a whistle. A combination of the Diagonal System of Control and the Dual System.

Double Overtime - not a valid soccer term. See "Extra Time".

Double Pass - when the ball is passed to a player (player "B", usually with his/her back to the goal), then is passed back to the original player "A", then player "B"rolls behind his mark and receives a pass back from player "A".

Down the Line - a throw-in tactic meaning to throw the ball close to the touch line toward the opponent's goal rather than toward the center of the field

Downfield - towards the opponents' goal

DP - dangerous play

DR – district registrar

Drag (the ball) - to move the ball while keeping one's foot on it, typically performed with the sole of the boot

Draw - a game that ends with a tied score

Draw (The) - the selection of teams for a tournament in order to fairly place them into playing groups

Dribble - running with the ball at the fee and playing it on every step or every other step

Dribbler - a player who advances the ball while controlling it with the feet

Drill It (to) - to send a powerfully-hit ball

Drive - a low, hard shot, usually made with the laces

Driven ball - See "Drive"

Driving - playing the ball well forward and running after it

Drop - (n) a soft one-touch pass to a teammate; usually backwards in negative space, for them to possess or shoot

Drop; Drop and Mark; Drop in - (v) to move back in a defensive position so as to get behind the ball or dribbler

Drop(ped) Ball - a method of restarting a game where the referee drops the ball between 2 players facing each other

Drop Kick - when a goalkeeper drops the ball from their hands and kicks it before it hits the ground

Drop Off (to) - to increase the distance from a marked player

Drop Pass - a pass to a player behind, usually made by stopping or back-heeling the ball

DSC - diagonal system to play

Duration (full) -  Two halves, 45 minutes each

Dummy (n) - a faked reception of an incoming ball that allows the ball to travel further onward to another player

Dummy Run - see "Decoy Run"

Dummy You, to (v) -  to fake you out

Dutch-Style Soccer – see “Total Soccer”

Dynasty - a program that keeps winning season after season

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E

Early Ball - a ball that is played quickly (e.g., at first opportunity) into a position for a teammate to pick up

Early Service - to cross or pass the ball into the 18-yard box too quickly

Ejection - An act (of showing the red card and requiring leaving the field) taken by the referee against a player who has committed a serious offense.

Elite - an adjective used by soccer clubs to indicate position in a hierarchy of skill levels. Actual position depends on club usage (e.g., "premier, elite, and select teams")

Empty Net - a goal without a keeper in front of it

Encroaching - being too close (e.g., less than 10 yards) from the kicker on a free kick, goal kick, penalty kick, or corner kick

End Line - the field boundary (goal line) running along its width at each end

Enforcer - a brutal player, usually a back or midfielder, who fouls, intimidates, and retaliates on behalf of his/her team

Engine Room - a nickname for a creative midfielder

Entry Pass - through pass

Equalizer - a tying goal

Escort - a defensive move based on an attacker's own momentum and absence of options to "escort" the attacker out of bounds

European Champions League - a competition in addition to the UEFA Cup which matches clubs which won their national leagues in a head-to-head, home-and-away tournament; the 32 invited teams have won the season title in a top European league; the league is an elimination tournament and is played in addition to the regular league schedule.

European Cup - UEFA sanctioned competition which occurs every four years between World Cup finals; field includes national teams from throughout
Europe; first held in 1960

European Cup Winners Cup - a club competition pitting the winners of league cups the prior year in head-to-head competition; cup tournaments are opened to all divisions of a national league, meaning that quite a few surprise teams have gotten into this tournament; this tournament is an elimination, home-and-away tournament.

Extra Time - the additional two periods each of 15 minutes of play and prior to any sudden-death periods added to a game that has ended in a tie but must result in a winner. Not to be confused with "Stoppage Time". See, also, "Overtime" and "Injury Time".

Eye Save - a (derogatory) description of a goal scored in which the goalkeeper doesn't move but merely watches the ball go into the net

Eyebrow - (British) a flick-on header, commonly of a corner kick by a player at the near post (e.g., "give it the eyebrows")

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F

Face up (to) - to approach the defending player head-on (Usually paired with "...and take on.")

Failure to Respect the Distance (FRD) -- sometimes called "encroachment". Failure of the defenders to move (or stay) back 10 yards from a free kick or corner kick.

Fair Challenge - see "Fair Charge"

Fair Charge - a legal contact with an opponent or the ball, usually resulting in the opponent losing control of the ball

Fair Play - FIFA's term for game play in which there are no violations of the laws of the game, there is no gamesmanship, and there are no professional fouls

Fake - (n) a move by a player meant to deceive an opposing player; (v) to do a faking move

Far and Wide - spread out using the width and length of the field

Far Post - the goal post farthest from the ball

Fast Break - a quick advancing of the ball down the field in an attempt to get its players near the opponent's goal before the defenders have a chance to retreat

Federal debate - (British slang) argument, particularly with a referee

Feint - (n) a move by a player meant to deceive an opposing player; (v) to do a feinting move

Field - the rectangular area where soccer matches are played

Field Goal - (British; slang) a ball hit well over the cross bar

Field of Play - see "Field".

Field Players - any of the 11 players on the field except a goalkeeper

FC - common abbreviation for Football (or Futbol) Club. Example: "Strikers FC"

FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) - world governing body of soccer, founded in 1904 and based in Zurich, Switzerland

FIFA World Cup Trophy - Established in 1974 to replace the Jules Rimet trophy

Fifty-Fifty Ball - See "50-50 Ball"

Filling In - temporarily covering a teammate's position

Final – see “Championship game”

Final 4 - the last four teams in a competition, usually in reference to NCAA tournaments

Finish - (a) to complete an offensive play with a shot on goal; (b) to place a ball on frame or to score with a little more thought, accuracy, and technique than 'merely' shooting

Finisher - a striker who has the ability to "put away" or score on the opportunities given

First Attacker - the player with the ball

First Defender - the defender closest to the first attacker

First Division – see “Class-1”

First Division developmental – see “Class-3”

First Time Ball - passing a ball without stopping or controlling it first

First Touch - shooting a ball without stopping or controlling it first

Fixture - (British) a game; also, see "Match".

FK - free kick

Flags - the flags that are placed at the four corners of the field marking the corners of the field

Flagposts - see "Flags".

Flank defender - one of the two outside player in the back (i.e., defenders); also know as "wing back".

Flanks - the outer sides of the fields; same as "wings"

Flat (getting caught, or “we were”) - a situation wherein the defensive players are arranged in a line laterally across the field, allowing a ball to be played between them, and with the subsequent run-through of an attacker.

Flat Back (Four) - the positioning of the last (four) defenders in a line across the field, so that they are able to move up and back in unison in order to take advantage of the offside rule

Flats - soccer footwear without cleats or studs, generally used for indoor soccer or training

Flick (-on) - a quick touch of a ball already moving in a particular direction, generally performed with the head or foot, which increases its range and/or elevation without changing the direction significantly

Flier - an earlier lead (i.e., a flying start), as in "Arsenal have gotten off to a flier."

Flight - (tournament play) the group of teams that play each other in preliminary games

Flighted Ball - a ball that sails through the air over everyone else

Flip Throw-In - a (legal) throw-in in which the player essentially does a forward roll before ending up on his/her feet and releasing the ball

Flyer - see "Flier"

FOAL - foul and abusive language

Flow of Play - see "Run of Play"

Follow (to) - to follow in the direction of one's own shot or pass in order to be ready for another touch on the ball

Follow Through - the motion of a player's foot in the direction of the ball after it has been kicked

Foot Trap - a player's use of the foot to control ball

Football - the name for soccer everywhere except in the USA

Footie - (British) slang term for "soccer"

Footy - slang term for "Australian-rules football"

Footwear - what a player wears on his/her feet

FOP - field of pla

For Sure - an overused and hackneyed phrase use by coaches to indicate their pleasure at something have been accomplished or carried off well

Forfeit - a match result in which one team is granted a loss by virtue of nonparticipation or violation of some other administrative rule

Formation - the arrangement into positions of players on the field

Forward - a player that is responsible for most of a team's scoring

Forward Line - the group of forwards who work together to try and score goals

Forward Pass - a pass made towards the opposition's goal

Foul - a violation of the rules for which an official assesses a free kick

Foul Throw - an illegal throw-in

Fourth Official - An official (i.e., referee) in FIFA and other competitions with responsibility for admitting substitutes to the field and maintaining decorum in the coaching area

Frame - (1) the mouth of the goal (e.g., "The shot was on-frame."); (2) less frequently, the actual goalposts and crossbar (e.g., "The shot rebounded off the frame.")

FRD - see "Failure to Respect the Distance"

Free Kick - a kick awarded to a player for a foul committed by the opposition

Friendly - (British) a match that does not count in official standings

Front Foot - Abbreviation for "front of the foot"; the laces area on top of the foot just above the little toes

Front Header - the striking of a ball by a player's forehead

Front Post - (1) the post supporting the goal's crossbar that is closest to the ball; (2) a position or location directly next to the post closest to the ball; (3) a position or location that is directly in front of, but some distance removed, from the post closest to the ball; (4) someplace in the general vicinity of the post closest to the ball.

Front Runner - an attacking player who often waits up field and acts as a target player

Front Tackle - an attempt by a defender to kick the ball away from an attacker by approaching from the front

Frosh-Soph - In a high school environment, a team made up of the freshman and sophomores who did not "make" the varsity team; sometimes equivalent to "junior varsity", but not always.

Full International - an international game in which the teams are the true national teams

Fullback - a player who's predominant area of responsibility is in the back of the team formation

Funnel - an imaginary funnel shape on the field with the wide portion of the funnel originating at the points where the mid-field line meets the touch-lines and the narrow end of the funnel pouring into the mouth of the defending goal

Fussbal - (German) soccer

Futbol - (Spanish) soccer

Futebol - (Portuguese) soccer

Futsal  Only FIFA-approved version of indoor soccer. Played 5v5 on a hard surface with a low-bounce ball.

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G

GA - goal area

GAA – See “Goals-against average”

GAP – See “Gryphons Academy Program”

Game-day - the day of a game

Gamer - a player who plays well in games but who does not show (do) well in practices

Gamesmanship – euphemism for "cheating" in a (sometimes) socially-acceptable manner

Garbage - poor playing

Gary - slang for "a very clean player"; a player who commits few professional fouls (as in, "Don't be a Gary") - named after British player Gary Lineker, one of the cleanest players ever

Get a Piece (of him/her) - intentional or unintentional contact, usually slight, causing a stumble or fall

Get Turned - see "Turn"

Get(ting) Up on it - see "Up on it"

Ghost - (British) - an extra defensive player with no specific side or position and that just wanders around the field

Give an Oscar - see "Oscar"

Give and Go (Pass) - a pass where one player gives the ball to a nearby teammate and then sprints forward to open space to receive a pass in return (Same as "One-Two.")

Give it a Lash - See "Lash"

GK - goal kick or goalkeeper