Soccer Study Guide

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Soccer Study Guide
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Starting the game

• Each tem has 11 players. The object of the game
  is to put the soccer ball into the opponents
  goal. The team that scores the most goals wins.
• A toss of a coin decides which team will have the
  first kick-off. The ball is placed in a
  stationary spot in the center of the field.
• On the referees whistle, the team kicking off
  must play the ball forward into the opponents
  half of the field. After this, it is free to the
  first player who gets it.
• Each player must be onsides (in his own half of
  the field) and no opponent may come into the
  center circle until the ball is played.
• The player taking the kick-off may not kick the
  ball again until it has been touched by another
  player.

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• After a goal is scored, the team that has been
  scored against restarts the game in the same
  manner. The second half is begun with a kick-off
  by the team that did not start the first half of
  the game.

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Soccer Positions

• Defender- A player who works mainly in the
  defensive third of the field. They are primarily
  focused on stopping the oppositions attackers
  from scoring.
• Forward- A player who is responsible for most of
  a team's scoring. They play in front of the rest
  of their team (or in the attacking third of the
  field) where they can take most of the shots.
• Goalie Abbreviation for Goalkeeper.

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• Goalkeeper The player positioned directly in
  front of the goal who tries to prevent shots from
  crossing the goal line the only player allowed
  to use their hands and arms.
• Keeper Abbreviation for Goalkeeper.
• Midfielder A player generally positioned in the
  middle third of the field between the forwards
  and defenders. Their job is to link the defense
  and the offense through ball control and passing.
  They play both an attacking role and a defensive
  role.

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Soccer terms for 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.
  Purpose Simply a reference line for the referee
  and defenders. Defenders must be as least 10
  yards away from the ball prior to start or
  restart.
• Corner Arch an arc or quarter-circle with a
  radius of 1 yard located at each of the 4 corners
  of the soccer field. Purpose Also a reference
  line, the ball must be kicked from inside this
  arc on a corner kick.
• End Line the boundary line extending from corner
  to corner along its width at each end.
• Goal Area the rectangular area (20 x 6 yd. on a
  full-size soccer field) marked within the penalty
  area (or inside the larger rectangle) and
  directly in front of goal. Purpose Marks the
  area from which all goal kicks must be taken.
• Goal Box commoners term for the goal area or
  sometimes the penalty area.

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• Goal Line same as the end line.
• Midfield Line a line in the center of the soccer
  field that divides the field in half along its
  width and runs parallel to the goals. Purpose
  Used for start and restart as well as for calling
  offside. A player cannot be offside on their half
  of the field. Also called the center line.
• Penalty Mark (or Spot) the mark on the soccer
  field from which penalty kicks are taken.
• Sideline common word for the touchline.
• Touchline the line that runs along the length of
  each side of the field. Commonly called the
  sideline in other sports.

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Soccer Skills

• Center a pass from either side of the field
  towards the middle of the field. It is used
  primarily to get the ball closer to the front of
  the goal. The words center and cross are used
  interchangeably.
• Clearing the act of moving the ball out of the
  area of ones own goal by throwing (goalkeeper
  only) or kicking it.
• Cross another word for center.
• Dribbling- Use to advance the ball from one point
  to another by a single player.
• Dropped Ball- A dropped ball is taken after a
  temporary suspension of play. It is taken where
  the ball was when play was stopped (except in the
  goal area). The ball is dropped by the referee
  and is in play when it touches the ground. The
  player may dribble, pass or shoot.
• Drop Kick and Punt (goalie) - Methods of clearing
  the ball out of the goal. Punt is when the ball
  is kicked before it touches the ground. A drop
  kick is when the ball is kicked as it rebounds
  from the ground.

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• Fake a move by a player meant to deceive an
  opposing player. Used to gain an advantage, it is
  frequently used when dribbling to get past an
  opponent.
• Foot Trap the use of the foot, usually the
  bottom, to control a rolling or low bouncing
  ball.
• Hand ball- When a player other than the goalie
  touches the ball with any part of the arm from
  the shoulder to the fingers. The call will not be
  made if the player, who committed the hand ball,
  or his or her team, did not get an advantage or
  possession.
• Header When a player passes or shoots the ball
  with his head.
• Kickoff- The kickoff is kicked from the center
  point on the center line. The ball must roll one
  complete revolution before any player on either
  team can touch it. After this, it is free to the
  first player who gets to it. Kickoffs are taken
  at the start of a game, to start the second half
  and after a goal are scored. Players are on their
  own half of the field.
• Passing- A kick used to get the ball to an open
  teammate.
• Place Kick- Used to move the ball a great
  distance without interference.

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• Save the act of a goalkeeper in stopping a shot
  that would have otherwise gone into the goal.
• Shieldingused by the person with the ball to
  protect the ball from a defender the ball
  carrier keeps their body between the ball and the
  defender.
• Tackle the act of taking the ball away from a
  player by kicking or stopping it with one's feet.
  
• Throw-in- A throw-in is taken when the ball
  crosses completely over the touch line. It is
  taken were the ball crossed over the line. It is
  taken by a player on the team who did not touch
  the ball last. Opponents must not block the
  throw-in. Players must use both hands and must
  throw the ball behind and over their head their
  feet must be on or outside the sideline. If the
  ball is thrown improperly a throw-in is awarded
  to the opposite team. The ball is in play when it
  enters the field after being released. A player
  cannot score directly off a throw-in.
• Trap the use of ones body to slow down and
  control a moving ball, most often using the
  chest, thighs or feet.

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Soccer Rules

• Corner Kick a direct free kick that is awarded
  when the defending team puts the ball over the
  end line. A corner kick is taken by the offensive
  team from next to the corner flag. There are four
  corner flags on the corners of the field. A
  player from the attacking team kicks the ball
  from the corner closest to where the ball went
  out. Offense can score directly off the corner
  kick.
• Direct Free Kick a free kick that is awarded at
  the spot of the infraction for a physical contact
  foul such as tripping, holding, pushing, tackles
  from behind, jumping into an opponent, or for
  hand balls. A direct free kick can score by going
  directly into the goal. It does not have to be
  touched by anyone other than the kicker.
• Foul when the referee judges a violation against
  an opposing player. The team that suffers the
  foul is awarded with a direct free kick unless
  the foul is committed by a defensive player
  inside his own penalty area, in which case the
  foul results in a penalty kick.

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• Free Kick- Any time any foul or hand ball is
  committed, the other team receives a free kick.
  When taking a free kick the other team must be at
  least ten yards away.
• Goal KickWhen the ball is kicked over the end
  line by a player attacking that end, a goal kick
  is awarded. The ball is kicked from anywhere
  inside the goal area away from the goal to
  restart play. After the kick is taken, the ball
  cannot be touched again by any player until it is
  outside of the penalty area.
• Indirect Free Kick a free kick that is awarded
  at the spot of the infraction for other fouls
  that are judged not to be serious such as
  obstruction, dangerous play or charging
  (non-contact fouls), as well as for offside.
  Indirect kicks must touch another player (either
  team) before the ball goes into the net in order
  to score.

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• OffsideA violation that occurs when an offensive
  player is closer to the opponents goal than both
  the ball and the second-to-last opposing player
  at the time that the ball is passed to the
  offensive player by his or her teammate. Players
  cannot be called offside if they are in their own
  half of the field or if they receive the ball
  from a throw in, corner kick, or goal kick. When
  a player is called offside, the opposing team is
  awarded an indirect free kick.
• Out of Bounds- The ball must cross completely
  over the line to be called out of bounds. A
  player can be standing out of bounds and not be
  called if the ball is still not out.
• Penalty Kick A kick taken from 12 yards in front
  of the goal as a result of a contact foul or hand
  ball that takes place inside the penalty area.
  These can be the result of a hand ball. All
  players, except the goalkeeper and kicker, must
  be ten yards outside the area, behind the penalty
  mark and in the field. Goalkeeper must be on the
  goal line between posts until the ball is kicked
  (may move laterally). Ball is in play when it is
  kicked.
• Throw-ins a way to restart play when the ball
  goes out over the sidelines. The team that did
  not touch the ball last is allowed an overhead
  throw.

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Goalkeepers Privileges

• While in the penalty area, the goalkeeper may
  use their hands and arms to stop a ball or throw
  it, after taking possession of the ball, has six
  seconds to put it in play, can put the ball into
  play by punting, drop kicking or throwing.
• He/she is also free from interference by other
  players while he/she is in possession of the
  ball.
• A goalkeeper may not use his/her hands when their
  teammate passes the ball to them with the feet or
  a throw-in.

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Strategies

• 4 3 3
• 4 defenders, 3 midfielders, 3 forwards
• Offensive minded system
• 4 - 4 - 2
• 4 defenders, 4 midfielders, 2 forwards
• Defensive minded system
• 4 5 1
• 4 defenders, 5 midfielders, 1 forward
• Very defensive minded system counterattacking
  system.
• Whenever you call a system, you always start from
  the backline (defense) first.
• Example 4-3-3 means 4 defenders, 3 midfielders
  and 3 forwards.
• High Pressure- Putting pressure on the opponent
  in their half of the field.
• Low Pressure- Letting the opponent play freely in
  their half and putting pressure on them when they
  enter our half of the field

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