Soccer Terms & Soccer Rule Definitions

(Law 10) 
Dribble : The practice of controlling the ball with the feet 
while moving on the field of play. 
Drive: Typically a low, hard shot on goal, taken with the 
instep. 
Drop ball: A method of restart in which the referee 'drops' 
the ball to the ground. The players may not kick the ball 
until the ball touches the ground. (Law 8)  
Drop kick: A punting method the goal keeper uses where he 
drops the ball to the ground, then punts the ball just after 
it hits the ground. 
Drop off: To move farther away from one's mark. Issued as an 
instruction to a player, from the coach or another player. 
Drop pass: A player passes the ball, behind himself, to a 
teammate or leaves the ball for a teammate. See heel. 
Dummy: To pretend to be about to receive the ball, but allow 
the ball to travel past oneself, in order to deceive the 
opponent. 
Dummy run: A run by a teammate of the player with the ball, 
intended to draw one or more defenders away from the area 
under attack. 
Encroachment: Being within 10 yards of the ball when a free 
kick, corner kick, goal kick or penalty kick is being taken 
by an opponent. (Law 13)  
Fake: The act of a ball carrier 'faking' an action, to 
elicit a response from a defender, then the ball carrier 
performs another mover. Example- faking a shot, then passing 
the ball off to a teammate. 
Far post: The goalpost that is farthest from the ball.
Feint: A maneuver performed by a ball carrier that is 
intended to get the defender to react, allowing the ball 
carrier to move the ball the other way. Any of the 
step-overs and moves created by famous players constitute 
feints. 
Field of play: The rectangular playing area, defined by two 
longer touch lines and two shorter goal lines. Also called 
the "pitch". (Law 1) 
FIFA: Fédération Internationale de Football Association: the 
world governing body of soccer. 
Fixture: See match.
Flagposts: See corner flags. (Law 1) 
Flat back: As in "flat back four". A defensive shape where 
the back three or four defenders move in tandem, maintaining 
a formation that is relatively straight across the field, as 
opposed to formations based on having at least one player 
stationed some distance behind the other defenders. 
Flats: Footwear specially designed for training or indoor 
use. No cleats or studs are present. (Law 4)  
Flick: 1. The ability of a player to use his foot to 'flick' 
the ball into space so that he may run onto the ball