Question Number: 26103

Law 11 - Offside 3/26/2012

RE: competitive <<<

John Wood of Toronto, Ontario Canada asks...

You can not be offside in your own half of the field. Where on the centre line is the cut off for a player being in the opponent's side of the field.
So if all the defenders but the goalie were out of their half of the field and the Assistant Ref (lines person)was watching down the centre line at a player and the ball is sent over the line.... where would that players foot cross the line to be called off side?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
The lines that delinates an area are part of the area. In the case of the half way the line is part of either half. For the purpose of offside the player needs to have his foot over the line to be in the opponents' half and therefore to be considered for offside

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The letter of the laws is that the line is on 'both halves.' Because doubts are resolved in favor of 'not offside' the assistant referee does not need to measure exact millimeters. However, in all cases where the foot is on the line, the offense, if any, is TRIFLING no matter that some parts of his body may be across the line in the opponents' territory.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I would just point out that the player would have to have his foot completely over the half way line BEFORE OR AT THE MOMENT the ball is kicked to be judged offside and then only if he becomes actively involved in play.

In your scenario, a player with a foot over the line would be in offside position but since it is not an offense to merely be in an offside position, this does not automatically mean he is guilty of an offside offense