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Soccer and football vocabulary words

This list is for young athletes, coaches, and sports fans learning the vocabulary of soccer and American football. It covers positions, common plays, and rules so players and fans alike can follow and talk about the game.

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Soccer and football vocabulary words

30 words
WordMeaningIn a sentenceSave
goalkeepernounThe player in soccer, hockey, or similar sports whose main role is to stop the ball or puck from entering the goal.The goalkeeper dove to his left and stopped the penalty kick.
defendernounA person who protects someone or something from attack or criticism.She became a vocal defender of the neighborhood's historic buildings.
midfieldernounA soccer player positioned between the defenders and forwards who links defense and attack during play.The midfielder controlled the tempo of the game by spraying passes across the field.
forwardadverbToward the front, ahead in position, or onward in time or progress.The line moved forward slowly as more tickets became available at the counter.
strikernounIn soccer, an attacking player positioned to score goals near the opponent's end of the field.The striker slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to seal the victory.
offsideadjectiveIn sports such as soccer or hockey, positioned illegally beyond a certain line relative to opponents and the ball.The referee ruled the striker offside just before he tapped the ball into the net.
penaltynounA punishment imposed for breaking a law, rule, or contract, or a disadvantage given in a game.The court imposed a heavy penalty on the company for dumping waste into the river.
corner kicknounIn soccer, a free kick taken from the corner of the field after the ball crosses the goal line off a defender.The winger curled the corner kick directly into the top of the net.
throw-innounA method of restarting play in sports such as soccer, in which a player throws the ball back onto the field from the sideline.The referee awarded a throw-in after the ball crossed the touchline.
dribbleverbTo bounce or tap a ball repeatedly while moving, in sports such as basketball or soccer.He dribbled the ball past two defenders before scoring a quick layup.
tackleverbTo deal with a difficult task or problem directly, or to physically stop an opponent, especially in sport.The team decided to tackle the budget shortfall by cutting unnecessary expenses first.
headernounText or an image placed at the top of a page, document, or section to identify or introduce it.She added a header with the company logo to every page of the report.
refereenounAn official who supervises a game or match to ensure players follow the rules.The referee blew his whistle and awarded a penalty kick after the foul.
whistleverbTo make a clear, high-pitched sound by forcing air through pursed lips or a small instrument.He whistled a cheerful tune as he walked down the street.
fouladjectiveExtremely unpleasant, especially in smell, taste, or quality.A foul smell drifted from the trash cans left out in the summer heat.
possessionnounThe state of owning, holding, or having something under one's control.The stolen jewelry was found in the possession of a local pawnbroker.
formationnounThe process of forming something, or a particular arrangement or structure that results.The formation of the committee took several months of negotiation among the departments.
kickoffnounThe start of a football or soccer match, or more generally the beginning of an event, project, or campaign.The kickoff was delayed by twenty minutes because of heavy rain over the stadium.
halftimenounThe break between the two halves of a sports game, such as soccer, football, or basketball.The band performed a lively show during halftime at the football game.
cleatsnounSports shoes with small studs on the sole that improve grip on grass or soft ground.He laced up his cleats before jogging onto the soccer field.
pitchnounThe degree of highness or lowness of a musical note or sound as perceived by the ear.The singer struggled to hit the high pitch required in the final chorus.
scrimmagenounA practice game or informal match, especially in American football, used to prepare for real competition.The coach ended practice with a short scrimmage between the offense and defense.
quarterbacknounIn American football, the player who leads the offense and typically throws or hands off the ball.The quarterback threw a perfect pass to the receiver in the end zone for a touchdown.
touchdownnounA scoring play in American or Canadian football in which a player carries or catches the ball in the opponent's end zone.The crowd erupted when the running back scored the winning touchdown.
fumbleverbTo handle something clumsily, or to drop or mishandle it while trying to hold or catch it.He fumbled with his keys in the dark before finally unlocking the front door.
interceptionnounThe act of catching or stopping something, such as a ball or a message, before it reaches its intended destination.The cornerback's interception ended the opposing team's scoring drive.
huddleverbTo crowd together closely, typically for warmth, protection, or privacy.The hikers huddled under a rock ledge until the storm passed.
blitznounA sudden, intense burst of effort or attack, often carried out over a short period of time.The team launched an advertising blitz in the weeks before the product launch.
endzonenounThe scoring area at each end of a football field, where a team must reach to score a touchdown.The receiver sprinted into the endzone to score the winning touchdown.
linebackernounA defensive player in American football positioned just behind the defensive line, responsible for stopping runs and passes.The linebacker tackled the running back just before he reached the goal line.

Soccer versus football words

Soccer and American football share the word football, but they use very different vocabulary on the field. Soccer terms like striker, midfielder, offside, and dribble describe a game built around passing and shooting with the feet. American football vocabulary such as quarterback, touchdown, fumble, and interception describes a game centered on advancing the ball down the field in organized plays.

Frequently asked questions

What does offside mean in soccer?

A player is offside if they are nearer to the opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second-to-last defender when the ball is played to them.