VAR

VAR (countable and uncountable, plural VARs)

[Harry] Kane was the victim in incidents plucked straight from the world of wrestling in each half, and on neither occasion did any of the officials – on the pitch or in the VAR booth – see fit to intervene in what were obvious penalties.

2018 June 18, Phil McNulty, “Tunisia 1 – 2 England”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 2019-04-21:

video assistant referee
video assistant referee#English

(soccer) Initialism of video assistant referee.


attacker

(soccer) One of the players on a team in football (soccer) in the row nearest to the opposing team's goal, who are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals.

مُهَاجِم

(soccer) movement of the team in possession of the ball


rearguard

/ˈɹɪəɹˌɡɑɹd/

From rear + guard. Attested in The Song of Roland circa 1150 (rereguarde). Doublet of retrogarde.

Mancini's side only showed enough ambition when it was too late and by then battle lines were drawn as James Collins and former City captain Richard Dunne fought a magnificent rearguard action at the heart of Villa's defence.

2011 January 22, Phil McNulty, “Aston Villa 1 - 0 Man City”, in BBC:

(soccer) The defence, collectively the defenders.


hard count

Jones is good at drawing a defense offside with his hard count.

(American football) The situation where the quarterback attempts to draw the defense offside through a deceptive snap count sequence, sometimes accompanied by subtle body movements which simulate the initiation of the play.


linebacker

The linebacker corralled the runner who had slipped through the hole.

(American football) The defensive players who are in position behind the defensive linemen and in front of the safeties and cornerbacks and whose principal responsibilities are to tackle runners and to defend against shorter passes.


right back

(soccer) a defender who normally plays on the right side of the field


disposal

en-noun

disposal (countable and uncountable, plural disposals)

[dɪsˈpəʊzəɫ]

(different ways of disposing of something

on the spot or at a remote location, by reusing or simply depositing) selejtezés

2019 In the mix: Who's pushing for selection for round eight? Australian Football League, 7 May 2019. Accessed 8 May 2019.
Lewy Taylor was quiet against the Swans with just seven disposals but hit the mark with a couple of kicks inside 50 during the crucial last quarter.

Australian rules football
Australian rules football

(countable) A disposing of or getting rid of something.

(countable, Australian rules football) A kick or a handball of the ball during a game.


SFC

(soccer) Initialism of Sydney Football Club.


Southsider

(soccer) A fan of the Vancouver Whitecaps football team


pick up

en-verb

pick up (third-person singular simple present picks up, present participle picking up, simple past and past participle picked up)

picks up (present singular third-person)
picking up (participle present)
picked up (participle past)
picked up (past)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-pick up.wav

And soon after, no-one picked up Shotton who was free to power a 12-yard header over from another Pennant corner, before Pennant sent a free kick straight at Cardiff keeper Tom Heaton.

2011 January 18, David Dulin, “Cardiff 0-2 Stoke”, in BBC:

(soccer) To mark, to defend against an opposition player by following them closely.


Jints

Eye dialect for popular New York City pronunciation of giants

On Sunday it would be even more drinking, plus the Times, and the pitiful "Jints" on TV.

2000, James Patterson, The Midnight Club, page 101:

(American football, informal) The New York Giants.


Cardinals

(American football) The team Arizona Cardinals.


dugout

Spurs, who were without boss Harry Redknapp after his heart surgery, failed to create a clear-cut chance. Redknapp is expected to be back in the dugout when Spurs play Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday but it was left to his assistant Kevin Bond to take a young team to Russia looking for the win that would put them through to the last 32.

2011 November 3, Chris Bevan, “Rubin Kazan 1 - 0 Tottenham”, in BBC Sport:

(baseball, soccer, cricket) A sunken shelter at the side of a sports field where non-playing team members and staff sit during a game.

Spielerbank

where non-playing teammembers and staff sit during a game


NFI

(American football) Initialism of non-football injury; any injury sustained by a player outside of games or training.


lino

en-noun

lino (usually uncountable, plural linos)

Contraction of linesman + -o (“diminutive suffix”).

Lino flagged a bit late but was right

2014 October 4, MartTheTaxi, “Twitter status”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name):

(UK, colloquial, informal, soccer) Abbreviation of linesman.


FCS

w:NCAA Division I#Football Championship Subdivision

(American football) Initialism of Football Championship Subdivision.


left back

(soccer) A defender who normally plays on the left side of the field.


face mask penalty

face mask penalty (plural face mask penalties)

(American football) A penalty in American football where one player grabs the face mask of an opposing player. There are two versions of this penalty: incidental face mask penalty and the more serious personal foul face mask penalty.


facemask

潛水面罩

covering used to protect the face used for diving

(American football, Canadian football) The part of the helmet that directly covers the face, made of one or more plastic-coated metal bars.

(American football, Canadian football) The foul of grasping it during play.


diving

diving (countable and uncountable, plural divings)

(soccer, sports) The act of pretending to be tripped or brought to the ground by an opposition player in order to secure a undeserved penalty.


scorpion kick

association football
association football

(soccer) A rare type of kick in association football where the player dives headlong so his body flies parallel to the ground in a prone position and quickly extends his hips and flexes his knees backwards, so they resemble a scorpion's upright tail, to kick a football passing towards his heels, returning it in the direction it came.


toepoke

en-verb

toepoke (third-person singular simple present toepokes, present participle toepoking, simple past and past participle toepoked)

toepokes (present singular third-person)
toepoking (participle present)
toepoked (participle past)
toepoked (past)

‘You’re not going to tell me you’re still toepoking at your age,’ his uncle said. ‘See what happens if you don’t kick properly? Look here till I show you.’

1988, Glenn Patterson, Burning Your Own, Minerva, published 1993, →ISBN, page 105:

Clinging on to said defender, viduka, slightly off balance, only manages to tickle the ball with his toecaps, merely toepoking it to the opposition.

2002 April 2, Darren Dootsen, “Does this ound familiar?”, in uk.sport.football.clubs.leeds-united (Usenet):

There are moments today as ever when you catch that joy on the wing: seeing a little girl standing in a shopping trolley singing a nonsense song or a chortling urchin toepoking a football past the toppling figure of his father in the park.

2004, Ferdinand Mount, Mind the Gap: The New Class Divide in Britain, Short Books, page 250

Morrison ran on to a through ball, toepoked it towards the goal, Sorensen went to ground too early and the ball bounced slowly over his chest and nestled in the goal.

2005 January 4, Sumisdad, “Re: So...is it time to bring back Tim?”, in alt.sports.soccer.manchester.united (Usenet):

did he( Ronaldinhio) toepoke that goal or what?

2005 March 9, arby, “Re: chelsea v barca”, in uk.sport.football.clubs.newcastle-united (Usenet):


toepoke

Toepokes are useful in an emergency, particularly when it is impossible to get close to the ball.

1979, Ken Jones, How to Play Soccer, Chartwell Books, →ISBN, page 13:

viduka's toepoke was matched in the second half, but again was wide.

1997 October 3, David Arnold, “[Tunisia - Australia [R]]”, in rec.sport.soccer (Usenet):

I think the ball bounced over his hand, he was in line with the ball but the toepoke bounced higher than he expected.

2002 June 27, William Watson, “Re: Semifinal Brazil - Turkey [R]”, in rec.sport.soccer (Usenet):

3-1is a bit close? Try 1-0, with a toepoke of a goal in the 90'.

2004 August 20, Victoria Barrett, “Re: [082104] When Gut League Saturday Comes”, in uk.sport.football (Usenet):


clanger

From clang (“loud ringing sound”) + -er.

Geelong could not get their running game going and lapsed into clanger after clanger.

2006, Jim Main, Rohan Connolly, More Than a Century of AFL Grand Finals, page 202:

(Australia, Australian rules football) A mistake made by a player; counted in the game statistics in the category "errors including frees against".


bootleg

From boot + leg. Originally a nickname given to smugglers in King George III's reign, derived from the smugglers' custom of hiding packages of valuables in their large sea-boots when dodging the king's coastguardsmen.

(American football) A play in which the quarterback fakes a handoff, conceals the ball against his hip, and rolls out.


white maggot

From the uniform of white shirt and shorts worn by the Victorian Football League (which became the Australian Football League) field umpires. The umpires' uniforms changed to day-glow orange in 2004.

Come on you white maggot, that was a throw.

2004, Brooke Neindorf, “Country footy”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), archived from the original on 2006-04-20:

(Australian rules football, slang, derogatory) A field umpire.


throw-in

(soccer, rugby, basketball, handball) A set-piece where the ball is thrown back into play

(Australian rules football) A throw of the ball back into play by the boundary umpire. The umpire faces away from the players and throws it in over his or her shoulder (so as to clearly not favour either side by where exactly it's thrown).


Premiership

/ˈpɹɛmɪəʃɪp/

(British, soccer) the Premier League of English association football


who ate all the pies

Who ate all the pies? Who ate all the pies? You fat bastard, you fat bastard, you ate all the pies. Loser!

(British, soccer, colloquial, derogatory, rhetorical question) Used pejoratively against a fat person.


thunderbolt

Substitute Niko Kranjcar's injury-time thunderbolt gave Tottenham a dramatic win over Bolton.

2011 February 5, Michael Kevin Darling, “Tottenham 2 - 1 Bolton”, in BBC:


woodwork

en-noun

woodwork (usually uncountable, plural woodworks)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-woodwork.wav

From Middle English woodewerk (“carpentry”), equivalent to wood + work.

That goal was so close, it went in off the woodwork.

Carroll thought he had equalised with his header against the bar with eight minutes left. Liverpool claimed the ball had cross the line and Chelsea were grateful for a miraculous intervention from Cech to turn his effort on to the woodwork.

2012 May 5, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:

(soccer, rugby) The frame of the goal, i.e. the goalpost or crossbar.


cutback

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-cutback.wav

Lee Barnard swung at Chaplow's cutback and missed completely and then was just too far away to connect with Harding's flashing ball across the face of goal.

2011 January 29, Ian Hughes, “Southampton 1 - 2 Man Utd”, in BBC:

Before the interval an Alibade strike ricocheted off the back of Bright after Ifeoma Onumonu’s cutback. Then in added time Uchenna Kanu smacked a header off the top of the bar.

2023 August 7, Suzanne Wrack, “England beat Nigeria on penalties to reach Women’s World Cup quarter-finals”, in The Guardian:

(soccer) An offensive pass played into a position further from the attacking goal line.


up the gut

American football
American football#English

Describing a play in American football in which the player runs the ball through the middle of the field through defenders.


on-side kick

(sports) A play in American football whereby the team performing the kick-off kicks the ball the minimum distance (ten yards in most levels of play) in an attempt to immediately regain possession of the ball.


pigskin

Compound of pig + skin.
The American football is a direct descendant of the ball used in the game of rugby. The rugby ball originally was made of a pig’s bladder with a leather cover; the earliest versions of the leather exterior sometimes were made of pigskin.

“We gotta find those pigskins!” Squat insisted. “Pigskins?” Diddly asked. With obvious disdain, Squat replied, “Yeah, you know, that is what they call footballs, dummy.”

2011, J. H. Holland, Dsi: Diddly Squat Investigation, page 35:


touchback

The ball sailed into the end zone for a touchback and the Eagles had possession on the 20-yard line. https://web.archive.org/web/20060111202354/http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/gameday/postGameArchive.jsp?id=16746

(American football) The result of a play (usually a kickoff or punt) in which the ball passes out the back of the end zone or a team otherwise gains possession of the ball in their own end zone.


clipping

clipping (countable and uncountable, plural clippings)

(uncountable, American football, Canadian football) Falling, rolling, or throwing one's body on the back of an opponent's legs after approaching from behind.


squad

From French escouade, from Italian squadra (“square”) (whence also French escadre). Doublet of squadra and square.

ջոկատ

small group of people organized for a purpose

A group of people organized for some common purpose, usually of about ten members.

(cricket, soccer, rugby) A group of potential players from whom a starting team and substitutes are chosen.


stab pass

(Australian rules football) A kick passing the ball to a teammate made so the ball travels low and fast through the air.


torpedo punt

(Australian rules football) A kick of the football made whereby the pointy ends of the ball are oriented lengthwise along its trajectory, thereby aiding aerodynamics. Some spin about the lengthwise axis is imparted to help keep that orientation in flight.


drop kick

(rugby, Australian rules football, American football, Canadian football) A kick made by dropping the ball on the ground and kicking it as it bounces up.


throw away

en-verb

throw away (third-person singular simple present throws away, present participle throwing away, simple past threw away, past participle thrown away)

throws away (present singular third-person)
throwing away (participle present)
threw away (past)
thrown away (participle past)

(American football, slang) To intentionally throw an incomplete pass.


DM

en-noun

DM (countable and uncountable, plural DMs)

(soccer) Initialism of defensive midfielder.


rushed behind

In another Friday-night match, in Round 15, the Western Bulldogs crushed us by sixty-four points; we managed just two rushed behinds in the last half-hour, while the Dogs piled on six goals.

Every one of those rushed behinds was either kicked, handballed, walked through or deliberately pushed across the line by a Hawthorn player.

2016, Martin Blake, Mighty Fighting Hawks:

(Australian rules football) A behind (one-point score) made when the ball passes through the goal posts or behind posts not from the foot of the attacking team, i.e. either spilled off hands or deliberately carried through by the defenders.


up front

But, rather than make a change up front, Hughes shuffled his defence for this match, replacing Carlos Salcido with Baird, in a move which few would have predicted would prove decisive.

2010 December 28, Marc Vesty, “Stoke 0 - 2 Fulham”, in BBC:


two-way

From two + way. Compare Old English twiweġ (“intersection, junction of two roads”).

cog

(American football) Playing both offense and defense in the same game.


see red

en-verb

see red (third-person singular simple present sees red, present participle seeing red, simple past saw red, past participle seen red)

sees red (present singular third-person)
seeing red (participle present)
saw red (past)
seen red (participle past)

Possibly from the red flag used in some historic armies to signal the imminence of battle, or from the red cloth used to enrage bulls in Spanish bullfighting, or more generally from the idea of red as a colour of warning and danger. Compare corresponding idioms in several European languages: Danish se rødt, German rotsehen, French voir rouge, etc.

Diop, sometimes criticized for passive play, saw red once this season when he lashed out at a foe who kicked away his legs.

2005 January 26, Rob Hughes, “Soccer: Trio from Senegal is having a ball”, in New York Times, retrieved 2013-11-14:

Kalinic later saw red for a rash tackle on Paul Scharner before Gabriel Tamas was dismissed for bringing down Diouf.

2010 December 28, Kevin Darlin, “West Brom 1 - 3 Blackburn”, in BBC:

(idiomatic, soccer) To receive a red card, and be dismissed from the playing field.


finishing

That guy's a slow and lazy player, but he's got excellent finishing.

Benítez's team had been subjected to some intense pressure and will be grateful that Benfica's finishing was not as refined as their buildup play. Jorge Jesus's side pinned them back at times but they were guilty of being too elaborate in front of goal.

2013 May 15, Daniel Taylor, The Guardian:


yardage

en-noun

yardage (countable and uncountable, plural yardages)

Aiyuk a junior college transfer excels in grabbing yardage after the catch. No, like, really excels. In mid-October, according a story by The Athletic, Aiyuk was averaging more yards after the catch (13.6) than Jerry Jeudy was averaging per catch

2020 April 24, Ken Belson, Ben Shpigel, “Full Round 1 2020 N.F.L. Picks and Analysis”, in New York Time:


sitter

From Middle English sitter, sittere, syttare, equivalent to sit + -er.

How could he miss that? It was an absolute sitter!

Aaron Ramsey, a hero last season against Hull, missed a sitter at the end of normal time that would have made the game safe and must have been relieved that his shot against a post from four yards out did not cost his side more dearly.

2015 April 18, Paul Wilson, The Guardian:

(soccer, snooker, cricket, slang) A very easy scoring chance.


two-footed

From Middle English two-foted, equivalent to two + footed. Compare Old English twifēte (“two-footed”), Old Norse tvífættr (“two-footed”).

Villa full-back Alan Hutton was perhaps fortunate to stay on the field when his two-footed challenge on Shane Long went unpunished by referee Phil Dowd.

2011 October 22, Sam Sheringham, “Aston Villa 1 - 2 West Brom”, in BBC Sport:


arena football

A form of American football played on a smaller field, and in an indoor arena.


clearance

clearance (countable and uncountable, plural clearances)

Bolton were then just inches from taking the lead, but the dangerous-looking Taylor drilled just wide after picking up a loose ball following Jose Bosingwa's poor attempted clearance.

2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, in BBC:

(soccer) The act of kicking a ball away from the goal one is defending.

изчистване

soccer: the act of kicking a ball away from the goal one is defending

(Australian rules football) The first disposal in a chain that leaves the area of a stoppage, or a disposal that leaves the area of a stoppage itself.

(Australian rules football) The act of leaving the area of a stoppage.


upfront

He's a poor defender, so we always play him upfront.


soccer ball

(soccer) A ball that is designed for use in the sport of soccer; a football.


pile-up

(colloquial) A pile, a group of people or things which have piled up on one another, especially

(American football) A pile of tackling players.


number one

England number one Hart produced a magnificent moment to deny Van Persie once more just after the hour mark, leaping across his goal to fingertip the Dutchman's crashing 25-yard, top corner-bound drive away.

2011 January 5, Jonathan Stevenson, “Arsenal 0 - 0 Man City”, in BBC:

(soccer) The main goalkeeper of a team, so-called because they wear the number 1 on the back of their kit.


aerial ping pong

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-aerial ping pong.wav

A reference to the football going up and down the ground by long high kicks. (Reference: Australian National Dictionary Centre at the Australian National University).

'Australian Rules draws bigger crowds in Melbourne than Rugby in Sydney.' 'What?' Sydney Sam would say, 'that's not football, mate, it's aerial ping-pong.'

1965, Frank Hardy, The Yarns of Billy Borker, page 43:

(sometimes derogatory, sometimes humorous) Australian rules football.


RT

RT (countable and uncountable, plural RTs)

(American football, Canadian football) Initialism of right tackle.


smother

en-verb

smother (third-person singular simple present smothers, present participle smothering, simple past and past participle smothered)

smothers (present singular third-person)
smothering (participle present)
smothered (participle past)
smothered (past)

From Middle English smothren, smortheren, alteration (due to smother, smorther (“a suffocating vapour, dense smoke”, noun)) of Middle English smoren (“to smother”), from Old English smorian (“to smother, suffocate, choke”), from Proto-Germanic *smurōną (“to suffocate, strangle”), probably related to *smallijan (“to burn”) or Old English smoca (“smoke”).
Cognate with Middle Low German smoren, smurten (“to choke, suffocate”), West Flemish smoren (“to smoke, reek”), Dutch smoren (“to suffocate, smother", also "to stew, simmer”), German schmoren (“to stew, simmer, braise”).

cog

Emmanuel Adebayor's touch proved a fraction heavy as he guided Van der Vaart's exquisite long ball round John Ruddy, before the goalkeeper did well to smother Bale's shot from Modric's weighted pass.

2011 December 27, Mike Henson, “Norwich 0 - 2 Tottenham”, in BBC Sport:

(soccer) To get in the way of a kick of the ball.

(Australian rules football) To get in the way of a kick of the ball, preventing it going very far. When a player is kicking the ball, an opponent who is close enough will reach out with his hands and arms to get over the top of it, so the ball hits his hands after leaving the kicker's boot, dribbling away.


smother

en-noun

smother (countable and uncountable, plural smothers)

From Middle English smother, smorther (“a suffocating vapour, dense smoke”), from Old English smorþor (“smoke”, literally “that which suffocates”), from smorian (“to suffocate, choke”) + -þor (instrumental suffix).

inh

That which smothers or appears to smother, particularly

(Australian rules football) The act of smothering a kick (see verb section).


stopper

He's the number one stopper in the country.

And just before the interval, Kolarov, who was having one of his better games in a City shirt, fizzed in a cracker from 30 yards which the Wolves stopper unconvincingly pushed behind for a corner.

2011 January 15, Saj Chowdhury, “Man City 4 - 3 Wolves”, in BBC:


scorcher

/ˈskɔɹ.t͡ʃɚ/

-ɔː(ɹ)t͡ʃə(ɹ)

From scorch + -er (agent noun suffix) or -er (descriptive suffix).

What a scorcher! See the net reverberate!

(soccer) A very good goal, notably made with a very hard shot.


corner kick

(soccer) A kick awarded to the attacking team when the ball leaves the field of play by wholly crossing the goal line without a goal having been scored, having last touched a player from the defending team. For the kick, the ball is placed within the corner arc closest to where it went out of play.


enforcer

(ice hockey, rugby, Australian rules football) A player who physically intimidates or confronts the opposition.


goal kick

(soccer) A set piece taken from the goal area after an attacker touches the ball out of play over the goal line.

հարված դարպասից

a set piece taken from the goal area after the ball has gone out of play


screamer

Virtually every other facet of the game is shared by other sports, but the sight of a player taking a fingertip ‘screamer’ whilst perched on the shoulders of an opponent is unique to footy, and players who perfect this ability are among the code’s most celebrated and well remembered.

2008, John Devaney, Full Points Footy's WA Football Companion:

(sports, Australian rules football) A particularly high mark (clean catch of a kicked ball).

Kasper Schmeichel brilliantly denied Marouane Chamakh before Bacary Sagna thumped home a second, though Bradley Johnson's screamer halved the deficit.

2011 January 19, Jonathan Stevenson, “Leeds 1 - 3 Arsenal”, in BBC:


at the double

2016, FourFourTwo staff, “Arsenal 0 Barcelona 2: Messi at the double to down brave Gunners” at FourFourTwo


Spurs

en-proper noun

Spurs (countable and uncountable, plural Spurses)

(soccer) Tottenham Hotspur Football Club


Pompey

(slang, soccer) Portsmouth Football Club.


penalty spot

(soccer) a small white spot, painted on the grass, twelve yards in front of the centre of the goal line, from which all penalty kicks are taken


penalty shootout

en-noun

penalty shootout (plural penalty shootouts)

This was an eighth game without defeat, penalty shootouts aside, over Hodgson's brief tenure but, by the end, this whole occasion had been stripped of any competitive nature.

2012 September 7, Dominic Fifield, “England start World Cup campaign with five-goal romp against Moldova”, in The Guardian:

(soccer, field hockey) A series of penalties (penalty kicks in soccer), taken to decide a winner after a game has resulted in a tie and extra time has been played.


indirect free kick

indirect free kick (plural indirect free kicks)

(soccer) a free kick from which a goal may be scored only after the ball has been played by at least one other player


goal line

(rugby league, soccer, hurling, Gaelic football) the boundary of the field that runs along its width at each end, and across the front of the goal.

rugby league; hurling; Gaelic football; rugby league; hurling; Gaelic football

(American football) part of a vertical plane separating an end zone from the field of play when the ball is touched or is in player possession. The plane extends beyond the sidelines. A team’s goal line is that which it is defending.


direct free kick

direct free kick (plural direct free kicks)

(soccer) a free kick from which a goal may be scored directly


free kick

a free-kick specialist

(American football, soccer, Australian rules football, rugby, other ballgames) a kick in which a player may kick the ball without interference from the opposition. Such a kick may be awarded for a foul by the opposition, or earned by a player such as by taking a mark.

Australian rules football; other ballgames; Australian rules football; other ballgames

goditje e lirë

kick played without interference of opposition

(Gaelic football) The usual means of restarting play after a foul is committed, where the non-offending team restarts from where the foul was committed.


wingman

(Australian rules football) A player positioned on the wing.


penalty kick

(soccer) A form of direct free kick, taken from the penalty spot after a defensive foul in the penalty box, with only the goalkeeper defending the goal.


DOGSO

The referees failed to spot the shirt pull from Jackson during play but after VAR review he was correctly awarded the DOGSO red card.

(soccer, US, Canada) Acronym of denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.


Canadian football

A game similar to American football played on a field of 110 yards long and 65 yards wide (with two 20 yard-long endzones) in which two teams of 12 players attempt to get an ovoid ball to the end of each other's territory.

rugby

from Canadian football originating as Canadian rugby


gridiron

gridiron (countable and uncountable, plural gridirons)

From resembling the shape of a gridiron (a square rectilinear grid).

(American football) The field on which American football is played.


supplier

Regular supplier Barton played in another teasing corner, which was headed on towards goal by the impressive Ameobi and flicked in by expert poacher Nolan.

2011 January 16, Saj Chowdhury, “Sunderland 1 - 1 Newcastle”, in BBC:

(soccer) Someone who assists (sets up) a goal.


Hammers

(soccer) Someone who supports or plays for West Ham United F.C.


sausage roll

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-sausage roll.wav

(Australian rules football, rhyming slang) A goal.


one-time

en-verb

one-time (third-person singular simple present one-times, present participle one-timing, simple past and past participle one-timed)

one-times (present singular third-person)
one-timing (participle present)
one-timed (participle past)
one-timed (past)

Basel's good moment continued, and in stoppage time of the first half, Streller released Salah with a clever pass down the middle and the young Egyptian one-timed the ball over Čech.

2013 May 3, Werner Pichler, “Europa League 2012/13, Semifinal, 2nd Leg (R)”, in rec.sport.soccer (Usenet):

(soccer, ice hockey) To shoot (the ball or puck) directly from a teammate's pass.


wingback

(soccer) A player who doubles on either side of the center as a defender when their team is defending, and a winger when they are attacking.

carrilero

soccer: player who doubles as a defender and winger

(American football) A running back who is in formation near the line of scrimmage and outside the tackles, a slotback.


set piece

Roberto Carlos is deadly from set pieces.

(soccer) Any planned strategy that a team uses after play is restarted with a free kick, penalty kick, corner kick, goal kick, throw-in or kickoff.


kick-off

The atmosphere at Upton Park before kick-off reflected the palpable tension surrounding the club right now

2011 January 11, Jonathan Stevenson, “West Ham 2 - 1 Birmingham”, in BBC:

Alcohol consumption following football matches is fuelling domestic abuse in the hours after a game, according to new evidence suggesting that changing kick-off times could help reduce violence.

2021 July 4, Michael Savage, “Early kick-offs linked to more alcohol abuse and violence in the home”, in The Observer:

(soccer, American football) The opening kick of each half of a game of football.


early bath

From the belief that players bathe together after a match, so if a player gets sent off, he or she can get into the bath before the other players.

That was a horrible tackle, he can expect an early bath for that.

(idiomatic, euphemistic) Being shown a red card in soccer.


fourth official

en-noun

fourth official (plural fourth officials)

(soccer) The official who keeps things at the dugout in order, and displays substitutions and the amount of injury time


six-yard box

Roman Sharonov rose unchallenged to head a corner wide, while diminutive winger Gokdeniz Karadeniz ghosted in with a diving header from the edge of the six-yard box that was acrobatically kept out by Gomes.

2011 October 20, Jamie Lillywhite, “Tottenham 1 - 0 Rubin Kazan”, in BBC Sport:

(soccer) An enclosed area inside the penalty area, extending 6 yards (5.5 metres) from the goal, inside which a goal kick must be taken.


centre circle

Vardy should have equalled Dunne’s record nine minutes in, when he dispossessed Williams in the centre circle and sped clear.

2015 December 5, Alan Smith, “Leicester City back on top as Riyad Mahrez hat-trick downs Swansea City”, in The Guardian (London):

(soccer) The circle in the centre of the pitch which, at kick-off, the defending team may not enter until the attacking side has touched the ball.

cercle central

the circle in the centre of the pitch in soccer


out-swinger

(soccer) A ball that curves away from the goal.


in-swinger

(soccer) A ball that curves towards the goal.


penalty arc

(soccer) An arc whose center is the penalty spot, extending from the top of the penalty area.


man on

(soccer, basketball) An outcry warning a teammate of an approaching opponent, usually from the rear.


Cruyff turn

Named after Dutch football player Johan Cruyff (1947–2016).

(soccer) A piece of footwork where, instead of passing or crossing the ball directly by kicking it, the player drags the ball behind his planted foot with the inside of his crossing foot, turns through 180 degrees, and accelerates away from the defender.


drop-ball

(soccer) A method of restarting play in a game where the referee drops the ball between two players of opposing teams.


penalty area

Racing out of his penalty area after a poor clearance, Haimov was beaten to the ball by Jerome, who rolled it to the waiting Shotton to fire a low shot past the goalkeeper.

2011 October 20, Michael da Silva, “Stoke 3 - 0 Macc Tel-Aviv”, in BBC Sport:

(soccer, futsal) An area of a pitch or field, inside which a penalty is given to the offensive team if a foul is made by the defensive team.


diving header

To that end, the home supporters were in good voice to begin with, but it was Newcastle who started the game in the ascendancy, with Barton putting a diving header over the top from Jose Enrique's cross.

2011 April 10, Alistair Magowan, “Aston Villa 1 - 0 Newcastle”, in BBC Sport:

(soccer) A ball struck near ground level by the head of a diving player.


one-two

A Ricketts and Stuart Holden one-two around the box then created a decent chance for an almost instant equaliser - but Welsh full-back Ricketts blasted over when a calmer finish could have been rewarded.

2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, in BBC:

Kane had dropped off to spread the play with a diagonal and, when he darted for the far post, Saka curled the ball back towards him – call it a long-range one-two.

March 26 2023, David Hytner, “Kane and Bukayo Saka combine against Ukraine for England’s perfect Euros start”, in The Guardian:

(soccer) A quick one-touch play between two players.

narážečka

soccer: quick one-touch play between two players


offside trap

offside trap (usually uncountable, plural offside traps)

He managed to beat the offside trap and clinch the winner.

But the visitors started the game in stunning fashion when Morten Gamst Pedersen dinked forward a clever looping pass and Kalinic beat the offside trap, surged into the box and beautifully placed the ball past goalkeeper Scott Carson.

2010 December 28, Kevin Darlin, “West Brom 1 - 3 Blackburn”, in BBC:

(soccer) A defensive play intended to catch the attacking team offside, generally in such a way that the defense line suddenly and simultaneously moves forward.


FCK

It came down to the penultimate game of the year, FCK away at Brondby, and Brondby blew it.

2003, David Goldblatt, World Soccer Yearbook 2003-2004, →ISBN:

This did not deter Flemming Østergaard, a charismatic businessman that led the takeover of FC Copenhagen (FCK) in 1997, from embarking on a similar diversification strategy (Storm, 2009). FCK went on to purchase the Danish national stadium, Parken, took up property investments, a bought a chain of fitness centres (fitness.dk) and two large vactations resorts, one of them close to the LEGOLAND Theme Park in Billund.

2011, Hallgeir Gammelsæter, Benoit Senaux, The Organisation and Governance of Top Football Across Europe, →ISBN:

An FCK soccer scarf was draped over a chair.

2012, A.J. Kazinski -, The Last Good Man, →ISBN, page 426:

It's therefore worth spending time at the website of FC København. You can browse FCK TV, OM FCK, which is presumably a Zen-like activity that Sting and Trudie Styler would enjoy, and have a MIT FCK. There are FCK highlights, KlubFCK, and FCK Away. There's something for everyone.

2014, Luke Dempsey, Club Soccer 101, →ISBN:

(soccer) Initialism of FC København (“FC Copenhagen”).

Sportarztebund Rheinland/Pfalz (chmn. since 1964), assn. and team med. doctor for 1st FCK Kaiserslautern (football club).

1983, Karl Strute, Theodor Doelken, Who's Who in Germany 1982-1983 - Part 1, →ISBN, page 1253:

This was my first opportunity to meet FCK supporters, and I was intoxicated by their merch table before I even entered the stadium.

2014, Tanya H. Keith, Passionate Soccer Love: A Memoir of 20 Years Supporting Us Soccer, →ISBN:

FC Kaiserslautern (FCK) was the first football club in the Bundesliga (German Federal Football League) to create a team, initially, and then a section for women's football.

2018, Gertrud Pfister, Stacey Pope, Female Football Players and Fans: Intruding into a Man's World, →ISBN:

1. FC Kaiserslautern
w:1. FC Kaiserslautern

(soccer) Initialism of 1. FC Kaiserslautern.


backheel

[Bendtner was central to it at all, firstly firing home, via a deflection off Gareth McAuley, after being teed up by Sebastien Larsson's neat backheel, and then a minute later crossing for Elmohamady to head in an equaliser.

2011 October 1, Phil Dawkes, “Sunderland 2 - 2 West Brom”, in BBC Sport:

(soccer) A kick played by the heel which typically travels in the opposite direction from which the player is facing.


backheel

en-verb

backheel (third-person singular simple present backheels, present participle backheeling, simple past and past participle backheeled)

backheels (present singular third-person)
backheeling (participle present)
backheeled (participle past)
backheeled (past)

Mount’s low cross deflected, Olivier Giroud backheeled for Pulisic and Arsenal’s defenders seemed to react in slow motion.

2020 August 1, David Hytner, “Aubameyang at the double as Arsenal turn tables on Chelsea to win FA Cup”, in The Guardian:


slide tackle

Christian Karembeu almost broke his supermodel wife's leg with a slide tackle during a football game in their back garden.

2002 February 27, “Cruncher Karembeu takes it out on his wife”, in The Guardian:

(soccer) a tackle to get the ball by sliding on the ground feet-first


halftime

en-noun

halftime (countable and uncountable, plural halftimes)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-halftime.wav

(American football) The halftime show, the primary light entertainment of a game, after the second quarter, when players can physically recover, coaches can give players a pep talk, bets can be doubled, etc.


coordinator

→ Japanese: コーディネーター (kōdinētā)

(sports, chiefly American football) An assistant coach responsible for a particular facet of the game, such as defense.


Azzurri

(soccer) the Italy national football team


the sticks

Possibly derived from 1800s Chinook Jargon stick (“tree, forest”), from English stick.

They gained just enough on that play to move the sticks and continue the drive.

(American football) The set of yardage markers used by a chain crew to indicate the ten yards between the line of scrimmage from the previous first down and the line to gain, which the offense must reach in their series of four downs in order to retain possession of the ball.


catenaccio

Borrowed from Italian catenaccio, literally "bolt (for a door)".

(soccer) A system of defensive play focused on nullifying opponents' attacks and preventing goal-scoring opportunities, typically using a libero.


Pilgrim

(soccer) Someone connected with Plymouth Argyle Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.


Chelsea

From Old English Celchyth, from cealc (“chalk”) + hȳþ (“landing place”).

(soccer) Chelsea FC, an English association football club.


Soca Warriors

(soccer) The Trinidad and Tobago national football team.


Socceroo

While still playing for Marconi, just prior to joining Lierse, I had debuted as a Socceroo.

2010, Archie Thompson, What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger, page 68:

A sensation as fullback on the tour, Williams remained in the Socceroo squad for the historic 1974 World Cup campaign in West Germany.

1990, Bret Harris, The Proud Champions: Australia′s Aboriginal sporting heroes, page 106:

Kosmina equalled Atti Abonyi′s record of 25 Socceroo goals at full international level and is the National Soccer League′s highest goal-scorer, with 133 goals.

1994, Wray Vamplew, The Oxford Companion to Australian sport, 2nd edition, page 235:

(Australia, sometimes attributive) A member of the Australian national soccer team, the Socceroos.


footballer

/ˈfʊtbɔːləɹ/

It is footballers though, rather than commentators, presenters or pundits, who when interviewed have provided some of the best Colemanballs.

2004, George Best, Scoring At Half-Time: Adventures On and Off the Pitch, →ISBN, page 259:

(soccer, UK) One who plays association football.


screening

screening (countable and uncountable, plural screenings)

→ German: Screening

→ Spanish: screening

due diligence

performing the work needed to uncover latent problems


snapper

(American football) The player who snaps the ball to start the play.


air out

en-verb

air out (third-person singular simple present airs out, present participle airing out, simple past and past participle aired out)

airs out (present singular third-person)
airing out (participle present)
aired out (participle past)
aired out (past)

(American football, slang) To throw passes, especially long and high passes.


back pass

(soccer) An intentional pass to the goalkeeper by a teammate.


rover

From Middle English roven (“to wander, to shoot an arrow randomly”) + -er.

inh

I went to Coach Beamer and, because we had a lot of outside linebackers, ask him if I could play rover.

2011, Frank Beamer, Always a Hokie: Players, Coaches, and Fans Share Their Passion for Virginia Tech Football:

(American football) A defensive back position whose coverage responsibilities are a hybrid of those of a cornerback, safety and linebacker.


goalpost

/ˈɡəʊlpəʊst/

(sports, American football) The tall Y-shaped upright, now usually of fiberglass, at either end of the playing field, through which a football must go in order for a field goal to be scored. (They were originally H-shaped, with one wooden post on either side.)


goalbound

Liverpool did have one moment of danger in the first half when Chelsea failed to clear Glen Johnson's cross and Branislav Ivanovic blocked Craig Bellamy's goalbound shot.

2012 May 5, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:

(soccer) Likely to enter the goal, but for the intervention of defenders and the goalkeeper.


interception

en-noun

interception (countable and uncountable, plural interceptions)

Borrowed from Latin interceptiō; compare French interception.

(American football) A passing play where the ball is caught by the opposing team.


Gunners

(informal, soccer) Arsenal football club.


run-on

(soccer, rugby, etc.) An amount of time spent playing on the field during a game, especially so as to evaluate a player's abilities.


tailback

(American football) A running back or halfback who lines up furthest to the rear in an I formation.


tap in

(soccer) A simple shot into the goal from close range, and without opposition.


tap in

en-verb

tap in (third-person singular simple present taps in, present participle tapping in, simple past and past participle tapped in)

taps in (present singular third-person)
tapping in (participle present)
tapped in (participle past)
tapped in (past)

Bent was again left with the simplest of finishes when Rooney picked out Young and he unselfishly crossed for Bent to tap in from inside the six-yard area.

2011, Phil McNulty, Euro 2012: Montenegro 2-2 England:

(soccer) To kick a simple shot, without opposition, from close range into the goal.


tuck in

tuck in (third-person singular simple present tucks in, present participle tucking in, simple past and past participle tucked in)

tucks in (present singular third-person)
tucking in (participle present)
tucked in (participle past)
tucked in (past)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-tuck in.wav

And although Steven Fletcher cut the deficit for Wolves, tucking in Stephen Hunt's cross, the home side held on.

2011 September 24, Arindam Rej, “Liverpool 2 - 1 Wolverhampton”, in BBC Sport:

(transitive, soccer) To score from with a casual motion


WR

(American football, Canadian football) Initialism of wide receiver.


VFL

2006, Ian W. Shaw, The Bloodbath: The 1945 VFL Grand Final, Scribe Publications, →ISBN:

The VFL began with eight clubs: Carlton; Collingwood; Essendon; Fitzroy; Geelong; Melbourne; St Kilda; and South Melbourne.

2006, Ross Booth, “58: The economic development of the Australian Football League”, in Wladimir Andreff, Stefan Szymański, editors, Handbook on Economics of Sport, page 553:

The professional Victorian Football League (VFL) matches attracted more than 100000 spectators weekly from 1939 until 1941. In 1942, however, the VFL lost half of its football fields to ancillary and military services.

2009, Kate Darian-Smith, On the Home Front: Melbourne in Wartime: 1939-1945, page 164:

(historical, Australian rules football) Initialism of Victorian Football League, an Australian rules football league formed in Victoria, Australia, in 1896; renamed the Australian Football League (AFL) in 1990 after expansion to other states starting in the 1980s.

Victorian Football League

Victorian Football League
w:Victorian Football League

(Australian rules football) Initialism of Victorian Football League; a second-tier regional (country area) Australian rules football league operating within Victoria; derived from the historic Victorian Football Association, from which the future AFL broke in 1896.


poacher

Regular supplier Barton played in another teasing corner, which was headed on towards goal by the impressive Ameobi and flicked in by expert poacher Nolan.

2011 January 16, Saj Chowdhury, “Sunderland 1 - 1 Newcastle”, in BBC:

(soccer) An attacker with good movement inside the penalty box, see Wikipedia:Goal poacher.


SFA

Scottish Football Association
w:Scottish Football Association

(soccer) Initialism of Scottish Football Association.


in goal

After Chelsea had two goalkeepers injured in one match, their captain went in goal for the last few minutes.


England's formation was a rigid 4-4-2 against a Norway side of surprisingly limited ambition and on one of the rare occasions James Milner got in the action he forced a save from Jarstein.

2012 May 26, Phil McNulty, “Norway 0-1 England”, in BBC Sport:

(soccer) A popular football formation with 4 defenders, 4 midfielders and 2 strikers.


shielding

en-noun

shielding (countable and uncountable, plural shieldings)

(soccer) Action done by the person with the ball to protect the ball from the defender; the person concerned keeps his body between the ball and the defender.


4-2-4 (countable and uncountable, plural 4-2-4s)

4-2-4 (locomotive)
Formation (football)#4-2-4

(soccer, uncountable) A popular football formation with 4 defenders, 2 midfielders and 4 strikers


Euros

(soccer) the UEFA European Football Championship


backfield

(sports) The rear part of the field of play, particularly

(American football) The area behind the line of scrimmage occupied before the snap by the team on offense.

Moving the ball directly out of the backfield is the greatest form of attack there is.

2000, Derek Smethurst, Soccer Offense for Winning, →ISBN, page 1:

Cheryl Salisbury[…]moved back to defense, and became a veteran force on the backfield. By 2003 she was captain of the Matildas, but still found enough time to hone her skills for the WUSA[…]

2012, Barbara Stewart, Helen Stoumbos, Women's Soccer: The Passionate Game, page 92:

“Like you should talk about good soccer, Ethan,” said Joshua, the team's starting keeper. “I bet every girl on the soccer team knows not to go charging on goal from the backfield, ignoring her teammates.”

2017, Jake Maddox, Eric Stevens, Soccer Stand-off, page 56:

(soccer, US) The area behind either the offensive or defensive line.


rusher

(American football) The fast defensive position whose objective is to sack the offensive team's quarterback.


guarder

From guard + -er.
School slang relates to Stonyhurst College in the United Kingdom.

The Hodder Football is very good this year, and we have an excellent team. Hammond is a good guarder and can save some very difficult shots.

1914 February 14, “Hodder Notes”, in The Stonyhurst Magazine, volume 13, number 192, page 819:


sextuple

Formed (in imitation of quadruple) from Latin sextus (“sixth”): compare French sextuple.

(sports, soccer) A team that wins 6 titles in the same year or season.

Sextuple

a team that wins 6 titles in the same year or season


streaky

en-adj

streaky (comparative streakier, superlative streakiest)

streakier (comparative)
streakiest (superlative)

Two goals from Alexis Sánchez, the second a little streakier than the first, were enough to send Arsenal into a second successive FA Cup final, once again following extra time after being held over 90 minutes by a Championship side.

2015 April 18, Paul Wilson, The Guardian:

(soccer) Not well-executed, due to luck more than skill.


AMF

en-noun

AMF (countable and uncountable, plural AMFs)

attacking midfielder
attacking midfielder#English

(soccer) Acronym of attacking midfielder.


Super Bowl

From super + bowl, from bowl games such as the Rose Bowl Game and Orange Bowl.

(American football) The championship game of the NFL played in early February played between two teams, one each in the American Football Conference and National Football Conference.

Jooł Yitalíjí Akéeʼdi Ahąąh Honinééhígíí


move the yardsticks

en-verb

move the yardsticks (third-person singular simple present moves the yardsticks, present participle moving the yardsticks, simple past and past participle moved the yardsticks)

moves the yardsticks (present singular third-person)
moving the yardsticks (participle present)
moved the yardsticks (participle past)
moved the yardsticks (past)

The phrase originates from American football, where every ten yards of forward progress by the offense moves the yardsticks ahead to measure the next ten yards of progress.


Rover

(sports) Someone connected with any number of teams called the Rovers, as a fan, player, coach etc.

(soccer) someone connected with Blackburn Rovers FC, as a fan, player, coach etc.


reducer

Koulibaly flattens Steven Bergwijn with a reducer from behind but avoids a booking. Bergwijn gets to his feet and blows his cheeks in frustration. I think that really hurt but he doesn’t want to show it.

21 November 2022, Barry Glendenning, Live Feed: Senegal v Netherlands, The Guardian

(soccer) The reduction of the contribution to a football game of a more talented opponent by intimidation using a brutal tackle.


curler

The captain sent a curler into the top corner of the net.

Lampard was replaced by Kalou but the substitute immediately gave the ball to Jonas, whose 25-yard curler was tipped wide by Cech.

2011 September 28, Jon Smith, “Valencia 1-1 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport:

Liverpool were energised at the start of the second half, with Curtis Jones shaping a curler just past the far post.

2024 February 4, David Hytner, “Arsenal ignite title hopes as Gabriel Martinelli punishes Liverpool error”, in The Guardian:

(soccer) A pass or a shot of the ball which swerves.


flanker

Audio (US)

From flank + -er. The verb is from the noun (sense 3).

(American football) A wide receiver who lines up behind the line of scrimmage.


shirtfront

(Australian rules football) A head-on charge aimed at bumping an opponent to the ground.


scudetto

The race to the scudetto is on in Italy at the halfway point of the Serie A season.

2009 January 21, Jack Bell, “Juventus Putting Pressure on Inter”, in New York Times:

(soccer) The Italian Serie A Championship title.


kicking in danger

(Australian rules football) Kicking at the ball when there is a risk of kicking an opposition player who is trying to pick it up or otherwise close to it. Such a kick is against the rules and results in a free kick to the opponent.


boundary umpire

en-noun

boundary umpire (plural boundary umpires)

(Australian rules football) A match official who decides when the ball has over the boundary line (out of bounds), and whether it was on the full from a kick. (Under the rules as of 2007, a free kick results from on the full, or a throw-in otherwise.)


crumber

From crumb + -er (occupational suffix) or + -er (relational noun suffix).

(Australian rules football) A player who waits around a marking contest aiming to get the ball if it falls down to the ground (because the opposing players leaping for it have spoiled each other's efforts).


goal umpire

(Australian rules football) A match official who decides when the ball passes between the goal posts (or behind posts) and the score then to be awarded (goal or behind).


spray

en-verb

spray (third-person singular simple present sprays, present participle spraying, simple past and past participle sprayed)

sprays (present singular third-person)
spraying (participle present)
sprayed (participle past)
sprayed (past)

From Middle Dutch sprāien, sprayen, spraeyen (“to spray, sprinkle, spread”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *sprēwijaną (“to spray, sprinkle”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)per- (“to sow, scatter”).
Cognate with Middle High German spræjen, spræwen (“to squirt, spray, dust, splash, straw”), Danish dialectal språe (“to open up, burst forth”), Swedish dialectal språ (“to sprout, shoot forth, burst”), Norwegian dialectal spra, spræ (“to splash, splatter, spout, burst forth”), Dutch sproeien (“to spray, sprinkle”), German sprühen (“to spray, sparkle”).

der

Kevin McLeod sprayed the ball across from the left flank where a raging Ainsworth met it on the volley from 25 yards out, crashing the ball into the roof of the net.

2012 February 1, Ash Rose, The QPR Miscellany, The History Press, →ISBN:

Yunus sprayed it to the wing where Ali was in some space.

2013 August 11, Jamal Orme, The Victory Boys, Kube Publishing Ltd, →ISBN, page 13:

(transitive, soccer) To pass (a ball), usually laterally across the field and often a long distance.

Despite a goal to Vin Gardiner for Carlton, courtesy of an infringement, the Blues squandered many opportunities in attack. They sprayed the ball with their field kicking, and in their path toward goal.

2011, Ashley Browne, Grand Finals: The Stories Behind the Premier Teams of the Victorian Football League. 1897-1938, Slattery Media Group, →ISBN, page 143:

But once again their forwards, including Sloss, sprayed the ball in front of goal and squandered their momentum by kicking a solitary goal and six careless behinds.

2016 June 28, Nick Richardson, The Game of Their Lives, Macmillan Publishers Aus., →ISBN:

(transitive, Australian rules football) To kick (a ball) poorly and in an unintended direction.


beautiful game

Amid all the fevered anticipation of this fixture, few would have expected to witness an aesthetically pleasing example of the beautiful game.

2014 November 14, Stephen Halliday, “Scotland 1-0 Republic of Ireland: Maloney the hero”, in The Scotsman:

After watching Saturday's final, don't you agree that soccer is still the beautiful game that Pelé called it?

1990 December 18, Fauzi Omar, “Cheers to Kedah But Not At All to Fifa”, in New Straits Times, Malaysia, page 32:

(sometimes capitalized) association football; soccer.


playbook

(US, American football) A book of strategies (plays) for use in American football (and by extension other sports or disciplines).


Hillsborough

From hills and borough. The village in New Brunswick was probably named in honour of British politician Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire (1718 - 1793). The civil parish is named after the village.

Before kick-off, a section of Chelsea's support sadly let themselves and their club down by noisily interrupting the silence held in memory of the Hillsborough disaster and for Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini, who collapsed and died after suffering a heart attack during a Serie B game on Saturday.

2012 April 15, Phil McNulty, “Tottenham 1-5 Chelsea”, in BBC:

(soccer) the home stadium of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club

(soccer, by extension) Sheffield Wednesday Football Club itself.


soccer field

A playing field on which the game of soccer is played.

足球場

a playing field on which the game of soccer is played


soccer player

(soccer, US, South Africa, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) One who plays soccer, especially professional soccer.


futsal

From Portuguese futsal, a blend of futebol de salão (literally “hall football”).

A form of soccer played indoors, with five players per team.


hip and shoulder

en-noun

hip and shoulder (plural hip and shoulders)

(Australian rules football) A bump of an opponent, using the side of the body, i.e. roughly the hip through to the upper arm and shoulder; the upper arm is held close against the body. Such a bump is considered fair play unless it is a push in the back or hits the opponent's head (a high contact).


chewie on ya boot

(Australian rules football) A conventional expression meant to distract or wish bad luck to an opponent who is taking a kick for goal.


holding the ball

(Australian rules football) The action of a player keeping hold of the ball when tackled. When tackled the player must kick or handpass the ball and failing to do so (provided the opportunity was given) results in a free kick to the tackler.


clean sheet

Birmingham had their defence to thank for a clean sheet, although they were lucky to escape when Manuel da Costa shot off-target and then headed wide.

2011 February 6, Alistair Magowan, “West Ham 0 - 1 Birmingham”, in BBC:

Nigeria had scored only three goals in three games, all against Australia, but they had also kept two clean sheets and their defensive organisation continued to frustrate England immensely.

2023 August 7, Suzanne Wrack, “England beat Nigeria on penalties to reach Women’s World Cup quarter-finals”, in The Guardian:

(soccer, not in the US and Canada) A game played without having conceded a goal.

شِباكٌ نَظِيفَةٌ

(soccer) game played without having conceded a goal


boundary rider

(Australia, sports, Australian rules football) A commentator on Australian rules football games who reports from the boundary of the field of play, and interviews players on the interchange bench as well as coaching and medical staff.


Socceroos

Australia national association football team

It was the day of the Socceroos′ first World Cup clash: the game against Japan.

2007, Raewyn Caisley, Hot Shot, unnumbered page:

Australia′s success on the international stage took a major leap forward when the Socceroos qualified for their first appearance at the FIFA World Cup in 1974, held in Germany.

2010, Dave Arthur, Greg Downes, “Chapter 19: Australia”, in Simon Chadwick, Sean Hamil, editors, Managing Football, page 342:

The men's national soccer (association football) representative team of Australia.


Gunner

From gunner, in reference to the weapons held in an arsenal.

The Gunners dominated for long periods but, against the run of play, Denilson fouled Max Gradel and Robert Snodgrass put Leeds ahead from the spot.

2011 January 8, Chris Bevan, “Arsenal 1 - 1 Leeds”, in BBC:

(soccer) someone connected with Arsenal Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.


drop back

en-verb

drop back (third-person singular simple present drops back, present participle dropping back, simple past and past participle dropped back)

drops back (present singular third-person)
dropping back (participle present)
dropped back (participle past)
dropped back (past)

The Tiger quarterback is dropping back to pass.

(American football) Of a quarterback or other player in the backfield, to take a number of steps back from the line of scrimmage immediately after the snap or hike of the ball, to avoid defenders.


drop back

With his ankle injury his drop back is not pretty.

(American football) The act by a player in the backfield of dropping back from the line of scrimmage after the hike of the ball.


drop-back

With his ankle injury his drop-back is not pretty.


touch down

touch down (third-person singular simple present touches down, present participle touching down, simple past and past participle touched down)

touches down (present singular third-person)
touching down (participle present)
touched down (participle past)
touched down (past)

(American football) To score a touchdown


Man U

Manchester United Football Club
w:Manchester United F.C.

(soccer) Clipping of Manchester United Football Club.


Wembley

Derived from the Old English proper name Wemba and lēah (“clearing in a forest; meadow, leigh”).

A town in the County of Grande Prairie, No.1, northern Alberta, Canada.


end run

(American football) A running play in which the player carrying the ball attempts to avoid being tackled by evading the defending players from the opposing team.


gunner

Cebuano: gunner

gonna (non-rhotic, based on the /ˈɡʌn.ə/ pronunciation)

From Middle English gonner; equivalent to gun + -er.

(American football) A player on the kicking team whose primary job is to tackle the kickoff returner or punt returner.

(UK, slang, soccer) A fan of the Arsenal Football Club.


wing-back

(soccer) A player who plays on the wing, and acts as both a defender and an attacker depending on the team's situation.


right-footed

en-adj

right-footed (comparative more right-footed, superlative most right-footed)

more right-footed (comparative)
most right-footed (superlative)

Foley scored with a right-footed volley from ten metres.


left-footed

left-footed (comparative more left-footed, superlative most left-footed)

more left-footed (comparative)
most left-footed (superlative)

Poised link-up play between Essien and Lampard set the Ghanaian midfielder free soon after but his left-footed shot from outside the box was too weak.

2010 December 29, Chris Whyatt, “Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton”, in BBC:


centre-back

Ferguson was incensed as referee Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot - and United's sense of injustice deepened when Nemanja Vidic was sent off in stoppage time after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Ramires, ruling the centre-back out of the visit to Liverpool on Sunday.

2011 March 1, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2 - 1 Man Utd”, in BBC:

(soccer) A central defender, a player who plays in the centre of defence, just in front of the goalkeeper


extra point

(American football) A point scored after a touchdown by kicking the ball through the goal posts or by advancing to the end zone.


fair catch

(American football) A uncontested catch on a kicking play, after the receiver waves his hand to indicate that he will not run with the ball, assuring that he will not be tackled on catching it.


end zone

Veteran tight end Travis Kelce, who only had one catch for one yard in the first half, finished with nine receptions and 93 yards but didn’t find the end zone.

2024 February 12, Ben Morse and Steve Almasy, “Kansas City Chiefs defeat San Francisco 49ers in OT in Super Bowl LVIII, become first back-to-back NFL champions in 19 years”, in CNN.com:

(American football) The area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines, bordered on all sides by a white line indicating its beginning and end points; it is 10 yards long.

(Canadian football) Same as above, but is 20 yards long.


two-point conversion

en-noun

two-point conversion (plural two-point conversions)

(American football) An option, for a team that has scored a touchdown, to gain two points by getting the ball into the end zone by a running or pass play, in lieu of a kicked extra point.


illegal forward kick

illegal forward kick (plural illegal forward kicks)

(American football) Any kick made from in front of the line of scrimmage. This results in a loss of down and a ten yard penalty.


(soccer) A football team of eleven players.


attacking midfielder

attacking midfielder (plural attacking midfielders)

(soccer) A midfield player who specialises more in attacking duties.


defensive midfielder

defensive midfielder (plural defensive midfielders)

(soccer) A midfield player who specialises more in defensive duties.


(soccer) A popular soccer formation with 4 defenders, 5 midfielders and 1 striker


England had started in a 4-3-3 formation that had Welbeck and Oxlade-Chamberlain coming in from the wings, with James Milner and Stewart Downing operating alongside Jack Wilshere in more deep-lying positions.

18 November 2014, Daniel Taylor, “England and Wayne Rooney see off Scotland in their own back yard”, in The Guardian:

(soccer) A popular soccer formation with 4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 strikers


Olympic goal

This unique type of goal was named after Argentine striker Cesareo Onzari’s (at left) corner kick that spun directly into the goal for Argentina in a 1924 friendly against Uruguay, the reigning Olympic champion.

(soccer) A goal scored directly from a corner kick without any other player - on either team - touching or otherwise deflecting the ball into the goal.


Reds

In reference to the ancient Roman and medieval Byzantine racing faction, a calque of Latin russātī (“Reddish-Brown-Clads”) or factio russata (“the reddish-brown-clad faction”) and Byzantine Greek Ῥούσιοι (Rhoúsioi, “Reds”).

bor

(informal, sports) Any of several sports teams whose uniform is predominantly red, particularly


short pass

(American football) A pass of the ball that is primarily to the side rather than one that gains yardage.


international rules football

en-noun

international rules football (uncountable)

A sport created as a mixture of Australian rules football and Gaelic football, to allow international matches between Australia and Ireland.


quarterbacking

(American football) The act of playing as a quarterback


DT

DT (countable and uncountable, plural DTs)

defensive tackle
defensive tackle#English

(American football, Canadian football) Initialism of defensive tackle.


hit the net

en-verb

hit the net (third-person singular simple present hits the net, present participle hitting the net, simple past and past participle hit the net)

hits the net (present singular third-person)
hitting the net (participle present)
hit the net (participle past)
hit the net (past)


back line

Battling Bolton disputed the goal, claiming Drogba was offside, but the Ivorian appeared to have timed his angled run across the visitors back line to perfection to race onto a fine Michael Essien pass and ensure Chelsea moved back into fourth place in the Premier League.

(soccer) Collectively, the defenders of a team.


see yellow

see yellow (third-person singular simple present sees yellow, present participle seeing yellow, simple past saw yellow, past participle seen yellow)

sees yellow (present singular third-person)
seeing yellow (participle present)
saw yellow (past)
seen yellow (participle past)

Healy’s first act was to crudely wipe out Forrest on the touchline. He saw yellow when it could have been red.
 Lafferty then had his name taken for a late one on Adam Matthews.

2011 December 29, Keith Jackson, “SPL: Celtic 1 Rangers 0”, in Daily Record:

(idiomatic, soccer) To receive a yellow card.


substitutes' bench

en-noun

substitutes' bench (plural substitutes' benches)

Oleg Blokhin's side lost the talismanic Andriy Shevchenko to the substitutes' bench because of a knee injury but still showed enough to put England through real turmoil in spells.

2012 June 19, Phil McNulty, “England 1-0 Ukraine”, in BBC Sport:

(soccer) The bench on which the players sit when they are not in action.


LB

(American football) Initialism of linebacker.


HB

(American football) Initialism of halfback.


touchline

French winger Hatem Ben Arfa has also taken plenty of plaudits recently and he was the architect of the opening goal with some superb trickery on the left touchline.

2012 April 21, Jonathan Jurejko, “Newcastle 3-0 Stoke”, in BBC Sport:

Some kids were having a kickabout on the grass beside the walkway, cheering, groaning, calling for the ball, absorbed in the game, a self-contained universe marked out by jackets for goalposts and invisible touchlines.

2022, Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic, page 107:

sideline

in Canadian football, field lacrosse and basketball

(rugby, soccer) One of the lines that mark the border limits of the pitch.


MUFC

Manchester United Football Club
w:Manchester United Football Club

(soccer) Initialism of Manchester United Football Club, a famous English football club from Manchester.


Liga

(soccer) The highest division of professional football in Spain.


non-league

Crawley missed two penalties but still edged out League Two Torquay to become the first non-league side to reach the FA Cup fifth round for 17 years.

2011 January 29, Chris Bevan, “Torquay 0 - 1 Crawley Town”, in BBC:

(British, soccer) Playing in a division below The Football League, being amateur or semi-professional teams.


keepie-uppie

keepie-uppie (countable and uncountable, plural keepie-uppies)

Deverbal from keep up, with suffix + -ie.

The children were playing keepie-uppie to amuse themselves.

(uncountable) The action of continuously bouncing a soccer ball in the air without the use of the hands.


handball

handball (countable and uncountable, plural handballs)

desc

→ Portuguese: andebol, handebol (Brazil)

sport involving bouncing a ball off a wall

It was a dramatic finish to an absorbing, fast-paced game but Blackburn will be deeply unhappy with referee Anthony Taylor as Nzonzi's handball was harsh.

2011 October 29, Neil Johnston, “Norwich 3 - 3 Blackburn”, in BBC Sport:

(countable, soccer) The offence of a player other than the goalkeeper touching the ball with the hand or arm on the field during play.


handball

en-verb

handball (third-person singular simple present handballs, present participle handballing, simple past and past participle handballed)

handballs (present singular third-person)
handballing (participle present)
handballed (participle past)
handballed (past)

If the defender handballs in the penalty area, a penalty is awarded.

(soccer) To illegally touch the ball with the hand or arm.

Meanwhile, you can introduce the basic concept of Aussie rules through a game like lineball, a lead-up game introduced in the basketball section of chapter 10, but with the ball handballed, not thrown.

2001, Jerry R. Thomas, Alan G. Launder, Jack K. Nelson, Play Practice: The Games Approach to Teaching and Coaching Sports, page 111:

An obvious way in which football has changed over the last decade or two has been in the use of handballing.

2005, Andrew McLeod, Trevor D. Jaques, Australian Football: Steps to Success, page 9:

On only 8 occasions during the entire match did players who had marked the ball decide not to walk slowly and purposefully back and take their kick, but instead play on by handballing to a team mate.

2009, John P. Devaney, Full Points Footy: Encyclopedia of Australian Football Clubs, page 246:

(Australian rules football) To (legally) pass a football by holding it with one hand and hitting it with the other.


second down

(American football) The second down in a series that has a maximum of four downs.


third down

(American football) The third down in a series that has a maximum of four downs; traditionally the last running/passing play before punting.


red zone

(American football) The area extending twenty yards from the end zone, where a team in possession of the ball is expected to score.


fourth down

Mahomes converted key fourth downs with his legs and looked to Kelce throughout the second half and overtime – the tight end finished with nine receptions and 93 yards after just one catch in the opening half.

(American football) The fourth down in a series that has a maximum of four downs; often used to punt the ball downfield or attempt a field goal (If not punted or converted, the opposing team takes possession wherever the ball is).


uprights

(American football, rugby) Vertical (upright) posts of the goal.


XFL

Xtreme Football League
w:en:Xtreme Football League

(sports, American football) Initialism of Xtreme Football League.

Extreme Football League
w:en:Extreme Football League

(sports, American football) Initialism of Extreme Football League.


transfer window

en-noun

transfer window (plural transfer windows)

Gary Cahill, a target for Arsenal and Tottenham before the transfer window closed, put England ahead early on and Rooney was on target twice before the interval as the early hostility of the Bulgarian supporters was swiftly subdued.

2011 September 2, Phil McNulty, “Bulgaria 0-3 England”, in BBC:

(soccer) A period of time during the year in which soccer players may be bought or sold between professional clubs.

Wechselperiode

period during which transfers can be made of players between soccer clubs


end-to-end

But rather than the end-to-end action of the first half, much of the entertainment took place in the Sunderland third.

2011 February 1, Saj Chowdhury, “Sunderland 2 - 4 Chelsea”, in BBC:

(soccer) Smoothly alternating between attacking and defensive plays.


PF

PF (countable and uncountable, plural PFs)

Coordinate term: PA

The Giants and Commanders have the same record after 13 games each. However, Washington has control of third place in the NFC East due to a better PF/PA record in comparison to the Giants.

2022 December 14, “NFL Playoff picture Week 15: Are the New York Giants still in contention for the postseason?”, in Sportskeeda, archived from the original on 2022-12-17:

(American football, fantasy football) Initialism of points for.


scissor kick

There were few complains[complaints] from Arteta or his players when Vieira was dismissed for a reckless challenge on Brownhill, but Zinchenko's scissor kick nine minutes earlier had all but ended Burnley's hopes of salvaging a point.

2023 November 11, Matthew Howarth, “Arsenal 3-1 Burnley”, in BBC Sport:


(American football) A player for the San Francisco 49ers, an NFL team.


hangtime

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-hangtime.wav

(skateboarding, American football) The length of time something can stay in the air.


drop punt

(Australian rules football, rugby) A kick made by dropping the ball and kicking it before it touches the ground.


Anfield

Possibly from Middle English hange + feld, field (see field).

(soccer) A football stadium within the area, home of Liverpool Football Club.

(soccer, by extension) Liverpool Football club itself.


student body

student body left

student body right

(American football slang) A football play in which most of the players run to one side of the field.


FCB

(soccer) Initialism of FC Barcelona, a famous Spanish sports club from Barcelona, best known for its football (soccer) section; from Catalan FCB (“Futbol Club Barcelona”).

FC Barcelona

(soccer) Initialism of FC Bayern Munich, a famous German football (soccer) team from Munich.


VOR

video operation room
w:Video assistant referee

video assistant referee
video assistant referee

(soccer) Initialism of video operation room, part of the set-up for the video assistant referee (VAR) in association football.


ruckman

Coordinate term: ruckwoman

(Australian rules football) A ruck; a player who contests rucks.

ruckman (Australian rules football position)


goalscorer

At the other end, goalscorer Krohn-Dehli's 20-yard strike brought a fine stop from Stekelenburg.

2012 June 9, Owen Phillips, “Euro 2012: Netherlands 0-1 Denmark”, in BBC Sport:

(soccer) A person who scores a goal, or scores goals


FBS

w:NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision

(American football) Initialism of Football Bowl Subdivision.


Barça

Shortened form of Futbol Club Barcelona, keeping the Catalan spelling rules. Since this football team is a symbol of the city of Barcelona, this word has been associated with the whole city, although it's wrong to use Barça to refer to the city itself; instead, one would use Barna.

(soccer) Clipping of Futbol Club Barcelona.


rollout

(American football) A play in which a quarterback moves toward the sideline before attempting to pass.


penalty goal

(ice hockey, soccer, rugby) A goal scored from a penalty.


gain line

(American football) Alternative form of line to gain


piledriver

United did not dwell on the decision and Nani had a left-foot piledriver fended wide by Friedel, who is now the oldest player in Villa's history at 39 years and 259 days.

2011 February 1, Mandeep Sanghera, “Man Utd 3 - 1 Aston Villa”, in BBC:


pull the trigger

en-verb

pull the trigger (third-person singular simple present pulls the trigger, present participle pulling the trigger, simple past and past participle pulled the trigger)

pulls the trigger (present singular third-person)
pulling the trigger (participle present)
pulled the trigger (participle past)
pulled the trigger (past)

The Baggies almost hit back instantly when Graham Dorrans broke from midfield and pulled the trigger from 15 yards but Paul Robinson did superbly to tip the Scot's drive around the post.

2010 December 28, Kevin Darlin, “West Brom 1 - 3 Blackburn”, in BBC:

(soccer, idiomatic, intransitive) To shoot, kick the ball in hope of scoring a goal.


ground game

en-noun

ground game (countable and uncountable, plural ground games)

Notre Dame, with its option-type quarterback, Tony Rice, is committed to the ground game.

1988 November 26, Mal Florence, “They Take Case to Polls Today USC-Notre Dame Game Could Settle Score for No. 1”, in Los Angeles Times, archived from the original on 2013-06-30, page Sports 3:

(American football, countable) Running with the ball, rather than passing


speccy

spectacular mark
spectacular mark#English

(Australian rules football, informal) Synonym of spectacular mark


runback

A fifty yard runback of a punt by Jack Reed in the fourth period gave Bowdoin a 6-0 win over Williams today in a driving rain.

1936 October 18, “Fifty Yard Runback of Punt Gives Bowdoin 6-0 Win Over Williams”, in Hartford Courant, archived from the original on 2013-06-30, page C4:

(American football) The act of returning a kicked ball, such as from a punt or kickoff


returner

(American football) A player who runs back a ball which has been punted or kicked


war daddy

The phrase may have originated with Harold T. White, a coach at Mississippi's Perkinston Junior College in the 1950s.

(slang, American football, US) A player with extraordinary ability and exceptional toughness.


incompletion

incompletion (countable and uncountable, plural incompletions)

From in- + completion or incomplete + -ion

Their strong defense forced three incompletions from the other team.

(countable, American football) A forward pass which is not caught inbounds by the intended receiver.


look off

en-verb

look off (third-person singular simple present looks off, present participle looking off, simple past and past participle looked off)

looks off (present singular third-person)
looking off (participle present)
looked off (participle past)
looked off (past)

I went back to pass, tried to look off the safety, turned and fired it out to Jack. It didn't work. The safety closed on the ball and knocked it down.

2004, Danny Wuerffel with Steve Spurrier and Mike Bianchi, Danny Wuerffel's Tales from the Gator Swamp, page 24:

(transitive, idiomatic, American football) To mislead by directing one's apparent attention away from one's true object of intent.

(intransitive, American football) To look in a way different than the intended direction of play in order to confuse the opposing team.


midmajor

(American football) A college not affiliated with a conference that is one of the primary partners in the College Football Playoff


punt returner

(American football) A player on the receiving team whose primary job is to catch the football during a punt and carry the ball.


kickoff returner

en-noun

kickoff returner (plural kickoff returners)

(American football) A player on the receiving side whose primary job is to catch the football during a kickoff and carry the ball.


leg-breaker

Arca performed a similar stunt with a high over-the-top-of-the-ball tackle on Andy Johnson, except he connected. It is what is called a leg-breaker.

2008 December 22, “Mailbox”, in football365.com, retrieved 2009-01-05:

(soccer) A tackle or other on-field maneuver capable of breaking a player's leg.

(soccer) a tackle or other maneuver capable of breaking a player's leg

wejście skutkujące złamaniem nogi rywala

próba odbioru piłki skutkująca złamaniem nogi rywala


centre forward

(British spelling, soccer) The most central of the strikers; traditionally the player who makes the kick-off.


friendly match

friendly match (plural friendly matches)

(soccer) A game that has no competitive value; an exhibition match


trequartista

The trequartista is the pivotal role in attack, though it is neither a striker nor a creator, per se, but three-quarters of both those positions.

2013 April 16, Rob Hughes, “After 2 Decades of Creativity: Why Stop Now?”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 2022-11-06:

However, the classic Italian trequartista role, which generally refers to a number 10 playing behind two strikers, was under threat. Arrigo Sacchi's emphasis on a heavy pressing 4-4-2 left no place for a languid trequartista, and therefore players like Baggio were having to prove their worth.

2019, Michael W. Cox, Zonal Marking: The Making of Modern European Football, PublicAffairs, →ISBN:

A tall, skilful trequartista with impeccable technique, he has an eye for the goal, being especially dangerous in the air.

2022 September 28, Marcus Christenson, Steven Bloor, Garry Blight, “Next Generation 2022: 60 of the best young talents in world football”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 2023-01-23:

(soccer) A player who operates between the midfielders and the strikers, acting as a playmaker and creating chances for their team to score.


CFLer

(Canadian football) Someone who plays in the CFL (Canadian Football League).


NFLer

(American football) Someone who plays in the NFL.


buttonhook

Yet the Bears never set up the deep patterns with a turn-in or a buttonhook[…]

1988 January 15, Ted Cox, “The Sports Section”, in Chicago Reader:

(American football) A play in which the receiver runs straight downfield, then turns back toward the line of scrimmage.


buttonhook

en-verb

buttonhook (third-person singular simple present buttonhooks, present participle buttonhooking, simple past and past participle buttonhooked)

buttonhooks (present singular third-person)
buttonhooking (participle present)
buttonhooked (participle past)
buttonhooked (past)

(American football) To perform the buttonhook play.


midtable

Inter Milan[…] allowed midtable Atalanta of Bergamo three goals in the first 33 minutes Sunday and lost only its second league match of the season, 3-1.

2009 January 21, Jack Bell, “Juventus Putting Pressure on Inter”, in New York Times:

(soccer) Of medium rank in the standings, not a top or bottom team.


special team

(American football) A group of football players with special assignments for plays other than standard offensive and defensive plays, such as those involving kicking.


Saints

Still, Saints looked the likeliest to make the breakthrough, and it came when Jonny Evans could only half-clear a long ball and Chaplow took full advantage.

2011 January 29, Ian Hughes, “Southampton 1 - 2 Man Utd”, in BBC:

(soccer) A nickname of Southampton Football Club, a football club from Southampton, England.


hit-out

Australian rules football
Australian rules football

(Australian rules football) An instance of knocking the ball out of a ruck contest.


strongside

Bradley might push for playing time right away at the strongside linebacker spot.

2007 May 27, The Associated Press, “For a Rookie Linebacker, It’s Like Going to Work”, in New York Times:

(American football) Of or pertaining to the strongside linebacker position, which typically lines up across from the tight end


linebacking

“He has the ability to play all three linebacking positions and we’re happy to add him to our defense.”

2007 March 27, The Associated Press, “Eagles Boost Defense With Deal for Spikes”, in New York Times:

(American football) Playing as a linebacker


guernsey

desctree

→ Irish: geansaí
→ English: gansey
→ Bengali: গেঞ্জি (genji)
→ Gujarati: ગંજી (gañjī)
→ Hindi: गंजी (gañjī)

→ Norwegian: genser

→ Scots: gansey

→ Scottish Gaelic: geansaidh

(Australia, Australian rules football) The shirt worn by the players.


Royal

A habitational surname, shaped by folk etymology, from places in England, Riehale, Righale, Ryhill and Ryall, Old English ryge (“rye”) + hyll (“hill”), and Royle, rā (“roe”) + hyll (“hill”).

(soccer) someone connected with Reading Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.


centreman

Before you have a chance to react, it's ricocheted from winger to centreman to net.

2009 January 25, Sarah Barmak Special to the Star, “Worshipping a tiny, perfect, occasionally bloody game”, in Toronto Star:

(ice hockey, Australian rules football) The player in the position of centre.


outrush

en-verb

outrush (third-person singular simple present outrushes, present participle outrushing, simple past and past participle outrushed)

outrushes (present singular third-person)
outrushing (participle present)
outrushed (participle past)
outrushed (past)

[…] the Colts outrushed the Patriots, 93-8, in the second half.

2007 November 2, Judy Battista, “Blame the Colts for the New-Look Patriots”, in New York Times:

(American football, transitive) To rush more than the other team.


clogger

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-clogger.wav

The sport has always been tough, of course; but [Fifa] became concerned that the pre-eminent teams were those that employed particularly physical players, whose specialty was intimidation. This had commercial implications, though they were never spelled out: if the finesse players were succumbing to the “cloggers” as they were known (“clog” meaning to impede or hamper), then the shape of the sport would change fundamentally, skill being replaced by a more robust style of play in which only the strong would survive.

2010, Ellis Cashmore, Making Sense of Sports, page 314:

[…] I was normally not able to – unless I fouled him – and I usually did. I think from that time Archie reckoned I was a bit of a clogger and I didn't have Dad's or Archie's skills.

2017, Roger Hannah, The School of Hard Knox: The Autobiography of Archie Knox:

(soccer, slang) A physically aggressive player.


foot trap

(soccer) The use of the bottom of the foot to control a rolling or low bouncing ball.


place kick

(soccer, rugby) A kick in which the ball is placed, at rest, on the ground or on a small tee


long ball

Welsh nerves continued to jangle as Blake let a long ball bounce over his head and only Wayne Hennessey's swift advance from his line prevented Mirko Vucinic sneaking in.

2011 September 2, “Wales 2-1 Montenegro”, in BBC:

(soccer) A kick in which the ball is kicked over the heads of other players into an empty space, into which an attacker is moving.

In the first group game, they played long ball against Sweden, who knew the English game, and so were hardly likely to be caught off-guard by direct play.

2013 October 24, Alex Ferguson, ALEX FERGUSON: My Autobiography: The Sensational Million Copy Number One Bestseller, Hachette UK, →ISBN:

Sometimes, a team will use a long-ball strategy to move the ball. In this strategy, a defender will kick the ball in a long pass, far up the field, to the striker or other forward.

2018 July 15, Cathleen Small, Soccer, Gareth Stevens Publishing LLLP, →ISBN:

Graham Taylor, usually cast as a regressive long-ball manager, understood the error.

2022 October 27, Paul Hayward, England Football: The Biography: 1872 - 2022, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN:

(soccer, usually attributive) A strategy focused on sending the ball upfield directly to the striker, especially one with few other tactical innovations.


goalsquare

(Australian rules football) One of the squares, measuring 9 by 6.4 metres, marked at either end of the ground in front of the goalpost, and from which the ball is kicked after a behind.


crackback

Mike Pereira, the league’s director of officiating, said Wade did not commit an illegal crackback block because he was blocking upfield and not back toward the ball.

2007 January 3, The Associated Press, “Saban Needs More Time to Mull Alabama Offer”, in New York Times:

(American football) A block in which the blocker, positioned wide, blocks back towards where the ball was snapped.


goalscoring

a perfect goalscoring opportunity

(soccer, sometimes attributive) The scoring of goals.


layback

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-layback.wav

From lay + back (presumably from confusion between lay and lie).

Only a fine interception from Mickael Silvestre denied the marauding Czech international an early chance from Tomasz Radzinski's layback and, as United struggled to find any momentum, their hosts threatened to overwhelm them.

2000 October 25, Daniel Taylor, “Radzinski double floors United”, in the Guardian:

(soccer) A short backwards pass to a teammate in an attacking position.


centreback

" Ferguson paid tribute to the way Wigan - managed by former United centreback Steve Bruce - battled after their early setback.

2009 January 15, “Wayne Rooney injures hamstring as Manchester United beat Wigan Athletic”, in Herald Sun:

(soccer) Alternative spelling of centre-back


front line

The home team eventually started to unpick the Town defence and Fabregas forced a saved from visiting goalkeeper Marton Fulop after collecting a pass from Bendtner, who played on the right side of the front line.

2011 January 25, Paul Fletcher, “Arsenal 3 - 0 Ipswich (agg 3 - 1)”, in BBC:

(soccer) attack, collectively the attackers or forwards.


Tigers

(cricket) The Bangladesh national cricket team.


Fox

* (surname): From fox (“vulpine animal”)

The Foxes played with plenty of initiative in the original tie at the Walkers Stadium and they started this tie in impressively positive fashion, producing the game's first two chances: Andy King's goal-bound half-volley from Steve Howard's header down was tipped over by Joe Hart and Sol Bamba headed the resultant corner wide.

2011 January 18, Phil Dawkes, “Man City 4 - 2 Leicester”, in BBC:

(soccer) Someone connected with Leicester City Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.


Statue of Liberty

(American football) A Statue of Liberty play, which involves a fake in which the quarterback assumes a pose like that of the statue.


look-in

(American football) A quick short pass to a receiver running diagonally toward the center of the field.


strike partner

The striker crossed the ball into the area and found his strike partner Jones, who headed it into the net.

Barton played an important role in both strikes, finding the front two with raking past from just beyond the Newcastle area before feeding in Lovenkrands with a quick free-kick who in turn found his strike partner.

2011 January 5, Saj Chowdhury, “Newcastle 0 - 0 West Ham”, in BBC:


back four

It was a comfortable evening for the Gunners’ back four.

Despite dominating possession and territory, they were being comfortably contained by Everton's well-organised midfield and diligent back four.

2011 December 10, David Ornstein, “Arsenal 1 - 0 Everton”, in BBC Sport:

With Wales in a back four, England found joy out wide. The defensive effort impressed though, and Neco Williams courageously took a driven strike from Rashford to the head as Wales stood firm, but then, concern hit.

2022 November 29, Ian Mitchelmore, “Wales put out of World Cup misery by England as sobering tournament must signal changing of the guard”, in WalesOnline:

(soccer) The set of four defenders in a team.


step ladder

(Australian rules football, slang) The player over whom another player marks to take a spectacular mark.


league cup

single-elimination tournament
single-elimination tournament

(soccer) A single-elimination tournament for which entry is restricted only to teams in the top national league or leagues.


run for the roses

en-noun

run for the roses (plural runs for the roses)

Looking back at Ohio State's run for the roses, there might be some who will insist the Buckeyes were lucky to escape defeat at least once. . . . the Buckeyes whipped a jinx in the form of premature Rose Bowl talk.

1954, Lloyd Larson, "Ohio Comes Through Like Real Champ," Milwaukee Sentinel, 23 Nov., part 2, p. 2 (retrieved 24 Aug. 2009)

(idiomatic, American football) A college football game or series of games played with the ultimate goal of qualifying for the championship Rose Bowl game.


slotback

(American football) A particular position in American football, often a running back who lines up near the line of scrimmage and can function as a wide receiver.

If Hufnagel's looking for a hint, he might want to get his defence to focus on slotback P.K. Sam. Even though the Argos say they want to run the ball more, passing will remain the key part of the equation.

2009 August 28, Chris Zelkovich, “Sam hopes to boost Argos' sagging attack”, in Toronto Star:

(Canadian football) A particular position in Canadian football, similar to a hybrid between wide receiver and running back.


pick six

(American football, slang) An interception by the defense that is run back the other way for a touchdown.


ballhawk

(American football, basketball) A player who is particularly good at catching interceptions.


galactico

Borrowed from Spanish galáctico. Doublet of galactic.

The danger about each of Mr Brown's weekend initiatives - his appearance as a galactico in Team Europe and his robust hostility to excessive lending - is that each may be more tactical than strategic, more appearance than reality.

2009 February 23, “Editorial: Brown in Berlin, image and reality”, in The Guardian:

Perez has promised a return of the "galactico" era at Madrid after initiating the original one from 2000-06 with the blockbuster signings of Zinedine Zidane, Beckham, Luis Figo and Brazil's Ronaldo.

2009 July 7, “Ronaldo rocks 80,000 fans at Bernabeu”, in Toronto Star:


PSG

Paris Saint-Germain Football Club
w:en:Paris Saint-Germain F.C.

(soccer) Initialism of Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, a French football club from Paris; from French PSG


Engerland

/ˈɪŋɡəˌlænd/


goal area

(soccer) The area of the pitch, extending six yards from the goal, from which a goal kick is taken.

àrea de meta

soccer: area from which a goal kick is taken


buzzer flag

(soccer) A linesman's flag that is equipped with a button that causes a receiver (typically worn by the referee) to buzz, thus warning him of the flag's use.


pick out

en-verb

pick out (third-person singular simple present picks out, present participle picking out, simple past and past participle picked out)

picks out (present singular third-person)
picking out (participle present)
picked out (participle past)
picked out (past)

From pick + out. Compare Saterland Frisian uutpikke (“to pick out”), Dutch uitpikken (“to pick out”).

cog

Ameobi skipped away down the left in the 39th minute and tried to pick out Shearer with a cross but his delivery was cut out by goalkeeper Jussi J...

2006 December 26, “Bolton Wanderers vs Newcastle United”, in 4TheGame, archived from the original on 2008-04-14:

(transitive, idiomatic, soccer) To send a long pass or cross to.


put through

en-verb

put through (third-person singular simple present puts through, present participle putting through, simple past and past participle put through)

puts through (present singular third-person)
putting through (participle present)
put through (participle past)
put through (past)

Friedel again had to save as he parried a Patrice Evra shot before gathering the ball after the left-back had been put through by Ryan Giggs.

2011 February 1, Mandeep Sanghera, “Man Utd 3 - 1 Aston Villa”, in BBC:

(transitive, soccer) To pass the ball to (someone) giving them a one-on-one scoring opportunity.


step over

(soccer) A dribbling move, or feint, in football (soccer), used to fool a defensive player into thinking the offensive player, in possession of the ball, in which the foot is moved over the ball without making contact with it.


cup-tied

(sports, chiefly soccer, of a player) ineligible to compete in a cup competition due to having previously played for a different team in the same competition in the same season.


Potter

From Middle English Potter, English, Dutch, and north German surname, from the noun pot.
The usage for someone from Stoke-on-Trent refers to it being the home of the pottery industry in England, where it is also known as The Potteries.

(soccer) someone connected with Stoke City Football Club (in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, UK), as a fan, player, coach etc.


Yid

Yidden (plural)
Yidn (plural)
Yids (plural)

From Yiddish ייִד (yid, “Jew”). Doublet of Jew.

(soccer, informal) A supporter or club member of Tottenham Hotspur F.C.


five-a-side

(soccer) a variation of soccer played on a smaller pitch, and with only five players in a team.


flag football

A version of American football where the players must remove a flag, worn around the waist, from the ball carrier instead of tackling.


flat back four

(soccer) collectively, a set of defenders who stay on the same level on the pitch.


Man United

(soccer) Manchester United Football Club


Old Trafford

(soccer) The home stadium of Manchester United Football Club.

(soccer, by extension) Manchester United Football Club itself.


Stamford Bridge

(soccer) the home stadium of Chelsea Football Club

(soccer, by extension) Chelsea Football Club itself


Highbury

(historical, soccer) the former home stadium of Arsenal Football Club

(soccer, historical, by extension) Arsenal Football Club itself


Tottenham

From Latin Toteham, believed to be from Tota + ham(let), Tota being the person who founded the suburban area.

(soccer) Tottenham Hotspur F.C., a football club in north London.


Villa Park

(soccer) the home stadium of Aston Villa Football Club.

(soccer, by extension) Aston Villa Football Club itself.


Molineux

Another surprise is that Newcastle have the meanest defence in all four leagues and they did their utmost to preserve the tag at Molineux.

2011 October 1, Saj Chowdhury, “Wolverhampton 1 - 2 Newcastle”, in BBC Sport:

(soccer) The home stadium of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club.

(soccer, by extension) Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club itself.


White Hart Lane

(soccer) The former home stadium of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

(soccer, by extension) Tottenham Hotspur Football Club itself.


Ewood

(soccer) Ewood Park, the home stadium of Blackburn Rovers FC


Cottager

From the name of the stadium, Craven Cottage.

(UK, soccer) Someone connected with Fulham Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.


Claret

(soccer) someone connected with Burnley Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.


Gooner

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Gooner.wav

A corruption of gunner, derived from the Arsenal coat of arms of a cannon.

(soccer, slang) someone connected with Arsenal Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.


Wednesdayite

The boys couldn't stand idly by while three Wednesdayites got mullered; it was not the done thing.

2012, Anthony Cronshaw, Wednesday Rucks and Rock 'n' Roll: Tales from the East Bank:

(soccer) Someone connected with Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.


Red Devil

(soccer) someone connected with Manchester United Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.


Villan

(soccer) someone connected with Aston Villa Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.


Evertonian

/ɛvəˈtəʊnɪ.ən/

(soccer) someone connected with Everton Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.