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Players per team on the field	11, including the goalkeeper		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Match length (professional)	Two halves of 45 minutes		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Goalkeeper	The player who guards the goal and may use hands inside the penalty area		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Defender	A player who stops the other team from scoring		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Midfielder	A player who links defense and attack		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Forward (striker)	A player whose main job is scoring		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Winger	A wide forward or midfielder who attacks along the sides		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Sweeper	A defender who plays behind the other defenders		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Captain	The team leader who wears an armband		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Goal	When the whole ball crosses the goal line between the posts and under the bar		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Hat trick	Three goals by one player in a game		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Assist	A pass that leads directly to a goal		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Own goal	A goal scored into your own net by mistake		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Penalty area (18-yard box)	Area in front of goal where the goalkeeper can use hands and where fouls bring penalties		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Goal area (6-yard box)	The small box directly in front of the goal		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Penalty kick	A free shot from 12 yards (11 meters) at the goalkeeper after a foul in the box		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Free kick	A kick awarded after a foul		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Direct free kick	A free kick that can score straight into the goal		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Indirect free kick	A free kick that must touch another player before scoring		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Corner kick	A kick from the corner when the defense puts the ball over its own goal line		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Goal kick	A kick from the goal area when the attackers put the ball over the goal line		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Throw-in	A two-handed overhead throw to restart after the ball goes out on a sideline		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Kickoff	The kick that starts the game or restarts after a goal		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Offside	An attacker is closer to the goal line than the ball and the second-last defender when a teammate passes to them		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Foul	An unfair act such as tripping or pushing		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Yellow card	A warning to a player		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Red card	Ejection from the game		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Handball	Touching the ball with the hand or arm on purpose, a foul		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Referee	The official who controls the match		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Assistant referee (linesman)	Official who signals offside and out-of-bounds		sports-soccer-rules-terms
VAR	Video assistant referee, a video review system		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Stoppage time (injury time)	Extra time added at the end of a half		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Extra time	Two extra 15-minute periods if tied in a knockout match		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Penalty shootout	A tiebreaker where players take turns shooting penalties		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Dribble	Move the ball with your feet while running		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Pass	Kick the ball to a teammate		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Through ball	A pass between defenders for a runner		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Cross	A long pass from the side into the penalty area		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Header	Hitting the ball with the head		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Volley	Kicking the ball before it bounces		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Tackle	Taking the ball from an opponent		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Slide tackle	A tackle made by sliding on the ground		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Clearance	A kick that sends the ball away from your goal		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Save	The goalkeeper stops a shot		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Clean sheet	A game in which a team doesn't concede a goal		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Nutmeg	Pass or kick the ball through an opponent's legs		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Bicycle kick	An overhead kick performed in mid-air		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Wall	Defenders lined up to block a free kick		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Formation	How players are arranged, like 4-4-2		sports-soccer-rules-terms
4-4-2	Four defenders, four midfielders, two forwards		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Marking	Staying close to an opponent to stop them		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Offside trap	Defenders step up together to catch attackers offside		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Pitch	The field of play		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Touchline	The sideline		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Goal line	The line at each end of the field		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Center circle	The circle at the middle where kickoff happens		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Halftime	The break between halves, usually 15 minutes		sports-soccer-rules-terms
World Cup	International men's soccer tournament held every four years		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Women's World Cup	International women's tournament first held in 1991		sports-soccer-rules-terms
FIFA	The governing body of world soccer		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Pelé	Brazilian star who won three World Cups		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Lionel Messi	Argentine star who won the 2022 World Cup		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Mia Hamm	American star who won two World Cups and two Olympic gold medals		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Substitutions	Replacing players during the game		sports-soccer-rules-terms
Fair play	Playing honestly and respecting opponents		sports-soccer-rules-terms