Question Number: 24798

Law 11 - Offside 4/10/2011

RE: all star ayso Under 13

lisa up de graff of pacific Palisades, CA USA asks...

Is it considered OFFSIDE if a player(striker) is in offside position and receives the ball from a teammate who initiates kicking the ball from BEFORE the half way line(his own side of the field)?
THANKS!!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Lisa
It is only the position of the player that receives the ball or interferes with an opponent that is relevant to offside. The position of the kicker or direction of the kick is irrelevant in active play.
A player cannot be offside from a goal kick, a corner kick or a throw in.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

When the ball (located anywhere) is touched by a teammate, a player is in offside position if all three of the following are true:

1. The player is in the opponent's half of the field;
2. The player is closer to the opponent's goal line than the second last defender; and
3. The player is closer to the opponent's goal line than the ball.

The only time the location of the ball matters for offside position is #3 - - when the ball is closer to the opponent's goal line than the second last defender.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Lisa. You need to understand clearly that the important thing is where the striker was when the ball was played NOT where the ball was when it was played. If a player is in offside position when the ball is played, unless at the taking of a corner kick, goal kick or throw-in, he may not participate in play. Period. See Ref Wickham's discussion of offside position