Association Football Terminology - H

H

• Half-back: position employed in a 2–3–5 formation, half-backs would play in front of the full-backs and behind the forwards. The middle half-back was known as a centre-half; those on either side were known as wing-halves.
• Half-time: break between the two halves of a match, usually lasts 15 minutes.
• Half-volley: pass or shot in which the ball is struck just as, or just after, it touches the ground.
• Handbags: colloquialism, especially in the United Kingdom, used to describe an event where two or more players from opposing teams square up to each other in a threatening manner, or push and jostle each other in an attempt to assert themselves, without any actual violent conduct taking place.
• Hand-ball or handball: when a player other than a goalkeeper deliberately touches the ball with their hand in active play. A foul is given against the player if spotted.
• Hand of God: Diego Maradona's first goal against England in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, which he scored by using his hand.
• Hat-trick: when a player scores three goals in a single match.
• Header: using the head as a means of playing or controlling the ball.
• High foot: colloquialism for what is described in the Laws of the Game as "Playing in a dangerous manner". A foul is awarded if the referee determines that a player's foot has moved into a dangerously high position while trying to play the ball, especially if the foot threatens or causes an injury to an opponent.
• Holding role or Holding midfielder: central midfielder whose primary role is to protect the defence.
• Hold up the ball: when a player, usually a forward, receives a long ball from a teammate, and controls and shields it from the opposition, with the intent of slowing the play down to allow teammates to join the attack.
• Hole: space on a pitch between the midfield and forwards. In formations where attacking midfielders or deep-lying forwards are used, they are said to be "playing in the hole".
• Hollywood ball: a spectacular-looking long range pass, but one which rarely achieves what the passer hopes.
• Home and away: a team's own ground and their opponent's, respectively. The team playing at their own stadium is said to have "home advantage."
• Hooligans: fanatical supporters known for violence.
• Hospital ball: sometimes referred to as hospital pass; when a player plays a slightly under-strength pass to a teammate, to such an extent that it becomes likely that both the teammate and an opposing player will come into contact with the ball simultaneously, therefore increasing the likelihood of one or both players suffering an injury while challenging for the ball.
• Howler: glaring and possibly amusing error made by a player or referee during a match.