Football Shout-out: Instructions
Football Shout-out: Instructions
Welcome to Football Shout-out from Premier Skills English, where we talk about the language you need when watching a match. Whether you are a super fan or an armchair supporter you won't be able to avoid football on TV this summer. In Football Shout-out, Jack and Rich present useful language to shout at the TV screen when watching a match with or without friends! In this episode, they look at some words and phrases that fans shout at their own players. Do you know what 'man on' means?
Transcript
Jack: Hello and welcome to Premier Skills English - Football Shout-out
Rich: Football shoutout is the series that teaches you the language you need when you’re watching the game.
Jack: Hi everybody my name’s Jack
Rich: and my name’s Rich and welcome to our latest Football Shout-out where we talk about the English you need when you’re watching football.
Jack: If you listened to our last lesson, you will remember this:
Rich: We’re going to beat this lot today. They’re just going to park the bus. Play with eleven behind the ball.
Jack: I’m not so sure. They’re pretty solid at the back and quick on the counter-attack. Lots of people have been saying they could go quite far in the tournament. They’re a bit of a dark horse.
Rich: Nah! It’ll be attack against defence, like a training match. They play nice football but there’s no end product.
Jack: Mmm .. I hope you’re right but we need to keep an eye on their number nine. He’s pretty quick.
Rich: Mmm … he’s alright but they haven’t got anyone else. We should turn them over easily.
Jack: We’ll see.
Rich: Our last lesson was all about what we say when we talk about the other team - the opposition. If you haven’t heard the lesson there is a link on the side of this page for you to go back and listen and learn lots of fan language about this.
Jack: This lesson, though, is about the opposite of the opposition. It’s about our team - it’s about your team ... and what you shout at your own players when you’re watching the match.
Rich: I love this. Shouting instructions at the TV screen. I know the players can’t hear me but I shout and scream anyway! Pass it!, cross it!, shoot! My favourite is ‘man on!’ - you shout this when a player from the other team starts closing down your player.
Jack: We all shout at our players through the TV sometimes so we’re going to look at some of the words and phrases we use to shout at our own players. Listen to this:
Rich: Come on! We need to get the ball off them. Get stuck in!
Jack: That’s it! Good tackle. You’ve got time. Pass it. Pass it! Man on! Ohh. Straight into touch. Come on?!
Rich: We need to keep hold of the ball.
Jack: We need to get it in the box. There’s only a couple of minutes left.
Rich: That’s it. Down the line. Go on skin him. That’s it, go on ... cross it!
Jack: Go on. Have a pop! Goal!! Get in!!
…
Rich: We need to hold on to this. Here they come. Get rid of it!! Get it out!
Jack: That’s it. Take it to the corner. That should do. Referee! Come on! That’s got to be it (final whistle sounds - crowd cheers)
Rich: Every fan shouts at the screen sometimes. Why do we do it?
Jack: I suppose we want to be the coach. We might shout at the stadium, too. It’s probably from that.
Rich: Do you think the coach is shouting the same things?
Jack: Maybe ... sometimes. The coach probably sounds less desperate though!
Rich: So, what we shout at our own players are usually instructions.
Jack: That’s right. Short instructions using the imperative. We say pass it, tackle, shoot.
Rich: We say it a lot. This refers to the ball. Pass the ball, cross the ball, get the ball in the box all become pass it, cross it and get it in the box.
Jack: Get it in the box is what we often shout near the end of a game when our team is losing. We just want the ball to be in the opposition penalty area as quickly as possible to create a chance to score.
Rich: Another useful phrase is get stuck in. We use this when we want our team or a player to tackle more or e more aggressive.
Jack: Down the line is another common expression. This means to pass the ball down the sides of the pitch in an attacking position.
Rich: That’s when a winger might get the ball in a wide position. He usually has two options to cross the ball into the area or try to dribble the ball past a defender.
Jack: This is where you can use the expression skin him.
Rich: It sounds disgusting but it actually means to dribble the ball past a defender.
Jack: It’s really common for football fans to shout shoot! But some alternatives are ‘go on! Have a crack!’ or ‘go on! Have a pop!’ both of these mean to have an attempt at goal.
Rich: Football fans usually shout when they are excited or nervous. You are probably really nervous when your team is winning near the end of the game and the opposition is attacking.
Jack: Some common expressions here are ‘get rid’ and ‘get it out’.
Rich: They both mean to clear the ball as quickly as possible preferably the ball leaving the stadium and not coming back!
Jack: We’ll look at these phrases and a few more in the lesson which you can find below this podcast.
Rich: Listen again. Do you understand everything now?
Rich: Come on! We need to get the ball off them. Get stuck in!
Jack: That’s it! Good tackle. You’ve got time. Pass it. Ohh. Straight into touch. Come on?!
Rich: We need to keep hold of the ball.
Jack: We need to get it in the box. There’s only a couple of minutes left.
Rich: That’s it. Down the line. Go on skin him. That’s it, go on ... cross it!
Jack: Go on. Have a pop! Goal!! Get in!!
…
Rich: We need to hold on to this. Here they come. Get rid!! Get it out!
Jack: That’s it. Take it to the corner. That should do. Referee! Come on! That’s got to be it.
Rich: So, there are a few expressions you can use to shout at your team in English while watching a match.
Jack: We’ve got some activities to help you remember the phrases that we’ve been speaking about in the lesson below this podcast.
Rich: We’ll be back soon with our next football English lesson, which will be about the language football fans use when a player misses a chance.
Jack: Bye for now and enjoy your football.
The Imperative
The language you need to give instructions to players
Every football fan wants to be a coach. Whether we are watching a match in the stadium or sat at home watching the TV, when our favourite team is in action, we always try to tell the players what to do. It's not important that they can't hear us! The first thing to remember is that when we are giving instructions to players we use the imperative. Look at these examples from the listening:
Pass it!
Cross it!
Tackle him!
Shoot!
An imperative is an instruction or command. The important thing to remember is that we only use the base form of the verb (pass not to pass or passing) and we don't use subject pronouns (pass not you pass). In football, you will often hear fans shout the imperative e.g. shoot! or we might add an object pronoun e.g. tackle him or pass it. These words 'him' and 'it' are used frequently and refer to an opposition player and the ball. When we use the imperative we rarely say the player's name or say 'the ball'.
Language
Words and phrases
In the listening, Rich and Jack spoke about the instructions fans shout at players on the pitch. Let's split the words and phrases into two categories:
- Defending
- Passing
- Attacking
Defending
When your team is defending, you want your team to win the ball. Look at these examples from the podcast:
Come on! We need to get the ball off them. Get stuck in!
We need to hold on to this. Here they come. Get rid!! Get it out!
That’s it. Take it to the corner. That should do. Referee!
There are three different types of instruction here. The first phrase, get stuck in, is connected to tackling. It's an expression that is used to tell the player to tackle the opposition more and be more aggressive. The second phrase is, get it out or get rid (of it), is connected to clearing the ball. It's an expression that is used to tell the player to clear the ball quickly from a dangerous area. The third phrase, take it to the corner, is connected to keeping hold of the ball or keeping possession in a safe area of the pitch. Fans instruct defenders to do this near the end of a match to stop the opposition getting the ball.
Did you hear any other phrases connected to defending?
Passing
When your team has possession of the ball, you want your team to win the ball. Look at these examples from the podcast:
That’s it. Down the line!
We need to get it in the box.
There’s only a couple of minutes left. You’ve got time. Pass it. Pass it! Man on!
There are three different types of instruction here. The first phrase, down the line, is connected to passing the ball on the sides of the pitch. It's an instruction that is used to pass the ball forward along the touchline. The second phrase, get it in the box, is connected to passing the ball quickly. It's an instruction that is used when a player needs to pass the ball long into the penalty area. It's usually used near the end of a match when a team is losing. The third example uses the phrases, you've got time and man on, and are connected to time on the ball. The first phrase means that a player has time and is not under pressure and the second means that a player has no time and an opponent is coming towards them.
Did you hear any other phrases connected to passing?
Attacking
When your team is attacking, you want your team to create chances and score. Look at these examples from the podcast:
Go on ... skin him! That’s it, go on ... cross it!
Go on. Have a pop! Goal!! Get in!
There are two different types of instruction here. The first phrase, skin him, is connected to dribbling the ball. It's an instruction that is used when fans want a player to take the ball past a defender. The second phrase, have a pop, is connected to shooting. It's an instruction that means take a shot or shoot. Another phrase that can be used here is have a crack.
Do you know any other phrases connected to attacking?
Task
Instructions for players
You are watching your team either at the stadium or on TV. Look at the situations below. Decide what you would shout at your player. Use some of the phrases that Rich and Jack used in the podcast.
- A player has the ball in the middle of the pitch. Your team is losing 1-0 in the 90th-minute.
- Your team is winning 1-0 in the 90th-minute and a player has the ball in his own penalty area.
- A winger for your team has the ball at his feet. He is a facing a defender.
- A striker has the ball on the edge of the penalty box.
- A midfielder has the ball and an opponent is running towards him.
Write your answers in the comments section at the bottom of the page. Can you think of any more situations to use the language in this podcast?
The answers to the quiz below are all words that Rich and Jack used in the conversation. Can you remember what they said?
Quiz
Please login to take this quiz.
What do you think?
Were any of these phrases new for you?
Can you tell us any other phrases that you can shout at your own players? Please keep it clean!
Write your answers in the comments section below and don't forget to write your answers to the task we have given you in the section above.
Leave a comment
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Comments
21/03/2022
points
Surprised there wasn't "Switch Play!" When one side of the field is blocked by the opposition, you shout "Switch Play" to your to teammates to get the ball on the other side to continue with the attack.
21/03/2022 18:50
Manchester City
1
Surprised there wasn't "Switch Play!" When one side of the field is blocked by the opposition, you shout "Switch Play" to your to teammates to get the ball on the other side to continue with the attack.
03/07/2021
points
the phrase is statistics
03/07/2021 11:40
Liverpool
27
the phrase is statistics
16/03/2019
points
Task
1. Get it!
2. Man on!
3.Skin him
4 Go on.Have a pop!
5 Get it out!
Other phrases
Hey! Mark it
16/03/2019 08:09
Chelsea
1749
Task
1. Get it!
2. Man on!
3.Skin him
4 Go on.Have a pop!
5 Get it out!
Other phrases
Hey! Mark it
16/03/2019
points
Task
1. Get it!
2. Man on!
3.Skin him
4 Go on.Have a pop!
5 Get it out!
Other phrases
Hey! Mark it
16/03/2019 08:05
Chelsea
1749
Task
1. Get it!
2. Man on!
3.Skin him
4 Go on.Have a pop!
5 Get it out!
Other phrases
Hey! Mark it
03/09/2018
points
Yes, several of those phrases were new to me
No, I think not
03/09/2018 02:34
Tottenham Hotspur
256
Yes, several of those phrases were new to me
No, I think not
01/09/2018
points
Most are new to me
finish with them
01/09/2018 06:17
Arsenal
534
Most are new to me
finish with them
22/08/2018
points
1. No ,there were not new for me.
2. come on! , hit the ball!, run, run!
Task
skin him! ,have a pop!, have a crack!.
22/08/2018 23:18
Manchester United
561
1. No ,there were not new for me.
2. come on! , hit the ball!, run, run!
Task
skin him! ,have a pop!, have a crack!.
12/08/2018
points
TASK:
1.Come in !
2. Get it out!
3.Pass it. Pass it!
4.Have a pop.
5.Go on, skin him.
I knew a part of these phrases, but some were new for me.
12/08/2018 21:29
Manchester United
672
TASK:
1.Come in !
2. Get it out!
3.Pass it. Pass it!
4.Have a pop.
5.Go on, skin him.
I knew a part of these phrases, but some were new for me.
11/08/2018
points
No
¡You can! ¡You ser the best!
11/08/2018 01:06
Manchester United
481
No
¡You can! ¡You ser the best!
11/08/2018
points
Yes, the word tackle.
you can!
TASK
we have to hold on to what we will win. Here they come. Get rid of it!! Remove it!
11/08/2018 00:01
Arsenal
644
Yes, the word tackle.
you can!
TASK
we have to hold on to what we will win. Here they come. Get rid of it!! Remove it!
10/08/2018
points
No new phrases.
10/08/2018 05:03
Liverpool
471
No new phrases.
10/08/2018
points
1. Actually, the phrases were not new to me In Colombia the reporter used them a lot.
2. Come on guy shoot! You got this!
Task:
-We need to get it in the box.
-That’s it. Down the line!
-There’s only a couple of minutes left.
10/08/2018 02:51
Liverpool
695
1. Actually, the phrases were not new to me In Colombia the reporter used them a lot.
2. Come on guy shoot! You got this!
Task:
-We need to get it in the box.
-That’s it. Down the line!
-There’s only a couple of minutes left.
10/08/2018
points
excellent test
10/08/2018 01:07
Manchester City
513
excellent test
10/08/2018
points
1.We go all up
2.We need to hold on to this. Here they eat. Get rid !! Get it out!
3. Go skinning him
4. Touch your partner
10/08/2018 00:14
Manchester United
512
1.We go all up
2.We need to hold on to this. Here they eat. Get rid !! Get it out!
3. Go skinning him
4. Touch your partner
10/08/2018
points
What do you think?
Some of these phrases were new to me, Few but some
I do not recue many sentences
By the way that good Quiz ....
Every day I like this course more
10/08/2018 00:06
Manchester United
512
What do you think?
Some of these phrases were new to me, Few but some
I do not recue many sentences
By the way that good Quiz ....
Every day I like this course more
09/08/2018
points
No, there were no new phrases for me.
09/08/2018 02:57
Newcastle United
462
No, there were no new phrases for me.
09/08/2018
points
good test
09/08/2018 01:54
Chelsea
310
good test
08/08/2018
points
-Yes, all the sentences were new to me.
-The phrases would be "let's not give up" "you can, you can, you are the best".
TASK
-. There’s only a couple of minutes left. You’ve got time. Pass it. Pass it! Man on!
-. We need to get it in the box.
-. That’s it. Down the line. Go on skin him. That’s it, go on ... cross it!
-. We need to hold on to this. Here they come. Get rid!! Get it out!
08/08/2018 02:38
Liverpool
471
-Yes, all the sentences were new to me.
-The phrases would be "let's not give up" "you can, you can, you are the best".
TASK
-. There’s only a couple of minutes left. You’ve got time. Pass it. Pass it! Man on!
-. We need to get it in the box.
-. That’s it. Down the line. Go on skin him. That’s it, go on ... cross it!
-. We need to hold on to this. Here they come. Get rid!! Get it out!
08/08/2018
points
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
-Yes, the vast majority of these phrases were new to me.
-Come on, you can still! HARD!!
08/08/2018 01:04
Manchester United
796
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
-Yes, the vast majority of these phrases were new to me.
-Come on, you can still! HARD!!
08/08/2018
points
1. Some of the phrases were new to me.
2. Come on! Shoot!
Task:
There’s only a couple of minutes left but we still got time. Pass it. Pass it! Man on!
-We need to get it in the box.
- Go on. Have a pop!
-Get in!
-Goal!!
08/08/2018 00:02
Liverpool
754
1. Some of the phrases were new to me.
2. Come on! Shoot!
Task:
There’s only a couple of minutes left but we still got time. Pass it. Pass it! Man on!
-We need to get it in the box.
- Go on. Have a pop!
-Get in!
-Goal!!
07/08/2018
points
Yes, several of those phrases were new to me
No, I think not
07/08/2018 22:40
Liverpool
43
Yes, several of those phrases were new to me
No, I think not
07/08/2018
points
Wath do you think?
Yes, all the sentences were new to me.
I can not say more phrases to shout at my team because I do not have any favorite team except the Colombian team and I do not watch football matches either. Besides, I do not get excited when I watch matches.
TASK
1. There’s only a couple of minutes left. You’ve got time. Pass it. Pass it. Go on. Have a pop. Goal. Get in
2. We need to get it in the box.
3. That’s it. Down the line. Go on skin him. That’s it, go on cross it.
4. We need to hold on to this. Here they come. Get rid. Get it out.
5. That’s it. Down the line.
07/08/2018 20:16
Manchester United
768
Wath do you think?
Yes, all the sentences were new to me.
I can not say more phrases to shout at my team because I do not have any favorite team except the Colombian team and I do not watch football matches either. Besides, I do not get excited when I watch matches.
TASK
1. There’s only a couple of minutes left. You’ve got time. Pass it. Pass it. Go on. Have a pop. Goal. Get in
2. We need to get it in the box.
3. That’s it. Down the line. Go on skin him. That’s it, go on cross it.
4. We need to hold on to this. Here they come. Get rid. Get it out.
5. That’s it. Down the line.
07/08/2018
points
good to learn more about soccer
07/08/2018 19:45
Liverpool
658
good to learn more about soccer
07/08/2018
points
everything is in rereading the text there you will find the answer
07/08/2018 04:46
Manchester United
127
everything is in rereading the text there you will find the answer
07/08/2018
points
good test
07/08/2018 04:32
Manchester City
268
good test
07/08/2018
points
There were a few words new for me
07/08/2018 03:16
Manchester United
352
There were a few words new for me
07/08/2018
points
good quiz
07/08/2018 02:16
Arsenal
375
good quiz
07/08/2018
points
All these phrases are new to me.
07/08/2018 01:52
Manchester City
189
All these phrases are new to me.
07/08/2018
points
All these phrases are new for us.
I do not know any other phrases.
07/08/2018 01:37
Manchester City
619
All these phrases are new for us.
I do not know any other phrases.
07/08/2018
points
super interesting the test
07/08/2018 01:20
Manchester City
348
super interesting the test
07/08/2018
points
If almost all were new to my vocabulary.
pass!
07/08/2018 01:10
Arsenal
732
If almost all were new to my vocabulary.
pass!
07/08/2018
points
good quiz
07/08/2018 00:45
Chelsea
442
good quiz
06/08/2018
points
good quiz
06/08/2018 23:46
Arsenal
636
good quiz
06/08/2018
points
if most of the sentences if you rephrase them
I can not think of more phrases
06/08/2018 23:40
Chelsea
778
if most of the sentences if you rephrase them
I can not think of more phrases
06/08/2018
points
Hello people
06/08/2018 23:22
Arsenal
533
Hello people
06/08/2018
points
These phrases are new to me and I do not know anymore.
06/08/2018 19:00
Stoke City
741
These phrases are new to me and I do not know anymore.
06/08/2018
points
good quiz
06/08/2018 02:25
Manchester United
567
good quiz
06/08/2018
points
Yes, almost all are new to me. The phrases would be "let's not give up" "you can, you can, you are the best".
06/08/2018 00:41
Manchester United
732
Yes, almost all are new to me. The phrases would be "let's not give up" "you can, you can, you are the best".
05/08/2018
points
I learned a lot this section and it was very interesting
05/08/2018 22:24
Manchester City
641
I learned a lot this section and it was very interesting
05/08/2018
points
good test
05/08/2018 17:38
Manchester United
725
good test
05/08/2018
points
I would say like
1. Try to hit, we have no option, everybody up
2.Throw that ball away, I don't want to see
3.Pass the ball!!!!! Or skin him
4.Hit that ball!!!, don't dissapoint your fans
5. Hit that ball away the hardest you can or look for options for a pass
05/08/2018 06:49
Manchester City
343
I would say like
1. Try to hit, we have no option, everybody up
2.Throw that ball away, I don't want to see
3.Pass the ball!!!!! Or skin him
4.Hit that ball!!!, don't dissapoint your fans
5. Hit that ball away the hardest you can or look for options for a pass
05/08/2018
points
LANGUAGE:
(Defending, passing and attacking)
- No, I have not heard other phrases about this.
TASK:
1. There’s only a couple of minutes left. You’ve got time. Pass it. Pass it! Man on!
2. We need to get it in the box.
3. That’s it. Down the line. Go on skin him. That’s it, go on ... cross it!
4. We need to hold on to this. Here they come. Get rid!! Get it out!
5. That’s it. Down the line!
WHAT DO YOU THINK?:
- Yes, all of the phrases were new for me.
- No, I don't know any other phrases.
05/08/2018 02:11
Liverpool
829
LANGUAGE:
(Defending, passing and attacking)
- No, I have not heard other phrases about this.
TASK:
1. There’s only a couple of minutes left. You’ve got time. Pass it. Pass it! Man on!
2. We need to get it in the box.
3. That’s it. Down the line. Go on skin him. That’s it, go on ... cross it!
4. We need to hold on to this. Here they come. Get rid!! Get it out!
5. That’s it. Down the line!
WHAT DO YOU THINK?:
- Yes, all of the phrases were new for me.
- No, I don't know any other phrases.
05/08/2018
points
Language
*Defending, passing and attacking:
-I have heard some.
*What do you think?
-I found this lesson quite funny.
05/08/2018 01:30
Liverpool
-903
Language
*Defending, passing and attacking:
-I have heard some.
*What do you think?
-I found this lesson quite funny.
04/08/2018
points
Is really good but hard
04/08/2018 23:11
Liverpool
654
Is really good but hard
04/08/2018
points
Hello.
All phrases are new for me.
No, I can´t.
Bye, bye
04/08/2018 22:24
Chelsea
635
Hello.
All phrases are new for me.
No, I can´t.
Bye, bye
04/08/2018
points
many new words for me
04/08/2018 21:30
West Ham United
367
many new words for me
04/08/2018
points
I knew a part of these phrases, but some were new for me.
TASK:
-Come in !
- Get it out!
-Pass it. Pass it!
-Have a pop.
-Go on, skin him.
04/08/2018 19:42
Manchester City
48
I knew a part of these phrases, but some were new for me.
TASK:
-Come in !
- Get it out!
-Pass it. Pass it!
-Have a pop.
-Go on, skin him.
04/08/2018
points
All these phrases are new to me
04/08/2018 19:38
Crystal Palace
687
All these phrases are new to me
04/08/2018
points
Some are new phrases for me, I did not know them. Very interesting.
04/08/2018 04:40
Manchester United
800
Some are new phrases for me, I did not know them. Very interesting.
04/08/2018
points
Some of this phrases are new for me.
04/08/2018 02:53
Chelsea
624
Some of this phrases are new for me.