Port Vale FC
Academy Vocabulary
Training & Games
Foundation Phase 9-11
IN POSSESSION

•Drive - To encourage players to run/dribble the ball forwards into space, to take on a defender.
•Move the Ball - Players to pass the ball quickly with the least amount of touches.
•Support - Movement into position to help player on ball. Angles, distance and space important.
•Check your shoulders - Look over your shoulder before receiving the ball.
•Look After it - Control the ball before trying to do anything else with it. Ensure that the team keep possession.

OUT OF POSSESSION

•Press – Players close the ball and man down as early as possible, to try and win the ball back/ force a mistake or delay.
•Lock on – Instruction to get tight to opposition and deny them space.

•React/Recover – On losing possession of the ball players re-focus priorities and look to get themselves into a good defensive position
behind the ball and attacking player.

(Pro)Development Phase12-16/18's
IN POSSESSION

•Deliver- To encourage players to be positive in crossing the ball into the box.
•Drive- To encourage players to run/dribble the ball into space in front, to commit a defender and slide a pass through.
•Switch- To change the point of the attack from one side of the pitch to the other, by moving the ball in one pass or in “stages”.
•Move the Ball- Players to pass the ball quickly with the least amount of touches, to get out of tight situations.
•Jacks- For a player to leave/dummy the ball for another player to run onto or collect.
•Support- Movement into position to help the player on ball. Angles, distance and space important.
•Scan- Look over your shoulder before receiving the ball.
•Look after it - Control the ball before trying to do anything else with it. Ensure that the team keep possession.
•Set- To play the ball backwards to a supporting player.

OUT OF POSSESSION

•Shape - Players to recover quickly into a good defensive starting position behind the ball.
•Press - Players close the ball and man down as early as possible, to try and win the ball back/ force a mistake or delay.
•Screen - Players to mark space between two opposing players cutting off the line of the ball, denying the pass.
•Slide - Players to move across the pitch quickly and decrease the space between players, so as to stop the ball being played forwards .
•Lock on – Instruction to get tight to opposition and deny them space.
•Drop off - Defensive line to defend from a deeper position.
•Squeeze- Defensive line to move into a higher position at speed, in relation to the ball (normally when the ball is moving forwards or sideways).
•React/recover- On losing possession of the ball players re-focus priorities and look to get themselves into a good defensive position
behind the ball and attacking player.

Away
9-16
Generally called by the keeper to tell defenders to clear the ball away from the goal in any direction (except towards the goal). Panic in voice is normal.

Carry
9-16
A call to an offensive player (with the ball) to dribble the ball up the field in open space. A defensive player is not nearby.

Press
9-16
A call to defender to apply PRESSURE or to attack an offensive player (with the ball) in order to steal the ball.

Open Out
9-16
Body position to enable receiving the ball to view and play in all directions

Drop
12 -16
A call to play the ball towards the offensive player's own goal in order to take the ball out of defensive pressure.

Eighteen
13-16
A call from an attacker to a teammate to pass the ball to the 18 yard box (also called penalty box) for the attacker to run to or defensive line to hold at the point of..

Find Your Man
9-16
A call for defenders to chose a man to defend. See Mark A Man.

Fifty-fifty Ball
A loose ball that two players have equal access to, usually one in the air that has to be won by a header. Players that can consistently win a fifty-fifty ball are highly valued by their coaches (and tend to have headaches or wear out shin guards).

Follow up (the shot)
A call for attackers to run towards the keeper in order to kick a ball that the keeper may block (instead of catch) or deflect.

Jockey / Stay on your feet
9-16
A call for defenders to position themselves in a defensive position against an attacker so the attacker’s progress is slowed, but so that the defender is not beaten. This process allows other defenders to recover.

Man-On
9-16
A call to an offensive player (with ball) telling him that a defensive player is approaching.

Mark a Man
9-16

A call for defenders to chose a man to defend..

No Turn
9-16
A call to a defensive player to position himself in a way so as not to allow the offensive player (with ball) to face the defensive player, but rather for the offensive player to be forced to play with his back to the defensive player

Pressure
9-16
A call to defender to apply challenge or to attack an offensive player (with the ball) in order to steal the ball.

Push up/Squeeze
9-16
A call to defensive players to move up the field towards the mid line. Sometimes this force the opponent’s forward to move toward the mid line so as not to be offside. Also used to describe coaches’ favorite encouragement technique.

Recover
9-16
A call to defenders to regain their position between the attacker (with or without the ball) and the goal they are defending. This is frequently called when defenders are pushed up and the opponents mount a quick counter
attack.

Shape or Keep Your Shape
9-16

The call to players to quickly reform their positions on the field into a balanced defensive posture capable of turning away an attack at either side of the field or up the middle

Step or Step Up
13-16

A call to defenders to move quickly away from their own goal towards the mid line in order move the offensive players away from the goal (otherwise the offensive players would be in an offside position. Similar to push up.

Switch
9-16
A call for the offensive to play the ball to the opposite side of the field. For example: when ball is moved up left side of field, a call to switch would mean the ball would be played either directly or by multiple players to the right side of the field. When played quickly, switching the ball can take advantage of a defense that has lost its shape.

Support
9-16
A call to players on the offensive team without the ball to give the player with the ball options to pass the ball out of pressure, usually when attacking or shielding.

Time or Relax
9-16
A call to a player letting him know that no opposition player is nearby.

Turn
9-16
A call to an offensive player (with his back to the defense) letting him know that he can turn and face the defense without a defender nearby.

Good effort
A word of support when a shot on goal goes astray or when a bad pass is made.

Wall
9-16
A call for defenders to make a wall in front of the goal. This is called when a free kick is to be made.

Runners
9-16
A call to a defender to find and defend against a fast moving attacker (without the ball).

Yes ( I’m on!)
A call from a player to a teammate indicating that he is open to receive a pass.

Assist
The pass that leads to the goal. Many say it's as important as the
goal itself, some say it's even more important.

Back Pass
A pass that is hit backwards (away from the goal you are attacking) normally back to the GK

Booked
To receive a yellow card or red card from the official.

Chip / lob
A high looping shot on goal intended to go over the keeper’s head into the goal.

Create Space
9-16
This is the act of leaving an area of the field in order to draw the defense away from that area so that you (or one of your teammates can use the space to your advantage

Cross or Crossing
A pass made from a player on one side of the field towards the middle of the field many times towards the goal.

Flat Back Four 13-16

A type of zonal defending that involves 4 defenders each responsible for an area across the back of the defense. The reason it's called flat is that they players usually don't have as much deep support as they would with a sweeper behind them.

Formations
13-16

Whenever you hear about formations, you hear some weird numbers like 4-4-2 or 3-4-3 or something like that. To explain it simply, the numbers work from the back forward and the keeper is never counted. So, a 4-4-2 is a formation with 4 backs, 4 midfielders, and two forwards along with one keeper.

Forwards
The players who start off closest to the goal the team is attacking. First and foremost, the forwards are responsible for scoring goals or at least creating scoring opportunities.

Header
The art of striking the ball with one’s forehead

Make a Run
An offensive player runs (without the ball) to an open position to receive the ball.

Midfielders
The line up between the forwards and the defenders, and are the ones who link the two together.

megs
When a ball is kicked between a defender’s legs. Also called meg. Generally a humiliating occurrence for a defender for which they are teased .

Offside
11-16

... it is a foul when a player (without the ball) is positioned closer to the opposing goal than the defenders, at the time of his team player striking the ball to him – direction.

A player may still be active although stood off-side if he does not interfere with the ball or obstruct the path for the opposition.

Offside does not apply on a corner kick or a throw in. A player cannot be offside in his defensive half of the field.

Overlaps

This is a run where Player A runs from behind player B and goes past her (overlaps) to either receive the ball or to create space for Player B.

Penalty Box
Also known as the 18 yard box. This is the area where the keeper is allowed to use her hands. Also, any foul in this box that would result in a direct kick results in a penalty kick.

Near post
9-16
Referring to the goal post. “Make a near-post run.”. Also used by the keeper to command players to "post-up" or stand on both posts, usually on corner kicks or free kicks from near the touchline.

Delivery
To serve a ball usually means to play a long ball into the 18 yard box to a runner or runners. It could be a cross or a ball from a back in early.

Square Pass

A pass that is hit parallel to the goal line. In other words, a ball that is played to a player that goes in the direction of either of the side lines.

Sweeper
Plays behind the line of defenders but in front of the GK often a last line of defence - usually covers the central defenders.

Round the corner

To play a pass behind the defense for one of your players to run onto. This pass has to be made with perfect pace and accuracy so it beats the defense and allows attackers to collect it before the goalkeeper.

Wide
The touchline is the sideline. If you hear someone say that the ball "goes into the touch" it means that it is just out of bounds.

Give & Go

A pass where Player A passes the ball to Player B and then makes a run. Player B returns the ball to Player A one touch. Think of it as if Player B is simply a wall and the ball is played into the wall and comes back to the player with the same angle.

• Any vocabulary in grey are common words/phrases used during training /matches to familirise yourselves with.

• All other words in the left columns will become common used words that your age group coaches will use.

Port Vale F.C. Academy

1. Player Profiles

Goalkeeping Profile

Full Back Player

Central Defender

Central Midfield Player

Wide Midfield Players

Forward Players