Description

1-2

Informs the person you are passing too that you're expecting a "give and go"/"wall pass" back.

1st Defender

Defender who is closest to the ball. Their job is to pressure the person with the ball.

2nd Defender

Defender whose job it is to support (cover) their teammate who is putting pressure on the ball (1st defender). 2nd defender is usually the 2nd closest defender to the ball who is inside and goal side of the 1st defender (the player who is pressuring the ball).

All the rest of the defenders who aren't pressuring the ball or supporting the person who is pressuring the ball. The job of the "covering" (3rd defenders) is to cover all of the obvious passing lanes and to mark-up opponents who are threatening our goal or in a position to receive a pass from the person with the ball.

Again

Tells your teammates to repeat the pass they just made. As in, 'do that again!'.

Attacking Turn

A turn while receiving the ball that allows the ball to 'slide by' while shielding it with your body from an opponent. A very useful turn if you know where the opposition is.

Back

Same as a drop.

Check back

To make a move away and then a quick move toward the ball to receive a pass. The objective is to create time and space to receive the ball in.

To purposively move the opponent with the ball a certain direction (e.g. to channel them away from our goal).

To kick the ball as far away from the goal area as possible. Preferably toward the touch line and as far upfield as possible.

Cover

Some call the 2nd defender playing cover. Others use the term cover to define the 3rd defender.

Cross

To pass the ball across the face of the goal.

Drop

Tells the player in front of you that you are available for a pass back. Balls are played backward to a player who has more space, less pressure and a better view of the field.

Early Cross

To do a crossing pass early on and not wait until you get to the opponents end line.

The first touch a player has when they receive a pass. Your first touch should either be to immediately deaden the ball at your feet or to 'push' the ball in the direction you're planning on going. First touch should always be away from opponent pressure.

Attacking player is calling for a through ball to the corner.

Where you pass to a player and keep moving forward, that player then passes the ball back to you.

Telling a defender to stay inside their opponent (mark) and to be closer to our goal than they are.

Tells teammates that you are going to defensively take on the opposing player with the ball (i.e. become 1st defender). It also tells your teammates that one of them needs to support you while the rest cover the opposing players.

Goal keeper telling their teammates to back off of the ball and let the goal keeper take it.

A teammate who is near the touch line and is calling for the ball.

To play tight defense against a particular opponent. In a zone defense it would be the opponent who is closest to you in your zone.

Tells your teammate who has the ball that it's time to pass it, shield it or take evasive action.

To closely guard an opposing player. Preferably to stay "goal side, inside" on them while defending.

A pass where you only touch the ball once. You receive the ball and pass it with one stroke.

A teammate who comes from behind you and runs past you on your side. For example a midfielder may overlap the forward. Many times you should pass them a through ball when this happens (because they will rarely be marked).

Goal keeper who makes a dive to their left, right or above their head to do a one handed 'punch' to knock the ball away from their goal. Used when keeper cannot catch and control the ball.

To receive a ball and immediately pass it back again. Usually to the person who just passed it to you but it could be someone else. A one touch pass.

Penalty kick

To put pressure (approx. 3-5') on the opponent with the ball so that they have to keep their attention on you and the ball and are unable to then keep their head up and see the field or take a shot. Pressure is not the same as tackling.

Goal keeper who uses both fists to punch the ball away from their goal. Used when keeper cannot catch and control the ball.

Push the defensive line further up the field toward the opponents goal.

Same as push-up.

Same as channel.

To protect the ball. On defense it can be used to tell the fullbacks to shield off the attackers from the keeper. You have to be careful that you are close enough to the ball to allow shielding otherwise you can be called for obstruction.

Informs the player next to you who has the ball that your available for a pass directly across from them (horizontal).

Some call the 2nd defender playing support. Others use the term support to define the 3rd defender.

Attacking: a switch is where the ball is played across to the other side of the field.

Defense: a switch is where two defenders switch roles for a bit. Used a lot in zone defenses.

An attempt to steal the ball from an opponent.

A ball passed over or through the opponents fullback line. Passing to space not to a person.

Tells your teammate with the ball that they have time and they don't need to pass or shield the ball immediately. Usually it implies that they should be pushing the ball upfield with their dribble as quickly as possible.

To receive the ball and stop it immediately at your feet. Many times called "first touch" as well.

To receive the ball with one touch and then take a second touch to pass the ball. First touch receive the ball, second to pass it.

Same as a give and go.

A defensive that calls for players to be responsible for a particular area or channel on the field. As opposed to a man-to-man defense that has players responsible for a specific opponent counter part - regardless of where they run on the field.