Announcement
Occasionally, when a parent or coach sees a player in an offside position, we hear a public demand that the referees seek the services of an optometrist for an annual eye examination. And when the referees ignore the request to call the “obvious” offside offense, audiologic examinations are also demanded!
Offside is probably the most misunderstood law in soccer. What no one tells you is that it is actually composed of two parts – offside position and the offense of offside.
Offside Position
A player is in an offside position if all three of the following exist:
1. They are in their attacking half of the field
2. They are closer to the opponents’ goal line than the ball (i.e. ahead of the ball)
3. They are closer to the opponents’ goal line than the second to last defender (the goalkeeper is usually the “last defender” closest to the goal line, but not always!). Being level or even with the second to last defender is okay.
It is NOT an offense to be in an offside position.
Offense of Offside
A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is touched or played by a teammate is penalized for offside if they participate in the ensuing play. Examples of participation include playing or are about to play the ball, interfering with an opponent, or getting the ball after it has “rebounded” off someone or off the goal posts.
Note that a person is judged in an offside position at the moment the ball is first played to them (kicked, headed, etc.) by a teammate, not when they receive the ball. Hence, a player who is not in an offside position when the ball was first kicked or played by a teammate can run forward and get the ball in an “offside position” and would not be guilty of being offside.
Conversely, a player in an offside position when the ball is first played by a teammate may never participate in that play. Therefore, he or she cannot run back to an “on-side position” to play the ball at anytime during that play. A play is over and a new play starts when someone else takes possession and control of the ball.
For example, an attacker shoots the ball and it rebounds off the goal post to a teammate who was in an offside position when the ball was first kicked toward the goal. That player would be guilty of being offside since no one else took possession and control of the ball.
Likewise, if the ball bounces off another player or if the goalie just punches the ball away, no one has taken possession and control yet (the goalie controlled it but did not take possession), and any attacker in an offside position when the ball was first kicked, cannot participate in that play without being called for offside.
No Offense
The rules state that anyone receiving the ball directly from a goal kick, corner kick, or throw-in shall not be called for being offside regardless of their position on the field. Hence, savvy players will run ahead for a throw-in knowing they can’t be called for offside.
Punishment
The opposing team is awarded an indirect free kick from where the offside offense occurred.
