LAW 11 OFFSIDE

3 TOPICS 1. Explanation 2. Elements of the Law u Offside position u Involvement in active play u Judgement u Not offside u 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 u nearer to opponent’s goal line than the ball u nearer to the opponent’s goal line than the second last opponent u in opponent’s half of the field u judged when the ball is played by a teammate

ELEMENTS OF THE LAW Opinion of the referee involved in active play by: u interfering with play u interfering with an opponent u gaining an advantage by being in that position

ELEMENTS OF THE LAW v It is not an offense in itself to be in an offside position v 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

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

Penalty for an offside offense? Indirect free kick Location? Where the player began from an offside position Not 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 v Is the player in the attacking half? v Is the player nearer the goal line than the ball? v Is the player nearer the goal line than the second last defender? If yes to all of the above, then …

Determination of Offside v Is the player interfering with play or an opponent? v 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? 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 position interfered with an opponentand must The player, in an offside position interfered with an opponent and 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 advantage from being in an offside position and must be penalized AN INFRINGEMENT

OFFSIDE POSITION?

Involvement in Active Play? SHOT AT GOAL

Allow the shot and the goal! BALL ENTERS THE GOAL

IT IS LEGAL TO BE IN AN OFFSIDE POSITION No Infringement

Involvement in active play? FREE KICK

If that player were removed would it 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 a teammate, the player was in offside position AN INFRINGEMENT

CORNER KICK

THROW-IN

Non-Involvement Clear intention to not participate: v Standing still v Moving away from active play v 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 VIOLATION

IS “A” IN OFFSIDE POSITION? IS “A” IN OFFSIDE POSITION? DYNAMIC PLAY HOW ABOUT “C” WHAT IF THE BALL IS KICKED TO “C”? WHAT IF THE BALL IS KICKED TO “C”?

DYNAMIC PLAY

MECHANICS v At the moment a teammate plays the ball, the assistant referee, before raising the flag must: u Observe players’ positions u Evaluate players’ activities In other words ask the questions! v 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: v Interfering with play, or v Interfering with an opponent, or v Gaining an advantage by being in an offside position Only then signal to the referee when you are 100% satisfied that this is the case

REVIEW v Position is a fact v Timing is a fact v Exceptions are facts v Penalty is a fact v 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!