Question Number: 24085

Law 11 - Offside 10/5/2010

RE: REC, CUP, AND TRAVEL Under 13

TJ of Pittsburgh, PA usa asks...

Is offsides waived if there is a defensive player in the goal box with the goalie? We have been playing teams who are stacking the boxes with defensive players. One or sometimes two players are in the goal box with the goalie at all times.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi TJ
Offside is never waived. A player is either in an offside position or not and that depends on the position of the player and opponents. So if the defending team has a number of defensive players in the goal area, an attacking player will still be called offside if he is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent and he interferes with play or an opponent or gains an advantage by being in that position.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

While offside is not waived, the more defenders there are near to the goal line, the less likely it is for anyone to be in an offside position. To be in an offside position, the attacker must be in the attacking half of the field and be ahead of the ball and the second to last defender (including the goalkeeper). That may be a very narrow strip of ground with so many defenders congregating around the keeper.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Offside is never 'waived'. There's no offense on a throw-in, corner or goal kick. The defense may put as many players as they want in their goal area. The more there, the greater unlikelihood of an attacker in offside position. Offside position is when an attacking player in the attacking half is nearer the opposing goal line than both the ball and the second to last opponent