Positions:

Goalkeeper - The goalkeeper is responsible for defending the goal and keeping any shots from going into it. Only the goalie can touch the ball with their hands or arms and only within the defined penalty area.

Forwards - The forwards, or attackers/strikers/center are the teams offense. Their role is move the ball toward the opposing teams goal and shoot.

Midfielders - Midfielders play behind the forwards and in front of the defense. Their job is to help both the forwards and defense. They typically receive the ball from the defenders and move it to the forwards.

Defenders - Also known as fullbacks their job is to keep the other team from advancing towards their own goal. Some defenders are sweepers and stoppers.

Advantage - When the referee opts to disregard a foul by the defensive team if stoppage of play would benefit the team that committed the foul.

Block Tackle - A standing "tackle" made with the inside of the foot. Remember, in soccer we "tackle" the ball, not the opposing player!

Fake - A move made by the ball carrier to trick a defender. Also known as feint.

Fifty Fifty Ball - A loose ball that either team has an equal chance of winning.

Header - When a player strikes the ball with their head.

Juggling - Keeping the ball in the air with any part of the body except the hands and arms. See the Juggling club once you have mastered this!

Man On - Said by a teammate to warn the person with the ball that a defender is approaching.

Marking - If your coach says Mark Up it means to closely defend a player to prevent him from receiving the ball or dribbling or passing.

Offside - A violation that occurs when an offensive player is closer to the opponent’s 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.

Overlap - When a winger moves towards the center of the field to make space for a teammate to advance the ball undefended along the sid of the field.

Receiving - Also known as trapping. When a player uses her body to slow down and control a moving ball usually using the feet, chest or thighs.

Shielding - The ball carrier places their body between the ball and the defender to protect the ball.

Slide Tackle - When a defender slides on the ground and attempts to kick the ball away from the ballhandler. If the tackle is careless or uses excessive force or the tackler first contacts the ballhandler instead of the ball, a foul should be called. If the tackle is from behind a "Red Card" can be given. A slide tackle can be a very dangerous play and because of this some youth leagues don't allow slide tackles at all.

Throw-In - When a player throws the ball from behind her head with two hands while standing with both feet on the ground behind a sideline. When the ball is sent out of bounds past a sideline (touchline) the opposing team throws it back into play.

Time - Said to the person controlling the ball to let them know that there are no defenders in the area. They have time to move the ball forward.

Turn - Told to your teammate if she has time to turn and carry the ball up the field.

Wall - Players stand side by side as a line or wall to protect the goal against a free kick.

Wide - If the coach says "Wide" it means to bring the ball down the sidelines instead of up the middle. Also known as outside.