1. All three elements must be present or there cannot be an infraction
OFFSIDE
Elements of the offside infraction:
Position
Time of Judgment
Active Involvement
All three elements must be present or there cannot be an infraction
Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8

2. OFFSIDE Offside Position A Player is in an offside position if he is:
In the opponents’ half of the field;
Closer to the opponents’ goal line than at least two opponents; and
Closer to the opponents’ goal line than the ball
All three elements must be present or the player is not in an offside position, and there cannot be an infraction
Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8

3. Offside Position It is not an offence to be in an offside position
It just means that player is
momentarily off his team.
He cannot interfere with play or any of the opposing players.
He cannot have any involvement in the match.
He’s off his team.
Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8

4. OFFSIDE Time of Judgment
Offside Position is judged at the moment
the ball touches or is played by one of his team
Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8

5. Active Involvement OFFSIDE A player may be involved in active play by:
Interfering with play;
Interfering with an opponent; or
Gaining an advantage by being in that position.
Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8

6. An offside infraction has occurred
Once all three of these conditions have been met:
POSITION
TIME OF JUDGMENT
ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT
An offside infraction has occurred
An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team from the place the infringement occurred.
Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8

7. OFFSIDE Exceptions There is no offence if a player
receives the ball directly from:
Goal Kick
Corner Kick
Throw-In
Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8

8. Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8
Direction of attack AR
OFFSIDE A1 A2 D A A D A
Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8

9. Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8
Direction of attack AR
NOT OFFSIDE D A1 A2 A A D A
Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8

10. Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8
Direction of attack AR
NOT OFFSIDE D A1 A2 A A D A A A3
Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8

11. Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8
Direction of attack AR
NOT OFFSIDE
Goal Kick A2 A1 A A D A D
Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8

12. Deflection off goalpost or goalkeeper
Direction of attack AR
OFFSIDE A D D A
Deflection off goalpost or goalkeeper
Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8

13. Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8
Direction of attack AR
NOT
OFFSIDE D A D A
Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8

14. Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8
Direction of attack AR
OFFSIDE A A A D D
Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8

15. Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8
Direction of attack AR
OFFSIDE A D D A
Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8

16. Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8
Direction of attack AR
OFFSIDE D A A A D D
Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8

17. Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8
Direction of attack AR
Corner Kick A A A
OFFSIDE D D D
Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8

18. Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8
Direction of attack AR
NOT
OFFSIDE D A A D A D
Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8

19. Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8
Key Takeaways
It is not an offence to be in an offside position
Wait for Active Involvement before penalizing for offside
The player is not required to
touch the ball for the offside
to be penalized
Basic Referee Course - Lesson 8