SOCCER GLOSSARY
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Obstruction: when a defensive player, instead of going after the ball, uses his body to prevent an offensive player from playing it.
Offense: the function of trying to score goals.
Offensive player: see Attacker.
Offensive team: see Attacking team.
Official game clock: the clock that the referee carries with him on the field so he can signal when each half is over; does not stop during the game, even when play does.
Officials: the referee and 2 linesmen who work together to make sure the game is played according to the rules of soccer; responsible for stopping and restarting play, keeping track of the score and the time remaining and citing violations of the rules, called fouls; they wear uniforms that distinguish them from the players on both teams.
Offside: a violation called when a player in an offside position receives a pass from a teammate; an indirect free kick is awarded to the non-offending team.
Offside position: an attacking player positioned so that fewer than 2 opposing defensive players (usually the goalie and 1 other defender) are between him and the goal he is attacking; a player is not offside if he is exactly even with one or both of these defensive players.
On defense: describes a team that does not have possession of the ball.
On offense: describes a team in possession of the ball.
On-side: the opposite of offside.
Open: describes an attacking player who does not have anyone marking him.
Out of bounds: when a ball is outside the boundaries of the field, having completely crossed a sideline or goal line.
Out of play: when a ball is outside the boundaries of the field or play has been stopped by the referee.
Outlet passes: when a goaltender or defender passes the ball from close to his own goal toward the other team's goal; used to start a counterattack.
Overlap: when a winger moves away from the sideline towards the center of the field to create space for a teammate to advance the ball undefended along the side of the field.
Overtime: the extra periods played after a regulation game ends tied; used in collegiate and championship international matches to determine a winner.
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