SOCCER GLOSSARY
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Passing: when a player kicks the ball to his teammate; used to move the ball closer to the opposing goal, to keep the ball away from an opponent or to give the ball to a player who is in a better position to score.
Penalty: short for penalty kick; also, a punishment given by the referee for a violation of the rules.
Penalty arc: a circular arc whose center is the penalty spot and extends from the top of the penalty area; designates an area that opposing players are not allowed to enter prior to a penalty kick.
Penalty area: a rectangular area 44 yards wide by 18 yards deep with its long edge on the goal line; the goalkeeper may use his hands to block or control the ball only within this area.
Penalty kick: see Penalty shot.
Penalty shot: a kick taken from the penalty spot by a player against the opposing goalie without any players closer than 10 yards away; awarded for the most severe rule violations and those committed by the defense within its own penalty area; also taken in a tiebreaker to decide a match.
Penalty spot: the small circular spot located 12 yards in front of the center of the goal line from which all penalty kicks are taken; positioned at the center of the penalty arc.
Penetrate: to advance the ball behind opposing defenders (between them and their goal).
Periods: the segments of time into which a game is divided; a regulation game played by adults consists of two 45-minutes halves.
Pitch: a British term for soccer field.
Play: to trap, dribble, kick or head the ball.
Play on: a term used by referees to indicate that no foul or stoppage is to be called; used by referees when applying the Advantage Rule.
Playoff: a tournament that takes place after a season's schedule has been completed; used to determine a champion.
Points: a team statistic indicating its degree of success, calculated as follows: 2 points for a win (3 in the 1994 World Cup), 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss; also, an individual statistic for a player, calculated by totaling 2 points for each goal and 1 point for each assist.
Possession: control of the ball.
Post: Goalpost or the area near it.
Professional foul: a foul committed intentionally, usually by a defender on an attacker just outside the defender's penalty area; used to prevent a scoring opportunity without incurring a penalty shot.
Push pass: when a player pushes the ball with the inside of his foot to a teammate.
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