Question Number: 23959

Law 11 - Offside 9/18/2010

RE: Recreational Adult

mark b of SF, Ca usa asks...

Hi. I was playing attacker the other day in an adult recreation game. The play was in the defenders' half of the field and I was standing in the goal area. I was *not* offsides and the ball was *not* in the goal area. One of the defenders told me I could *not* stand nor be in the goal area until the ball entered the goal area. Is this true? Are there limitations for attackers being in the goal area even if they are not offsites? (Note: This was *not* a play from a corner kick -- the ball had been played up into the defenders. half of the field by my team.) Thanks for helping me here.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Unless your league has made up some weird rules, you are allowed to be in the goal area. Even if you are offside - see the first line of Law 11: 'It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position.'

If your league has made up some such unauthorized rule, it must be that it is not affiliated with USSF.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark
This is defintely not in the Laws of the Game, The goal area is now only used for the placement of goal kicks and to define where the ball is to be dropped by the referee at a DB restart on the 6 yard line. So the player can stand anywhere he likes in the penalty.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

My guess is that this is either a weird League rule or the opponent was trying to trick you. By the way, doesn't matter if you're in offside position or not; you're still allowed to be on any part of the pitch you want. It's not an offense to be in an offside position, you just can't become actively involved in play. Don't understand your corner kick reference as there's no restrictions where you may be on a corner kick AND there's no offside offense if you receive the ball directly from the kick