Question Number: 26255

Law 11 - Offside 4/28/2012

RE: Under 11

Denise Hanley of Mattawan, Michigan USA asks...

Can a player be offsides on a goal kick? If the goalie kicks the ball and the opposing team gets it yet is in front of the defending team--is this person offsides?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Denise
A player cannot be offside from the restarts of goal kick, throw in or corner kick.
Now the goal kick should not be confused with a punt out of the hand by the goalkeeper. Offside does apply at all times the ball is in play.
As regards your final point. It makes no difference where the player touches the ball. It is the position of the player at the moment the ball was played by a team mate. So yes a player will be called offside if she comes from an offside position to play the ball in front of the defenders. The indirect free kick will be taken from the offside position, not where she touched the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

in your example, offside is not a consideration as the defending team gets the ball. offside is only judged when the ball is played by a teammate.
There can be no offside offense if the ball is received directly by a teammate at a goal kick, corner kick, and throw-in.