Question Number: 28080

Law 11 - Offside 12/27/2013

RE: Select Under 13

Chance Bowman of Johnson City, TN U.S. asks...

Hello:
I am relatively new to playing, especially as a forward. This has resulted in me getting caught by the offsides trap multiple times. If you could, please list aaaaallllllllllllllll of the rules about being offsides.
Thank You

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

There are two parts to the offside law. The first part is offside position - which is judged each time the ball touches a teammate. To be in offside position, all of the following must be true: (1) be in the opponent's half; (2) be closer to the opponent's goal line than the ball; and (3) be closer to the opponent' s goal line than the second last defender. The easiest way be beat an offside trap is to time your run so that when the ball is touched by a teammate: (a) you are in your own half; (b) you are even with or behind the ball; or (c) you are even with or behind the second last defender.

The second part is more important: it is not an offense to be in an offside position. For the offense to be called, the player in offside position (PIOP) must touch the ball or interfere with a defender's ability to see or play the ball.

How long must the PIOP wait before participating in play? The PIOP is barred from participating until: (a) a teammate has again touched the ball and the player is no longer in offside position at that time; (b) an opponent has made deliberate play of the ball (other than a deliberate save); or (c) the ball has gone out of play.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Chance
Here is a link to FIFA's Adive on Law 11
http://www.fifa.com/lotg/football/en/flash/start.html
There are a number of ways to be in an onside position:
1. If a player is behind or level with the ball then he is not in an offside position.
2. If the player has two opponents which usually, but not always, includes the goalkeeper between himself and the goal line then he is not in an offside position.
3. To be in one's own half of the field of play.
Generally what happens is that the attacking player who is ahead of the ball in the opponents' half runs in behind the 2nd last defender which places him in an offside position. When the ball is played by a team mate he will be called offside when he touches the ball.
If he wants to stay onside here then he should stay level with the 2nd last defender and only move beyond the defender towards the goal line when the ball is played by his teammate. The trick is to time that run to achieve that onside position.