Vocabulary
8 key words for this lesson
KICK
To hit the ball with your foot.
Kick the ball toward the cones — the coach is watching your technique.
PASS
To send the ball to a teammate using your foot.
She passed the ball quickly before the defender could reach her.
SHOOT
To kick the ball toward the goal to try to score.
He shot at goal under the floodlights and the goalkeeper could not reach it.
TACKLE
To take the ball from an opponent using your feet.
She made a clean tackle and won the ball back for her team.
DRIBBLE
To run with the ball, using small kicks to control it.
He dribbled through the cones in training, keeping the ball close to his foot.
CROSS
To kick the ball from the side into the middle of the pitch.
She crossed the ball from the corner into the box for her teammate to shoot.
HEADER
When you hit the ball with your head.
He jumped above the defender and scored with a powerful header.
VOLLEY
To kick the ball before it touches the ground. / A kick like this.
She hit a volley in front of a packed stadium and it flew past the goalkeeper.
Phrases
6 phrases and their meanings
WITH YOUR RIGHT FOOT
Using the right foot to kick or pass.
She kicked the ball with her right foot during the training session.
WITH YOUR LEFT FOOT
Using the left foot to kick or pass.
He shot with his left foot in the rain and the ball went into the bottom corner.
WITH YOUR HEAD
Using the head to direct the ball.
She jumped high above the defender and scored with her head.
FIRST TOUCH
The first time you touch the ball when you receive it.
His first touch was clean and he moved the ball away from the defender quickly.
ON TARGET
A shot that goes toward the goal (between the posts).
He shot on target from close range and the goalkeeper could not stop it.
INTO SPACE
Kicking or passing to an empty area on the pitch.
She passed the ball into space and her teammate ran onto it at full speed.
Videos
Watch these terms used in context
Dialogue
Read the dialogue and hover the blue words for definitions
Coach Diallo
Ronaldo
SofiaRonaldo, today we work on your basic actions. Let's start. Kick the ball to me.
Like this, Coach? With my right foot?
Good. Now pass it to Sofia. Quick — don't hold it too long.
Done! Sofia, pass it back.
Here you go, Ronaldo! What do I do next, Coach?
Sofia, try to dribble toward the goal. Small touches, keep it close to your foot.
OK — like this? I'm running with the ball!
Good! Now cross it to Ronaldo in the centre.
I'll try! Ronaldo — heads!
I got it! — I scored with a header! Did you see that, Coach?
Excellent! Now shoot from outside the box. Try a volley this time.
A volley? I'll try... Yes! It's on target! This training is amazing!
Exercises
Complete all three exercises to see your final score
Complete the Sentence
Choose the correct answer to complete each sentence.
We use different body parts to play football. Choose the correct option.
1.You score a header when you hit the ball with your .
2.When you kick, you hit the ball with your .
3.A volley is when you kick the ball it touches the ground.
4.To dribble, you run with the ball and keep it to your foot.
5.A cross comes from the of the pitch toward the centre.
6.When a shot goes toward the goal, we say it is target.
Matching
Click a word, then click its correct definition.
Click a word on the left, then its definition on the right.
Words
Definitions
Fill in the Blank
Drag the correct words from the word bank to complete each sentence.
Sentence 1
— — —the ball to your teammate — don't hold it too long.
Sentence 2
Ronaldo ran forward and— — —at goal from outside the box.
Sentence 3
She— — —past three defenders before scoring.
Sentence 4
He scored with a— — —from a corner kick.
Sentence 5
She— — —the ball from the right side into the centre.
Sentence 6
The defender made a great— — —to stop the attack.
Sentence 7
She hit a great— — —before the ball touched the ground.
Sentence 8
— — —the ball hard — aim for the corner of the goal!
Tip: Think about the meaning of each word and what makes sense in the sentence.
Multiple Choice
Choose the best answer for each question about the dialogue.
1.What does Coach Diallo ask Ronaldo to do first?
2.What does Coach Diallo tell Sofia to do with the ball?
3.How does Ronaldo score the first time?
4.What does Coach Diallo ask Ronaldo to try at the end?
5.What does "on target" mean?
6.What is a tackle?
7.What is a cross?
8.What does Sofia shout before she crosses the ball?
Group Activities
Role-play scenarios and discussion questions for group classes
🎯 Choose the Best Response
Work in groups. Read the instruction, then choose the best action — A, B, or C.
Customer says
“The coach says: "We need to score. Ronaldo — you are in space near the goal. What do you do?"”
Salesperson responds…
Customer says
“The coach says: "Sofia is running down the right side. The striker is in the centre. What should Sofia do?"”
Salesperson responds…
Customer says
“The coach says: "An opponent is about to receive the ball near our goal. What does the defender do?"”
Salesperson responds…
Customer says
“The coach says: "Ronaldo just received the ball. His first touch is bad and the ball goes far from his foot. What happens next?"”
Salesperson responds…
🔍 Spot the Mistake
There are three wrong action words in this training dialogue. Find them as a group.
Coach Diallo
Ronaldo, dribble the ball to Sofia — use the inside of your foot.
Ronaldo
OK Coach. Sofia — catch!
Coach Diallo
Good. Sofia, now shoot the ball from the right side into the centre.
Sofia
Like this? I kicked it with my head!
Coach Diallo
No, Sofia — cross it with your foot. Now Ronaldo, tackle at goal from outside the box.
Ronaldo
Yes! It's on target — what a volley!
✏️ Finish the Salesperson's Line
Complete the second line using action words from this lesson. Compare your answers, then click to see one possible answer.
Customer
“Coach Diallo: Ronaldo, what is the difference between a pass and a cross?”
Salesperson
“Ronaldo: A pass is when you send the ball to a teammate. …”
Customer
“Sofia: What is a volley? I don't understand.”
Salesperson
“Ronaldo: A volley is when you kick the ball …”
Customer
“Sofia: How do I get better at dribbling?”
Salesperson
“Coach Diallo: Keep the ball close to your foot. …”
Customer
“Coach Diallo: Ronaldo, your shot went over the goal. What went wrong?”
Salesperson
“Ronaldo: I think I hit it too high. …”