page_title: Glossary of association football terms
section_title: T
hierarchical_section_title: Glossary of association football terms / T
caption_attribution_description: Supporters of the Seattle Sounders unveil a tifo during a March 2009 home game.
context_page_description: Association football was first codified in 1863 in England, although games that involved the kicking of a ball were evident considerably earlier. A large number of football-related terms have since emerged to describe various aspects of the sport and its culture.
  The evolution of the sport has been mirrored by changes in this terminology over time. For instance, the role of an inside forward in variants of a 2–3–5 formation has many parallels to that of an attacking midfielder, although the positions are nonetheless distinct. Similarly, a 2–3–5 centre half can in many ways be compared to a holding midfielder in a 4–1–3–2.
  In many cases, multiple terms exist for the same concept. One reason for this is the progression of language over time. The sport itself, originally known as association football, is now more widely known by the shortened term football, or soccer, derived from the word association. Other duplicate terms can be attributed to differences among varieties of English. In Europe, where British English is prevalent, the achievement of not conceding a goal for an entire match is known as a clean sheet.
context_section_description: Tackle: method of a player winning the ball back from an opponent, achieved either by using a leg to wrest possession from the opponent, or making a slide tackle to knock the ball away. A tackle in which the opposing player is kicked before the ball is punishable by either a free kick or penalty kick. Dangerous tackles may also result in a yellow or red card. See also reducer.
  (to) Take a touch: to control the ball with a legal part of the body before passing or shooting.
  (it) Takes a touch: when the ball, often unintentionally, takes a deflection off a player to alter its intended trajectory.
  Target man: type of striker. Usually tall, with a strong build and good heading ability, capable of controlling or attacking balls in the air. Target men give the forward line different options in how to attack the goal, and are often used to hold up the ball or play layoff passes to their teammates.
  Taylor Report: document written by Lord Taylor concerning the causes and aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. Best known for its recommendation that top division stadiums in England and Scotland phase out their terraces and become all-seater.
  Technical area: area within which the manager must remain while coaching their team during a match, marked by white lines at the side of the pitch.
  Telstar: match ball designed by Adidas for the 1970 FIFA World Cup. The first ball to use a truncated icosahedron design, with 12 black and 20 white patches intentionally used to improve visibility on black-and-white TV sets. The design remains common in club crests and decorations, even though modern match balls look considerably different. Known as bubamara (ladybug) in countries where Serbo-Croatian is spoken.
  Terrace: standing area of a stadium, consisting of a series of concrete steps which are erected for spectators to stand on. Often occupied by ultras. Terraces have been phased out in some countries, over safety concerns.
  Testimonial match: friendly match organised in honour of a player due to long service, usually 10 years at a single club.
  Third man running: when a team is attacking, in addition to the passer and intended receiver of the ball, a player will take part in the movement as an alternative receiver or third man. On completion of the move, the passer will become the third man.
  Three points for a win: point system in which three points are awarded to the team winning a match, with no points to the losing team. If the game is drawn, each team receives one point. Replacing the previous convention of two and one points awarded for wins and draws respectively, the system is intended to encourage teams to attack in search of a win, rather than settle for a draw.
  Through-ball: pass from the attacking team that goes straight through the opposition's defence to a teammate. Invariably the teammate will run onto the ball – standing behind the defenders when the ball was played would result in offside being called.
  Throw-in: method of restarting play. Involves a player throwing the ball from behind a touchline after it has been kicked out by an opponent.
  Tifo: originally the Italian word for the phenomenon of supporting a football team, today mainly used for any spectacular choreography displayed by supporters on the terraces of a stadium in connection with an association football match. Primarily arranged by ultras.
  Tiki-taka: style of play characterised by short passing and movement, working the ball through various channels and maintaining possession. The style is primarily associated with Spanish club Barcelona and the Spain national team. See also One touch.
  Toe punt: method of kicking the ball with the tip of the foot. Also known as a toe poke.
  Too good to go down: belief, often misguided, that the ability within a team will preclude it from relegation.
  Top corner: the parts of the goal immediately below the two 90° angles where the crossbar and posts intersect. Generally considered the most difficult part of the goal for a goalkeeper to reach.
  Top flight: the league at the highest level of a league system.
  Total Football: tact
caption: Seattle Sounders FC supporters displaying a tifo
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