MARK -- the close defending of an opposing player.

MARKETING, MAN-TO-MAN; Marking a particular opponent in all the important defensive areas of the field.

MATCH: A soccer/football game.

MIDFIELD LINE OR CENTER LINE: A line that divides the field in half along its width.

MIDFIELDER: A player who links the defenders with the attackers and contributes to both attack and defense.

MOVES THAT START FROM ATTACKING THIRD: 53% of all goals come from moves that start in the attacking third of the field.

NEAR POST: The goal post closer to the ball position.

OBSTRUCTION: When a defensive player, instead of going after the ball, uses his body to prevent an offensive player from playing it.

NUTMEG -- when an attacker moves forward by passing a ball through an opponent's legs.

OFC -- represents soccer region including Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific island nations; acronym stands for Oceania Football Conference; based in Auckland, New Zealand; president is New Zealander Charles Dembsey and general secretary is New Zealander Josephine King; founded in 1966; current membership stands at 10 nations; no representation at the 1998 World Cup; Australia, as the top qualifier was eliminated by Iran.

OFFICIAL FIFA BALL -- a ball that meets the specifications of the international sanctioning body; between 27 and 28 inches in circumference and 14-to-16 ounces in weight.

Official game clock: The clock that the referee carries with him on the field so he can signal when each half is over; does not stop during the game, even when play does.

OFFICIALS: The referee and 2 assistant referees who work together to make sure the game is played according to the laws of game; responsible for stopping and restarting play, keeping track of the score and the time remaining and citing violations of the laws, called fouls; they wear uniforms that distinguish them from the players on both teams.

OFF-SIDE, CANNOT BE DECLARED OFFSIDE; A player can not be declared off-side by the referee if he receives the ball direct from a goal kick, a corner kick or a throw in.

OFF-SIDE: A situation in which an attacker positioned in the opponents' half of the field does not have two opponents between him or herself and the goal at the moment the ball is played to him or her.

OFFSIDE TRAP -- a defensive scheme which attempts to push defensive players forward in the hopes of putting an attacking player offside.

ONE-TIME -- when an attacker strikes a shot off a pass or rebound without stopping the ball to gain control.

ONE TOUCH: 72% of all goals are from one touch.

OUT OF BOUNDS: When a ball is outside the boundaries of the field, having completely crossed a sideline or goal line.

OUT OF PLAY: When a ball is outside the boundaries of the field (pitch) or play has been stopped by the referee.

OUTSIDE PENALTY AREA: 16% of all goals are from outside the penalty area.

OVERLAP: A tactic used to move defenders and midfielders into attacking positions.

PASS, CHIP; A pass made by a stabbing action of the kicking foot to the bottom part of the ball to achieve a steep trajectory and vicious back spin on the ball.

PASS, FLICK; A pass made by an outward rotation of the kicking foot, contact on the ball being made with the outside of the foot.

ON DEFENSE: Describes a team that does not have possession of the ball.

ON OFFENSE: Describes a team in possession of the ball.

ONE TOUCH SOCCER: Interpassing among teammates without stopping the ball.

PASS, HALF VOLLEY; A pass made by the kicking foot making contact with the ball at the moment the ball touches the ground.

PASS, PUSH; A pass made with the inside of the kicking foot.

PASS, SWERVE; A pass made by imparting spin to the ball, thereby causing it to swerve from either right to left or left to right. Which way the ball swerves depends on whether contact with the ball is made with the outside or the inside of the kicking foot.

PASS, VOLLEY: A pass made before the ball touches the ground.

PASSING: When a player kicks the ball to his teammate.

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 24-yard wide by 18-yard deep rectangular area in front of each goal; the area in which the goalkeeper can use his hands.

PENALTY KICK -- awarded for any personal fouls or for intentionally handling of the ball by a defending player within the penalty area; a penalty shot is taken from the designated spot, 12 yards from the goal line in the center of the penalty area, with only the goalkeeper defending the shot.

PENALTY SHOT; The result of a direct foul committed by a defender within his or her penalty area.

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.

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 Law.

PLAY, CONDITIONED; Applying an artificial restriction, e.g. all players must pass the ball on the first touch.

PLAY, CROSS-OVER; Applied to the movements of two attacking players moving in opposite directions past each other. These movements are usually made with the ball but can also be made without it.

PLAY, ONE-TOUCH: Passing the ball first time, i.e. without controlling the ball.

PITCH -- a British term used to define the field of play; the field of play is rectangular, with dimensions not more than 130 yards nor less than 100 yards in length, and not more than 100 yards and not less than 50 yards in width; for international matches, such as the World Cup, the length shall not be more than 120 yards nor less than 110 yards and the width shall not be more than 80 yards nor less than 70 yards.

PK --penalty-kick

PLAY, SHADOW; A method of coaching which allows players to create movements without opposition.

PLAYER, CHALLANGING; Applied to a defending player attempting to dispossess an attacking player with the ball.

PLAYER, COVERING; Applied to a defending player who is assisting the challenging player by adopting a position which will enable him/her to challenge if the challenger is beaten.

PLAYER, SUPPORTING; Applied to an attacking player who has positioned to receive a pass from the player in possession of the ball. Usually, but not always, the supporting player is behind the ball.

POKE TACKLE: Method of tackling in which a player extends his or her leg and kicks the ball away from an opponent.

POSSESSION: Player or team having/in control of the ball.

PRESSURE TRAINING; A method of training players to perform a technique many times in rapid succession for a limited period of time.

PRIME SCORING AREA; 22% of all goals are from the area of the far post from the prime scoring area.