Special Olympics Soccer is soccer played by competitors with physical or mental disabilities.

Soccer is considered the world's most popular sport for children and adults around the world. Similarly, it is one of the most popular sports for Special Olympics athletes. Athletes are able to improve their overall physical fitness through training and competition.

The goal of soccer is to score more goals by the end of regulation time than the opposing team by kicking a ball into a goal.

Each team consists of eleven players (not including substitutes) that can advance the ball by any means except their hands or arms. Goalkeepers are the exception, as they may stop the ball with any part of their body. There are no set positions, which allow players to roam anywhere on the field. However, informal positions have evolved that restrict some movement. The team that has scored the most goals at the end of a 90 minute match is declared the winner. If the teams are tied, a shootout is held to determine the winner.

Soccer was introduced into the Special Olympics in 1979. At the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland, 1,066 athletes from 83 programs competed in soccer, and by 2005, 282,498 Special Olympics athletes from all seven regions competed in the sport.

Ball
Goals
Shin guards

In addition to offering traditional football, Special Olympics Football offers individual skills competition to allow athletes to train and compete in basic football skills. The development of these key skills is necessary prior to advancing to team competition. These skills include dribbling, shooting, and the run and kick. A player's final score is determined by adding together the scores achieved in each of the events.

Clearing - the act of moving the ball out of the area of one's own goal by throwing or kicking it

Corner Arc - an arc located at the four corners of the pitch; serves as a reference line where the ball must be kicked from on a corner kick

Corner Kick - direct free kick that is awarded when the defending team puts the ball over the end line; corner kick must be taken from the corner arc

Cross - a pass from either side of the pitch towards the middle; primarily used to get the ball closer to the front of the goal

Foot Trap - using the bottom of the foot to control the ball

Header - use of the head to pass or shoot the ball

Penalty Area - larger rectangle in front of goal that includes the goal area; harsh foul committed in this area result in a penalty kick

Penalty Kick - kick taken from the penalty area after a harsh foul committed in that area

Pitch - another term for the field

Red Card - a referee shows a red card to a player signaling that they must leave the pitch for the rest of the match

Yellow Card - a referee shows a yellow card to a player as a warning; two yellow cards for one player in a match equals a red card

http://www.soccer-for-parents.com/soccer-terms.html
http://www.specialolympics.org/Special+Olympics+Public+Website/English/Coach/Sports_Offered/Football.htm