Defensive Vocabulary Flashcards
To try to take the ball from an opposing player
Tackle
To try to take the ball from an opposing player by sliding along the ground
Slide in / go to ground / dive in
To keep yourself between an attacker with the ball and the goal
Jockey (someone)
To position yourself so that an opposing player can not make a pass to their teammate
Block / Screen
To take the ball when an opposing player tries to pass to a teammate
Intercept / Cut out a pass
To be first person to get your head to the ball when it is kicked high
Win headers
To kick the ball long, horizontally, to the other side of the pitch
Switch the play
To kick the ball long, vertically, up the pitch, usually for an attacking player
Play/Hit a long-ball
To kick the ball out of a dangerous area (usually done in desperation)
Clear the ball / Make a clearance
To keep yourself close to an attacking player when they DON’T have the ball
Mark/Cover a player
To create a situation where an opposing player makes a bad decision
Force someone into a mistake
To wait deep in defense
Sit back
To not allow someone to run through the middle of the pitch, to keep them in a wide position
Push someone out wide
To put pressure on the opposing team when they have the ball, usually by running at them
Press
To take the ball after another player has lost control of it
Grab a loose ball
