Question Number: 25835

Law 11 - Offside 12/16/2011

RE: Under 11

chai of sanger, ca us asks...

This question is a follow up to question 25827

in reference to this question, ive heard that once the keeper comes out of the box. offsided doesnet apply anymore. true?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

You've been seriously misinformed - therefore, I'm very glad you asked for clarification!

For the purposes of considering offside, the penalty area is completely irrelevant.

For that matter, so is the keeper's special status. As far as offside is concerned, he is exactly the same as the other 10 players on his team.

The only way the keeper is relevant is that he's normally the last defender, and offside is judged against the 2nd last defender (normally the sweeper) - but if a defender drops back behind the keeper, or the keeper moves upfield, then it could be the keeper himself who's the 2nd last defender - or perhaps there's even more players behind him, making him completely irrelevant.

So to keep it simple, ignore the penalty area as far as offside is concerned, and look at the goalkeeper as simply 1 of 11 players and not as a goalkeeper.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Chai
Offside applies at all times in the game in the opponents' half. Law 11 states that a player is in an offside position if he is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. It is up to the referee or assistant referee to determine who is the 2nd last opponent and the calculation can and does include the goalkeeper but not always. For instance when the goalkeeper is ahead of say two team mates then he is not included in the offside calculation.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

We have heard a lot of repetition of offside myths lately; this is another one of them and has no validity.

The other one we hear from time to time is that if everyone except the goalkeeper has moved to the attacking half of the field, there is no offside - nope, that's not true either.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Where did you hear this? It's a common myth and I would love to find out how it got started.
Offside applies if all conditions of Law 11 are met anytime the ball is in play or being put into play except at kick-offs, penalty kicks, goal kicks, corner kicks, or throw-ins