LAW 11

OFFSIDE

3 TOPICS

1. Explanation2. Elements of the Law

Offside position Involvement in active play Judgement Not offside Sanctions

3. Lots of examples

“Offside” is based on the English term

for a team – “SIDE” “Offside” players are therefore “away

from their team” and cannot participate in that play

In fact, the original laws of soccer (back in 1858) said that being offside was

“sneaking”

EXPLANATION

ELEMENTS OF THE LAW

Position nearer to opponent’s goal line than the

ball nearer to the opponent’s goal line than

the second last opponent in opponent’s half of the field judged when the ball is played by a

teammate

ELEMENTS OF THE LAW

Opinion of the referee involved in active play by: interfering with play interfering with an opponent gaining an advantage by being in that

position

ELEMENTS OF THE LAW

It is not an offense in itself to be in an offside position

Judgement of offside position occurs at the moment the ball is touched or played by a teammate - not when the player receives the ball

“TOUCHED”or

“PLAYED BY”have the same meaning as

“MADE CONTACT WITH”

ELEMENTS OF THE LAW

ELEMENTS OF THE LAW

There is no offside offense if a player in an offside position receives the ball directly from: a goal kick corner kick or a throw-in

Penalty for an offside offense?Indirect free kick

Location?Where the player began from

an offside positionNot where the player is when

the whistle sounded!

ELEMENTS OF THE LAW

Is that sector of the field where

players actively participate

in that play

AREA OF ACTIVE PLAY

Determination of Offside

Is the player in the attacking half? Is the player nearer the goal line than the

ball? Is the player nearer the goal line than the

second last defender?

If yes to all of the above, then …

Determination of Offside

Is the player interfering with play or an opponent?

Is the player gaining advantage?

If yes to either of the above,then offside violation

otherwise no infraction

OFFSIDE POSITION?

INVOLVED IN ACTIVE PLAY?

POSITION & INVOLVEMENT?

The player in offside position has played the ball

and must be penalized for offside

AN INFRINGEMENT

Offside position alone is not an infringement

Offside position and activity together are an infringement

Offside Position vs. Activity

OFFSIDE POSITION?

AT THE MOMENT THE BALL WAS KICKED

WHERE WAS THE PLAYER?

Offside is judged at the moment the ball is played to a teammate, not when it is received

NO INFRINGEMENT

OFFSIDE POSITION?

TIMING?

WHAT IS YOUR DECISION?

The attacker is level and therefore not offside position

NO INFRINGEMENT

The position of any part of the player’s head, body or feet will be the deciding factor -- not the

player’s arms.

What is Even?

Is This Even?

Not Offside

Absolutely!

Is This Even?

Offside position

No!

OFFSIDE POSITION?

WHAT IS YOUR DECISION?

If the AR thinks the attacker is level then he really is

level!

AR POSITIONING IS CRITICAL

The attacker is level and therefore Not offside

NO INFRINGEMENT

OFFSIDE POSITION?

9 makes a pass and runs to space

WHAT ABOUT NOW?

10 makes a pass AFTER 9 runs to the new position

Where is 9 when 10 passes?

THE GIVE AND GO

It’s easy isn’t it?

VIOLATION

Which half is #9 in?Which half is #9 in?

OFFSIDE POSITION?

NO VIOLATION

To determine offside the assistant referee must be

concerned about and concentrating totally on

his or her task.

The assistant referee cannot be a spectator of the game.

ASSISTANT REFEREE

OFFSIDE POSITION?

Where is the area of active play?

INVOLVED IN ACTIVE PLAY?

NO INVOLVEMENT

OFFSIDE POSITION?

As play approaches the goal, the goalkeeper’s primary focus is on the ball. Offside decisions are the responsibility

of the officials not the goalkeeper.Goalkeepers should not allow themselves

to be distracted by the nearby presence of opposing players, whether they are

offside or not offside.

The goalkeepers’ attention should be on the ball !!

GOALKEEPER NOT DISTRACTED

Where should the goalkeeper be focusing his/her attention?

Interfering with an Opponent?

NO INVOLVEMENT

OFFSIDE POSITION?

Where is the area of active play?

INVOLVED IN ACTIVE PLAY?

The player, in an offside positionThe player, in an offside position interfered with an opponentinterfered with an opponent and mustand must

be penalized for offside.

Interfering with an Opponent

Involved in active play?

OFFSIDE POSITION?

Now he’s involved

SHOT AT GOAL HITS POST

GAINED AN ADVANTAGE

In this example, the player who was in offside position

gained an advantagefrom being in an offside

position and must be penalized

AN INFRINGEMENT

OFFSIDE POSITION?

Involvement in Active Play?Involvement in Active Play?

SHOT AT GOAL

Allow the shot and the goal!Allow the shot and the goal!

BALL ENTERS THE GOAL

IT IS

LEGALTO BE IN AN

OFFSIDEPOSITION

No Infringement

Involvement in active play?

FREE KICK

If that player were removed wouldit have made a difference?

NO INFRINGEMENT

It is the assistant referee’s responsibility to determine position and activity of the

players.

The referee makes the final decision to stop the game.

Referee / Assistant Referee

REBOUND FROM GOALKEEPER

Does the player gain an advantage?

INFRINGEMENT

Does the player gain an advantage?

BALL DEFLECTED BY DEFENDER

OFF-SIDE

At the moment the ball was played by ateammate, the player was in offside position

AN INFRINGEMENT

CORNER KICK

CORNER KICK

CORNER KICK

THROW-IN

THROW-IN

THROW-IN

Non-Involvement

Clear intention to not participate: Standing still Moving away from active play Stepping off the field of play

DYNAMIC PLAY

IS “A” IN OFFSIDE

POSITION?

IS “A” IN OFFSIDE

POSITION?SHOULD “A” BE

PENALIZED?

SHOULD “A” BE

PENALIZED?

DYNAMIC PLAY

NO VIOLATIONNO VIOLATION

IS “A” IN OFFSIDE

POSITION?

IS “A” IN OFFSIDE

POSITION?

DYNAMIC PLAY

HOW ABOUT “C”HOW ABOUT “C”WHAT IF THE BALL

IS KICKED TO “C”?

WHAT IF THE BALL

IS KICKED TO “C”?

DYNAMIC PLAY

MECHANICS

At the moment a teammate plays the ball, the assistant referee, before raising the flag must: Observe players’ positions Evaluate players’ activities

In other words ask the questions! Player activities means that the

player is immediately involved with that particular sequence of play

MECHANICS

Before raising the flag to indicate a player is offside, be certain that the player is involved with active play by:

Interfering with play, or Interfering with an opponent, or Gaining an advantage by being in an

offside positionOnly then signal to the referee when you

are 100% satisfied that this is the case

REVIEW

Position is a fact Timing is a fact Exceptions are facts Penalty is a fact Involvement is opinion

Andrea Broshears

circa summer 2000.jpg

If the POSITION is

doubtful

No Flag!

Andrea Broshears

circa summer 2000.jpg

If the INVOLVEMENT

is doubtful

No Flag!