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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

If the listening was a bit difficult, you can listen and read the transcript at the same time.
Read the transcript and listen at the same time.

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:

  1. Defending
  2. Passing
  3. 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?

A Premier League fan shouting instructions to his team!

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?

A megaphone is a good way to get yourself heard!

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.

  1. A player has the ball in the middle of the pitch. Your team is losing 1-0 in the 90th-minute.
  2. Your team is winning 1-0 in the 90th-minute and a player has the ball in his own penalty area.
  3. A winger for your team has the ball at his feet. He is a facing a defender.
  4. A striker has the ball on the edge of the penalty box.
  5. 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

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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.

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Comments

Valentina Calderon
04/08/2018
CO
881
points

Good quiz!


Valentina Calderon
04/08/2018 01:47
Colombia
Manchester City
881

Good quiz!

Camila116
04/08/2018
CO
602
points

*Yes, especially ¡Man on! and ¡We need to get it in the box!
*¡Come on, we need win!


Camila116
04/08/2018 00:59
Colombia
Manchester United
602

*Yes, especially ¡Man on! and ¡We need to get it in the box!
*¡Come on, we need win!

Luisafernandabolaños
04/08/2018
CO
622
points

-If some of those phrases were new to me as it was this: Have a pop! and Get it in the box.
-A phrase that I usually say is: You can.


Luisafernandabolaños
04/08/2018 00:58
Colombia
Manchester United
622

-If some of those phrases were new to me as it was this: Have a pop! and Get it in the box.
-A phrase that I usually say is: You can.

Julián Ernesto Castro Renza's picture
Julián Ernesto ...
04/08/2018
CO
761
points

A few.


Julián Ernesto Castro Renza's picture
Julián Ernesto ...
04/08/2018 00:15
Colombia
Chelsea
761

A few.

Miguel07garcia
03/08/2018
CO
571
points

Good test


Miguel07garcia
03/08/2018 23:39
Colombia
Arsenal
571

Good test

keren jemima torres's picture
keren jemima torres
03/08/2018
CO
-890
points

I learned a lot


keren jemima torres's picture
keren jemima torres
03/08/2018 21:25
Colombia
Manchester United
-890

I learned a lot

Juanita190
03/08/2018
CO
523
points

most of the sentences were new to me, run almost what they put


Juanita190
03/08/2018 19:14
Colombia
Manchester United
523

most of the sentences were new to me, run almost what they put

Sierra22
03/08/2018
CO
302
points

I loved it


Sierra22
03/08/2018 05:24
Colombia
Manchester City
302

I loved it

MajoCh
03/08/2018
CO
833
points

All these phrases were new to me.
Task:
1.Come in !
2. Get it out!
3.Pass it. Pass it!
4.Have a pop.
5. Go on, skin him.
Good test


MajoCh
03/08/2018 04:45
Colombia
Arsenal
833

All these phrases were new to me.
Task:
1.Come in !
2. Get it out!
3.Pass it. Pass it!
4.Have a pop.
5. Go on, skin him.
Good test

SophCastroA
03/08/2018
CO
693
points

+Some of this phrases are new for me.

+I don't know more phrases.


SophCastroA
03/08/2018 02:11
Colombia
Wolverhampton Wanderers
693

+Some of this phrases are new for me.

+I don't know more phrases.

ValentinaBasto
03/08/2018
CO
627
points

Many words were new to me, but I tried, it's a good test, I learned many things.


ValentinaBasto
03/08/2018 01:45
Colombia
Leicester City
627

Many words were new to me, but I tried, it's a good test, I learned many things.

Germanreyesl1
02/08/2018
CO
896
points

All these Phrases are new for me
Normally I'm nervous at the beginning of a game as I always try to hit the scoreboard also supported my team


Germanreyesl1
02/08/2018 23:46
Colombia
Manchester United
896

All these Phrases are new for me
Normally I'm nervous at the beginning of a game as I always try to hit the scoreboard also supported my team

danabrigitte's picture
danabrigitte
01/08/2018
CO
707
points

Good test


danabrigitte's picture
danabrigitte
01/08/2018 23:06
Colombia
Manchester United
707

Good test

SofiaBautistaQ
01/08/2018
CO
754
points

There were a few words new for me.


SofiaBautistaQ
01/08/2018 03:05
Colombia
Arsenal
754

There were a few words new for me.

Santy_14
01/08/2018
CO
520
points

Good test


Santy_14
01/08/2018 02:27
Colombia
Chelsea
520

Good test

Juanestebanbermeo
31/07/2018
CO
781
points

There were a few words new for me


Juanestebanbermeo
31/07/2018 07:26
Colombia
Manchester United
781

There were a few words new for me

Germanreyesl1
31/07/2018
CO
896
points

Most phrases are new to me and I'm the type of fanatic that all they do is scream.


Germanreyesl1
31/07/2018 05:31
Colombia
Manchester United
896

Most phrases are new to me and I'm the type of fanatic that all they do is scream.

Danna Bolaños
31/07/2018
CO
795
points

All these Phrases are new for me
Normally I'm nervous at the beginning of a game as I always try to hit the scoreboard also supported my team


Danna Bolaños
31/07/2018 03:15
Colombia
Liverpool
795

All these Phrases are new for me
Normally I'm nervous at the beginning of a game as I always try to hit the scoreboard also supported my team

ValentinaBasto
03/08/2018
CO
627
points

Good....


ValentinaBasto
03/08/2018 01:46
Colombia
Leicester City
627

Good....

Danna Bolaños
31/07/2018
CO
795
points

Normally I'm nervous at the beginning of a game as I always try to hit the scoreboard also supported my team
All these phrases are new for me.


Danna Bolaños
31/07/2018 03:07
Colombia
Liverpool
795

Normally I'm nervous at the beginning of a game as I always try to hit the scoreboard also supported my team
All these phrases are new for me.

Santiespinosa2901
31/07/2018
CO
889
points

many phrases were new but interesting


Santiespinosa2901
31/07/2018 01:55
Colombia
Chelsea
889

many phrases were new but interesting

OscarOrozcoVargas
31/07/2018
CO
595
points

Basic words use to answer. Good lesson.


OscarOrozcoVargas
31/07/2018 01:51
Colombia
Arsenal
595

Basic words use to answer. Good lesson.

LuciaMartinezBañol
30/07/2018
CO
864
points

All these phrases were new to me.
Task:
1.Come in !
2. Get it out!
3.Pass it. Pass it!
4.Have a pop.
5. Go on, skin him.


LuciaMartinezBañol
30/07/2018 23:14
Colombia
Manchester United
864

All these phrases were new to me.
Task:
1.Come in !
2. Get it out!
3.Pass it. Pass it!
4.Have a pop.
5. Go on, skin him.

diegohurtadoh's picture
diegohurtadoh
30/07/2018
CO
796
points

There are many words that I have never heard and I think it's super nice to learn them


diegohurtadoh's picture
diegohurtadoh
30/07/2018 23:05
Colombia
Chelsea
796

There are many words that I have never heard and I think it's super nice to learn them

Luanaolave's picture
Luanaolave
30/07/2018
CO
866
points

There are many words that I have never heard and I think it's super nice to learn them


Luanaolave's picture
Luanaolave
30/07/2018 21:12
Colombia
Manchester United
866

There are many words that I have never heard and I think it's super nice to learn them

AmadaMorale
30/07/2018
CO
36
points

many phrases were new but interesting


AmadaMorale
30/07/2018 02:22
Colombia
Manchester United
36

many phrases were new but interesting

AnaVictoriaMorales
30/07/2018
CO
533
points

Most phrases are new to me and I'm the type of fanatic that all they do is scream.


AnaVictoriaMorales
30/07/2018 02:22
Colombia
Chelsea
533

Most phrases are new to me and I'm the type of fanatic that all they do is scream.

JuanDavidA9
30/07/2018
CO
660
points

All these Phrases are new for me


JuanDavidA9
30/07/2018 01:36
Colombia
Chelsea
660

All these Phrases are new for me

FabiaCa.Ma's picture
FabiaCa.Ma
29/07/2018
CO
533
points

that is good


FabiaCa.Ma's picture
FabiaCa.Ma
29/07/2018 23:52
Colombia
Arsenal
533

that is good

Ivanandrescaballero
29/07/2018
CO
924
points

Is Amazing


Ivanandrescaballero
29/07/2018 21:13
Colombia
Manchester United
924

Is Amazing

nataliahurtado
29/07/2018
CO
756
points

If these phrases are new to me.
come on! pass it! Do not take it off !.
Let's go through it! shoot!
Get rid of it! Do not take it off!
Let's tear it!
Shoot!
Get it out of there


nataliahurtado
29/07/2018 20:37
Colombia
Manchester United
756

If these phrases are new to me.
come on! pass it! Do not take it off !.
Let's go through it! shoot!
Get rid of it! Do not take it off!
Let's tear it!
Shoot!
Get it out of there

AndreaJuliana
29/07/2018
CO
246
points

yes genail I really like to learn.


AndreaJuliana
29/07/2018 16:15
Colombia
Manchester United
246

yes genail I really like to learn.

JpAn
29/07/2018
CO
774
points

If these phrases are new to me.
come on! pass it! Do not take it off !.
Let's go through it! shoot!
Get rid of it! Do not take it off!
Let's tear it!
Shoot!
Get it out of there!


JpAn
29/07/2018 01:25
Colombia
Arsenal
774

If these phrases are new to me.
come on! pass it! Do not take it off !.
Let's go through it! shoot!
Get rid of it! Do not take it off!
Let's tear it!
Shoot!
Get it out of there!

Juanesbermeo
27/07/2018
CO
598
points

I have learned a lot of vocabulary


Juanesbermeo
27/07/2018 06:42
Colombia
Arsenal
598

I have learned a lot of vocabulary

Valeria_coy's picture
Valeria_coy
26/07/2018
CO
742
points

All these Phrases are new for me, it is amazing to learn this vocabulary


Valeria_coy's picture
Valeria_coy
26/07/2018 18:09
Colombia
Chelsea
742

All these Phrases are new for me, it is amazing to learn this vocabulary

Karencollazos
24/07/2018
CO
759
points

All these phrases are new to me and I am fascinated by having learned them.


Karencollazos
24/07/2018 03:11
Colombia
Manchester City
759

All these phrases are new to me and I am fascinated by having learned them.

AndrewHernandez's picture
AndrewHernandez
24/07/2018
CO
-569
points

thanks for the new vocabulary I learned.


AndrewHernandez's picture
AndrewHernandez
24/07/2018 01:18
Colombia
Manchester City
-569

thanks for the new vocabulary I learned.

danielar
23/07/2018
CO
678
points

These phrases are new to me.


danielar
23/07/2018 21:12
Colombia
Tottenham Hotspur
678

These phrases are new to me.

lauraamayav
22/07/2018
CO
921
points

These phrases are new to me. I don't know other phrases.


lauraamayav
22/07/2018 20:24
Colombia
Arsenal
921

These phrases are new to me. I don't know other phrases.

AngelDa.35's picture
AngelDa.35
22/07/2018
CO
722
points

Most of the phrases are new to me.


AngelDa.35's picture
AngelDa.35
22/07/2018 01:11
Colombia
Manchester United
722

Most of the phrases are new to me.

juancamilojimenezch
21/07/2018
CO
664
points

Yes, these phrases were new for me.
I don't know other phrases.


juancamilojimenezch
21/07/2018 21:28
Colombia
Manchester City
664

Yes, these phrases were new for me.
I don't know other phrases.

MariaJoseCorreaC
20/07/2018
CO
568
points

Most of the phrases are new to me.


MariaJoseCorreaC
20/07/2018 17:14
Colombia
Manchester United
568

Most of the phrases are new to me.

Juanmarcorrea10
20/07/2018
CO
759
points

this phrases are amazing but they are new for me


Juanmarcorrea10
20/07/2018 17:04
Colombia
Manchester United
759

this phrases are amazing but they are new for me

sayase's picture
sayase
20/07/2018
CO
687
points

All of these phrases were new for me.


sayase's picture
sayase
20/07/2018 01:49
Colombia
Manchester United
687

All of these phrases were new for me.

isabella13.it's picture
isabella13.it
19/07/2018
CO
822
points

Yes, the most of the phrases were new for me.


isabella13.it's picture
isabella13.it
19/07/2018 01:16
Colombia
Arsenal
822

Yes, the most of the phrases were new for me.

ValentinaCalderónC
18/07/2018
CO
875
points

Most of the phrases are new to me.


ValentinaCalderónC
18/07/2018 21:34
Colombia
Crystal Palace
875

Most of the phrases are new to me.

LauraDanielaAriza
18/07/2018
CO
817
points

Task
1. There’s only a couple of minutes left. You’ve got time. Pass it. Pass it! Man on!
2. We need to hold on to this. Here they come. Get rid!! Get it out!
3. That’s it. Take it to the corner. That should do. Referee!
4. We need to get it in the box.
5. Pass it!

comment:
Most of the sentences were new to me, and I do not know any words that a player could say while on the field.


LauraDanielaAriza
18/07/2018 17:25
Colombia
Manchester United
817

Task
1. There’s only a couple of minutes left. You’ve got time. Pass it. Pass it! Man on!
2. We need to hold on to this. Here they come. Get rid!! Get it out!
3. That’s it. Take it to the corner. That should do. Referee!
4. We need to get it in the box.
5. Pass it!

comment:
Most of the sentences were new to me, and I do not know any words that a player could say while on the field.

Sebastian Triviño Medina's picture
Sebastian Trivi...
18/07/2018
CO
995
points

The best instructions


Sebastian Triviño Medina's picture
Sebastian Trivi...
18/07/2018 00:05
Colombia
Manchester United
995

The best instructions

daniele
15/07/2018
BO
226
points

all of them.
Go on skin him!, is new for me.
I don't know


daniele
15/07/2018 23:18
Bolivia
Manchester United
226

all of them.
Go on skin him!, is new for me.
I don't know

Edu1603
15/07/2018
BO
612
points

Yes, these phrases were new for me.
I don't know other phrases, sorry.


Edu1603
15/07/2018 23:11
Bolivia
Chelsea
612

Yes, these phrases were new for me.
I don't know other phrases, sorry.

Leaderboard

Top Scorers
RankNameScore
1mobeckham6510
2Alex_from_Ukraine6278
3hsn5525
4wsanta5086
5kwesimanifest4768
6Liubomyr4408
7elghoul3988
8assemjuve3705
9aragorn19863557
10Gergő Nagy3396
Country ranking
RankNameScore
1Colombia71478
2Ukraine33300
3Spain28277
4Serbia27289
5Brazil23896
6Albania20578
7Vietnam19939
8Turkey19810
9Macedonia19074
10Bosnia and Herzegovina16333
Club ranking
RankNameScore
1Manchester United141846
2Liverpool110282
3Chelsea88559
4Arsenal85717
5Manchester City56951
6Tottenham Hotspur19169
7Newcastle United10457
8West Ham United7454
9AFC Bournemouth4454
10Crystal Palace4240

Level

3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

Goals

Skills: Listening

Language: Football instructions

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