ASSISTANT REFEREE – Person, often a parent volunteer who assists the referee, one assistant referee is assigned to each touchline. Their primary responsibility is to indicate when the ball is out of play or when the whole of the ball crosses the whole of the touchline or end line. The assistant referee also signals which team has the right to put the ball in play again by using their flag to show the direction of play for the restart. Positioned to call offsides.

CHARGING - A method of unbalancing the player who has possession or is attempting to gain possession of the ball. The maneuver of using a shoulder (actually from the elbow and up to and including the shoulder) against the opponent's shoulder to gain an advantage; permissible only when the ball is playable (i.e. within three feet).

CLEARING - The act of moving the ball out of the vicinity of one's own goal by throwing (goalkeeper only) or kicking it (generally up the sideline).

CORNER KICK - A kick made by the attacking team from the corner arc on the side of the field where the ball went out of play. A corner kick is awarded when the ball is last touched by a defender and goes over the goal line without resulting an a goal. Opponents must be at least ten yards away from the ball when the kick is taken. A goal may be scored directly (without being touched by another player) from a corner kick.

CROSS - A pass in which the ball is kicked from one side of the field to the other side.

DANGEROUS PLAY - Play that is likely to cause injury. Examples are high kicking, playing while lying on the ground, or playing the ball while it is in possession of the goalkeeper.

DEFENDER - Also called fullback. A player who functions primarily in the defensive third of the field and whose major role is to repel attacks on the goal by the opposing team.

DIRECT FREE KICK - A free kick from which a goal can be scored directly (i.e. without being first touched by another player). It is awarded for substantial infractions of the rules. Opponents must be at least ten yards away from the ball (opposing players may stand on their own goal line between the posts), but the player taking the kick may do so without waiting if he/she wishes. The ball is not in play until it has traveled its own circumference. The ball must be stationary when kicked and the kicker may not touch the ball a second time until it has been played by another player (of either team).

DROP BALL - A ball held by the referee and allowed to fall directly to the ground between the two opponents. The ball is in play after it touches the ground. A drop ball restarts the game after play is stopped for no penalty situation (e.g. after an injury). The ball is dropped where it was last in play or at the nearest point outside the penalty are. A goal may be scored directly from a drop ball.

EQUIPMENT - All-purpose shoe with square or rectangular cleats are not permitted. No hard cast is permitted. No jewelry is permitted, including watches, bracelets, necklaces, hair clips and earrings. If players intend to get their ears pierced, we suggest that they do so a month before games begin, or after the season is over.

FIFA – Federation Internationale de Football Association – the world governing body for soccer.  Known best as the sponsor of the World Cup and the originator of the “Laws of the Game”  FIFA can be reached on the world wide web at www.fifa.com.

FORWARD - Player who functions primarily in the attacking third of the field and whose major responsibility is to score goals.

FREE KICKS - Infractions result in free kicks awarded to the offended team. They are either direct or indirect kicks. On a direct free kick, the kicker can put the ball directly into the goal for a score. On an indirect free kick, another player on either team must touch the ball before it can score. The referee will indicate an indirect free kick by holding one arm directly overhead. A penalty kick is awarded for a direct free kick infraction committed by the defense in its own penalty area. This call is determined by the position of the defending player; the ball need not have advanced into the penalty area.

FULLBACK - see Defender

GOAL - A one point score occurring when the whole of the ball passes entirely over the goal line, between the vertical goal posts and under the horizontal crossbar. A goal is not scored if the ball was not touched by another player (of either team) after an indirect free kick, goal kick, kick off, or throw in.

GOAL AREA - Area (20 x 8 yd. on a full size field) marked within the penalty area, and directly in front of the goal, from which all goal kicks originate.

GOALKEEPER - Player who functions primarily in the penalty area and whose major responsibility is to prevent the opponents' shots from entering the goal for a score. The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to touch or pick up the ball with his/her hands, and may only do so when the ball is in his/her penalty area. The keeper is the team's last line of defense.

GOAL KICK - Taken by any defending player to restart the game after the ball goes out of play over the end line, having last been touched by an attacking player. It may be taken from any point within the half of the goal area nearest where the ball went out. All opposing players must stand outside the penalty area. To be in play, the ball must leave the penalty area (inbounds); otherwise the kick is taken again.

HALFBACK - see Midfielder

INDIRECT FREE KICK - A free kick from which a goal cannot be scored until the ball is touched by another player. It is awarded for technical and minor infractions of the rules (see Summary of the FIFA Laws of the Game, Law XII, this section). Opponents must be at least 10 yards away from the ball (opposing players may stand on their between the goal posts), but the player taking the kick may do so if he/she wishes. The ball is not in play until it has traveled its own circumference. The ball must be stationary when kicked and the kicker may not touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player (of either team).

INFRACTIONS - Conduct infractions are listed elsewhere. "Handling" the ball prohibits intentionally playing the ball with the hand or arm. Accidental contact is not an infraction. No player, except the goalie, is allowed to put himself or other in danger of injury; thus the rule against dangerous play. Most calls for dangerous play are the result of a high kick or a low head. High kick is defined in relation to the other player's head, not the kicker's waist. You can't kick the ball while you are on the ground in traffic because you place your head in danger. If, in the judgment of the referee, the team offended by an infraction has a clear advantage which could lead to a scoring opportunity, the advantage rule may be invoked with the clear call of "Advantage, play on!" and a forward sweep of the hands.

KICK OFF - Officially begins the game at each half and restarts the game after a goal has been scored. The kick-off must travel toward the opponent's goal. The ball is in play when the ball is kicked and moves in a forward direction. The ball must go forward into the opponents half of the field and is in play after rolling its own circumference. The player kicking off must not play the ball again until another player of either team has played it. If the ball is kicked backward, then it never went into play and the kick is retaken. If the kicker touches the ball a second time without another player touching it, then the opposing team is awarded a free kick. Opponents must be at least 10 yards away from the ball in their own half of the field when the kick off is taken.

LINESPERSON – Now called assistant referees. See assistant referee.

MARKING - Guarding or covering an opposing player with or without the ball when he/she moves into your area of play.

MIDFIELDER - Player who functions primarily in the center or neutral third of the field and whose principal job is to link the defense and the attack through ball control and passing.

OFFSIDE - Offside is defined as occurring at the moment the ball is played by one of the attacking players to a teammate. To be in an offside position the player must be: in the attacking half of the field, even with or behind the ball, even with the second to last defender (normally, but not necessarily the goalie and a fullback).

A player is penalized if in an offside position and if, in the judgment of the referee, the player is: a) interfering with play or with an opponent, or b) seeking to gain an advantage by being in that position.

A player is not declared offside a) merely by being in an offside position; b) if he/she receives the ball directly from a goal kick, a corner kick, a throw in, or a drop ball; or c) if the ball is last played by an opposing player.

OUT OF BOUNDS - The ball is in play unless the entire ball passes beyond all of the sideline (touchline) or goal line (end line). If the ball is out over the sideline, the team opposite the last touch throws it in. If the ball is over the goal line and not in the goal it is kicked off the ground by the opposing team from the corner if last touched by a defender, or from the goal area if last touched by an attacker. A corner kick can go directly into the goal for a score. If the goalie, in possession of the ball, falls or rolls into the goal carrying the entire ball overall of the goal line, a score results. If play is stopped for any reason while the ball is in play, it is restarted with a drop ball.

PENALTY ARC - The arc at the top of the penalty area; no player may be within this area while a penalty kick is being taken.

PENALTY AREA - Large area, 18 x 44 yd. on a full size field, in front of goal in which any of the "direct kick" fouls by the defending team result in a penalty kick. Also limits the area where the goalie can use his/her hands. The penalty area includes the goal area.

PENALTY KICK - Awarded to the attacking team if the defending team commits a direct free kick violation within the penalty area. Penalty kicks are taken from the penalty mark. All players of both teams except the kicker and opposing goalkeeper must remain on the field of play outside the penalty area and penalty arc. Goalkeepers are allowed to move laterally along the goal line while waiting for the kick to be taken. The player taking the kick must kick the ball forward and may not touch the ball a second time until another player of either team has played it. A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick.

For any infringement of the penalty kick rules by: a) the defending team, the referee will allow the kick to proceed, but if a goal does not result, the kick will be retaken; b) the attacking team, other than the player designated to take the kick, if a goal is not scored it will be disallowed and the kick retaken; c) by the player taking the penalty kick, committed after the ball is in play, an opposing player will take an indirect free kick at the point where the infraction occurred.

The referee's whistle always starts the taking of a penalty kick. Any penalty kick taken prior to the referee's whistle will be retaken using the referee's whistle as the proper start for the kick.

PENALTY MARK - A mark on the field from which penalty kicks are taken; also called the penalty spot. It is located 12 yards from the goal line, equally spaced between the goal posts.

REFEREE - The official who is in complete charge of the soccer game. The safety of the players is the referee's main concern. He or she is responsible for keeping time, enforcing the Laws of the Game (see Summary of the FIFA Laws of the Game, this section), stopping and restarting the game for penalties or injuries, cautioning or banishing offenders (including coaches or spectators) and ending the game, if necessary. All decisions by the referee are final! The referee is assisted by two assistant referees.

SUBSTITUTIONS - KYSA rules dictate that each player must play at least half of each game. ((Recreational Only) Coaches, however, are permitted to substitute only in certain situations, including: half-time (quarters for younger players), after a goal is scored, on a goal kick, on their own throw-in, or after an injury (for the injured player).

TACKLING - A method of gaining possession of the ball by use of the feet. Unnecessary roughness and use of the hands are not permitted.

THROW IN - Taken to restart the game after the whole of the ball crosses the outside edge of the touchline. The throw in, taken by any member of the team that did not touch the ball last, is taken at the point where the ball went out of play. The thrower must face the field and throw the ball with equal strength by both hands, in one continuous motion from the back of the head and over the top of the head. When the ball is released, the thrower must have some part of both of his/her feet on the ground on or behind the touchline.

US Youth Soccer – The United State Youth Soccer Association – a cooperative association of the 55 State Youth Soccer Associations in the United States.  Kentucky YSA is a member of the US Youth Soccer and offers many US Youth Soccer programs such as The American Cup, Olympic Development Program, TOPSoccer, Snickers National Championship and others.  The US Youth Soccer is a member of the USSF Youth Council.  The US Youth Soccer can be found on the world wide web at www.youthsoccer.org.

USSF - The United States Soccer Federation is the national governing body for soccer in the United States.  The Kentucky Youth Soccer Association is a member of USSF.  The USSF offers a wide diversity of programs for all levels of soccer in the United States.  Kentucky YSA offers two USSF programs - Coaching Education and Referee Education.