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On many of the pages of languagecaster’s site you can find language connected to football, such as cliches and phrases. In this teaching ideas post we take a look at some of the words and phrases that players might say while playing a match, the kind of language that you can hear – or use – on the pitch. There are online crosswords and quizzes, as well as printables that practise the vocabulary below. You can also check out languagecaster’s football glossary which has a huge selection of football vocabulary.

Receiving the ball to feet with a man on

Overseas players moving to an English-speaking environment often feel frustrated at their lack of communication skills. However, one area where they can improve quickly is with the language on the field of play. As you can imagine, players do not have much time during a game, so quick and clear communication with your team mates is key. For example, when you see an opponent coming towards one of your own players, you are not going to shout ‘Be careful John, there is a member of the opposing side approaching’. Instead, the phrase ‘man on‘ is used to warn your team mate. How about if you want to tell one of your players that he or she is free and has time to look up and pass or dribble with the ball? You could explain all of that to them but it’s much better to simply shout ‘time‘.

Many of the phrases used by players in a game are similar to these expressions in that they are made up of only one or two words to help with this rapid communication. So, though you might know the meaning of the words ‘head‘, ‘out‘ and ‘time‘ away from the football pitch, on it they tend to have different meanings.

Below is a list of some of the more common expressions (with online and printable quizzes) you might need when playing football in an English-speaking environment. Next time you play a game how about trying to use some of them with your team mates?

Vocabulary: Playing the Game

Man on: A warning given to a team mate with the ball that an opponent is nearby; be careful there is someone near you.

To feet: This is used by one of your team mates when he / she wants you to pass to their feet, a simple pass on the ground. Sometimes it is shortened to feet.

Chest: This is used by one of your team mates when he / she wants you to give them the ball on their chest. This expression might be heard at a throw-in.

On my head: This is used by one of your team mates when he / she wants you to give them the ball on their head. This expression might be heard at a throw-in and sometimes it is shortened to head.

Time: This is what you can say to one of your team mates when he/she receives the ball and has time to move with the ball – it is the opposite of man on.

Square: This is what you say to a team mate when you are standing to their left or right, i.e. beside them and you want them to pass to you. You can also say square it.

Push up: You can hear this phrase when one of the defenders tells the rest of the defence to move forward and away from their own goal. It is often used to catch people offside. Similar to the phrase get out.

Through ball: A through ball is one played quickly (usually first time) in order to a team mate who is running in on goal. An effective weapon to break down a defence.

One-two: This is sometimes known as a wall pass and means to give and then quickly receive a pass from one of your team mates. It can be an effective tactic in crowded areas to allow players to get free.

Easy ball: This expression is used to tell your team mate to play a simple rather than a difficult ball as your team wants to keep possession. Don’t give away the ball!

Get out: Often shouted by one of the defenders to the rest of his defence to try and push back the opposing attackers or to catch them offside. This is similar to push up.

Mark up: This is said by players when defending a corner, free kick or other set piece and means to ensure that an opponent is not free, in other words get close to them.

First time: Don’t trap or control the ball, hit it when it arrives.

One-touch: Similar to first time in that the player usually has no time to control the ball so he or she needs to pass it or shoot quickly.

Hold: This is said to a team mate who has the ball that he or she should keep it a little longer, don’t pass it just yet. This is particularly used for telling a centre forward to hold on to possession.

Teaching Ideas

The Football Lexicon (below) is a book with hundreds of different football expressions and along with many other football-products can be bought from languagecaster’s shop

These are only some of the words and phrases used on the football pitch. We would be interested to hear of any more that you have heard about, please post a comment below and let us know.