Association Football Terminology - T

T

• 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.
• 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 before their retirement.
• 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 team-mate. Invariably the team-mate 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 FC Barcelona and the Spanish 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.
• Total Football: tactical theory in which any outfield player can take over the role of any other player in a team. Invented by the Dutch coach Rinus Michels, Total Football was popularised by AFC Ajax and the Netherlands national team in the early 1970s.
• Touch-line: markings along the side of the pitch, indicating the boundaries of the playing area. Throw-ins are taken from behind this line.
• Tracksuit manager: phrase used by commentators to describe a manager who has a hands-on approach, meaning that they have a tendency to work with players on the training ground, spending a significant amount of time on improving players' abilities.
• Transfer window: period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff.
• Trap: skill performed by a player, whereupon the player uses their foot (or, less commonly, their chest or thigh) to bring an airborne or falling ball under control.
• Travelling army: expression used by commentators for any set of away fans – that is, fans who travelled to the match to support their team. Often a team's travelling army are referred to as the 12th man.
• Treble: achieved by a club that wins three major trophies in a single season. Competitions generally considered as part of a treble include the top tier domestic league, domestic cup and continental cup. Trebles achieved without winning a continental competition are known as domestic trebles.
• Trialist: player who represents a club on a trial basis, often in the hope of being offered a contract.
• Two-footed tackle: challenge where a player, often a defender, tackles their opponent with both feet. Such tackles often result in a foul being called, if the tackling player is deemed not to be in control of his or her body.