Football is not only an attractive sport with beautiful moves but also has a vibrant system of terminology. If you have ever watched a match and felt confused when hearing the commentator mention terms like tiki-taka, pressing, or offside trap. This article, ACEPH, will share detailed football terminology for beginners.
Football Terminology of Positions
Each player on the field has a specific role. Here are the basic positions you need to know:
Goalkeeper (GK): The person who guards the goal is the only player allowed to use his hands to play the ball in the 16m50 area.
Center Back (CB): The central defender, usually standing right in front of the goalkeeper to protect the goal.
Full-back (LB/RB): The player who plays on the two wings of the defense, supports the defense, and sometimes participates in the attack.
Central Midfielder (CM): Coordinates the ball in the middle of the field, helps transition from defense to attack.
Attack Midfielder (AM): Plays higher than the central midfielder, has the task of creating scoring opportunities.
Striker (ST): The player who plays highest on the field has the main task of scoring goals.
Winger (LW/RW): A player who operates along the flanks, specializing in crossing or breaking through to score goals.
Football terminology about the game and football rules
Understanding the rules of the game will help you follow the matches more easily.
Golden Goal: The previous rule applied in extra time, the team that scored first would win immediately.
Silver Goal: If a team is leading at the end of the first extra time, that team will win.
Offside: When a player receives the ball in a position below the last defender of the opponent (excluding the goalkeeper).
Penalty Shootout: A series of 11m kicks to determine the winner if the match ends in a draw.
Red Card: The most severe penalty in football, the player who receives a red card will be sent off the field immediately.
Yellow Card: A warning given to a player who commits a serious foul.
Football terminology about tactics and playing styles
Every team has its tactics, and here are some terms you should know:
Tiki-taka: A tactic of controlling the ball with short, quick passes, typical of Spanish football.
Pressing: A tactic of putting high pressure on the opponent right from their half of the field to win the ball back.
Offside Trap: A defensive tactic, the defenders will push forward to put the opponent in an offside position.
Counterattack: When a team quickly switches from defense to attack immediately after winning the ball.
Wing Play: An offensive tactic by passing the ball down the flanks and then crossing it inside for the player to finish with a header.
Football terminology about the field and the tournament
Penalty Area: The area in front of the goal where the goalkeeper has the right to use his hands to play the ball.
Penalty Spot: The point 11m from the goal where a penalty kick is taken.
Group Stage: The first stage of a tournament, where teams compete in a round-robin format.
Knockout Stage: The knockout stage, where the losing team is eliminated from the tournament.
Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, Finals: Important rounds before the championship are decided.
