Question Number: 23615

Law 11 - Offside 7/4/2010

RE: Adult

Adam of Tampa, FL U.S. asks...

What's the reasoning behind the offside exception on throw-ins?

I'm sorry if this is addressed elsewhere and I failed to find it.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Adam
It has to do with the history of the game. When the game first started no player was permitted to be in front of the ball at any time except for a goal kick so the ball had to be passed sideways, dribbled forward or kicked though to run on to for the ball to be advanced towards the opponents' goal. When the ball went out of play the ball was thrown in a right angles to the touchline and with both teams lined up behind the ball and challenged for it. Any example would be akin to modern day rugby union's lineout. It was not possible to throw the ball forward or back so it was not possible to be offside from a TI. When the law changed the provision that a player could not be offside on a TI remained and it is still with us today.
This is what it said in 1863
' When the ball is in touch, the first player who touches it shall throw it from the point on the boundary line where it left the ground in a direction at right angles with the boundary line, and the ball shall not be in play until it has touched the ground'

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

It is an old exception that dates back to a time when one could be offside even in a team's own half.