Football Glossary, Letter B
B team
The reserve team of a club or national team
Back
The players who make up the defensive line of a team
Back and face
An instruction, usually given after a turnover, telling players to drop back and defend
Back door
An alternative term for the far post, the goal post furthest from the ball; if the ball is on the left side of the goal, the back door is the one on the right, vice versa
Back four
The players who make up the defensive line, a term used when a team plays with four defenders
Back header
A type of header in football done using the back of the head
Back heel
The technique of kicking the ball using the back of the heel
Back pass
To pass the ball to one’s own goalkeeper, a tactic often used to consume time or to preserve possession of the ball; also known as pass back
Back pass rule
A rule which prohibits goalkeepers from touching the ball with their hands if it has been passed back to them deliberately by a teammate; violation of the back pass rule in football is punishable with a free kick
Back tackle
To tackle the ball carrier from behind
Backup
(a) A defender’s teammate who provides him cover as he pressures the ball
(b) The available players on a team’s bench
Bafana Bafana
Nickname of the South African football team
Balkan Lions
Nickname of Bulgaria's national football team
Ball watching
The tendency of a player to be unaware of what is happening because of focusing too much on the ball instead of the situation or movement of other players
Ballon d'Or
(literally, "Golden Ball") An annual award given to the best footballer who plays in Europe; changed in 2010 to FIFA Ballon d’Or to include players all over the world
Banana kick
A special kick in soccer which causes the ball to take a curved path
Bar
The horizontal bar which connects the two goalposts; also called the crossbar
Barbie Dolls
Nickname of the Romanian national football team (Romania football) at World Cup 1998: the whole team sported a blonde hairdo, which fans associated with Barbie’s hair color
Barça
A short reference for FC Barcelona, one of the most popular football clubs in Spain
Beach soccer
A variant of association football played five-versus-five on a sand surface, usually at the beach
Beat
To escape a defender with a combination of speed and skills at dribbling the soccer ball
Behind closed doors
A match where spectators are not allowed to watch; often, a game is played behind closed doors to prevent potentially dangerous clashes between opposing fans
Bench
(a) The substitute players of a team
(b) In football stadiums, the sitting area for the staff and substitutes of a team
Bend
To kick in a way that will make the soccer ball curve in midair
Between the sticks
The area between the two goalposts; if a ball goes “between the sticks” it means a goal has been scored
Bicycle kick
A special type of kick in soccer where a player strikes the ball with his foot while inverted in midair
Big box
Alternate term for the penalty area, the big rectangular marking on the football pitch where the goalkeeper can handle the ball; also known as the penalty box
Black Stars
The nickname of Ghana's national football squad
Blast
A very powerful shot; also called a bomb
(Les) Bleus
(The) Blues, the nickname of France's national team, derived from their blue football kit
Block tackle
A tackling technique in soccer where a defender tries to dispossess his opponent by meeting him head on and kicking the ball away from him
Bomb
A very strong shot
Booking
The issuing of a yellow or red card by a referee; named such because the referee writes a player’s number on his notebook after giving a card
Boot
To clear the ball away from one’s goal
Box
A short term for the penalty box, the area where a goalkeeper can handle the ball
Box-to-box midfielder
A midfielder who possess exceptional skills and stamina which allows him to play both in offense and defense; called such because he plays from one penalty box to the other
Brace
The scoring of two goals by one player; scoring three goals is a hat trick
Break
(a) To escape a defender in a one-on-one confrontation; (b) A run that penetrates the enemy defense
Breakaway
To run clear of all the defending players; typically used in situations where an attacker has run free from all the defenders and is in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper
Build up
Bringing the ball towards the opponent’s goal with the use of short passes and player movements, as opposed to a long ball where one player makes a long pass towards an advance teammate
Bullets
The nickname of Zambia's national team
Bundesliga
The highest division in Germany’s football league system
Burn
The act of beating an enemy player by the use of speed or dribbling abilities
Byline
The line between a goalpost and a corner flag