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!