Question Number: 24686

Law 11 - Offside 3/13/2011

RE: Intermediate Under 12

Phil of Reseda, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24664

Would the answer change any if the 2nd to last defender was the GK? i.e. since the GK can use his/her hands & arms, would the attacker only be in an offside position if beyond the hands & arms of the GK?

Thanks again for a great site!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
An interesting question and one that does not arise too often. The advice does not include this scenario and the principle behind excluding the hands and arms is that the ball cannot be played legally by a player except with the head, foot and torso. The Laws of the Game makes no provision for the GK and refers to any part of a player?s head, body or feet is nearer to his opponents? goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. The arms are not included in this definition so I would suggest that no exception can be made.
In reality and at speed I suggest that this level of assessment is difficult enough without factoring in a special provision for the GK who may not have his arm extended anyway.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

When IFAB approved the change in the interpretation to exclude arms in determining offside position, they did not provide an exception when goalkeepers are the 2TLD.
Although your logic is flawless, the life of the laws is not logic. It is experience.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

I agree with my colleagues - this would be a rare situation indeed. Should it happen, it would be very difficult to see and judge at game speed which would make the point pretty moot. Good question though.