Soccerballs Skills Camp Training Travel Competition About Shipping Links Glossary DTI Sports Home

Kickoff:    A free kick used to star the game, half, overtime or play after a goal. Unlike American football, however, the kicking team does not have to boot the ball to the opposition. Instead, the team is allowed to pass it to members of its own team. Laws of the Game:    The 17 main rules for soccer established by FIFA. Linesmen:    The 2 officials who assist the referee in making his decisions; they monitor the sidelines and goal lines to determine when a ball goes out of bounds and they carry a flag to signal their observations. Man-to-man marking:    When each defender is assigned to cover a specific offensive player. Match:    A soccer game. Marking:    Guarding a player to prevent him from advancing the ball towards the net, making an easy pass or getting the ball from a teammate. Midfielder:    The physically demanding position that provides a bridge between the defense and offense. Midfielders penetrate deeply into enemy territory on attack and must also be able to get back on defense when the opposition gets the ball. Midfielders may specialize as an attacker or defender. MLS:    Major League Soccer - the U.S. outdoor league that began play in the Spring of 1995. NASL:    North American Soccer League - an outdoor league formed in the U.S. in 1967 that attracted great international players including Pele and huge audiences to the U.S. in the 1970s. It folded in 1985. National team:    A team consisting of the best players in a country chosen to represent it in international competitions such as the World Cup. Near post:    The goalpost closest to the ball. Nutmeg:    A pass in which the offensive player kicks the ball between the legs of an opponents. Also called a tunnel pass. Obstruction:    A foul caused by preventing an opponent from playing the ball by blocking their path to the ball. Results in an indirect free kick. Officials:    Consists of a referee and 2 linesmen. The referee is the only one that carries a whistle and keeps the official time of the match. Offside:    An infraction of the rules in which an offensive player does not have at least two defensemen (including the goalie) between them and the goal line when the ball is played forward by a member the offensive team. Offside position:    An attacking player positioned so that fewer than 2 opposing defensive players (usually the goalie and 1 other defender) are between him and the goal he is attacking; a player is not offside if he is exactly even with one or both of these defensive players. On-side:    The opposite of offside. Outlet passes:    When a goaltender or defender passes the ball from close to his own goal toward the other team's goal; used to start a counterattack. Outswinger:    A shot, pass or corner kick that curves away from the goal, as opposed to the inswinger, which is aimed for the front of the goal mouth. Overlap:    When a defender runs forward on the left or right side to become part of the attack. Overtime:    Extra time played after a match ends in a tie. In NH High Schools there are two ten minute sudden death periods of overtime. Own goal:    When a player accidentally kicks, heads or knocks the ball into her own goal. The point is awarded to the offensive team. DTI Second to None DTI Sports, Inc. - 409 Puyallup Ave. Tacoma, WA 98421 1-800-743-4117 - Fax 1-253-627-7274 Sales         Webmaster