Question Number: 28129

Law 11 - Offside 1/21/2014

RE: Intermediate Under 12

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 28104

There is one area that a literal interpretation of 'The Laws say that all lines are part of the area they bound' is confusing.

One of the requirements of an offisde infringement is that a player be on the opponent's half of the field. That would seem to mean that if an attacker is standing on any part of the half way line, he/she is on the opponent's half. However, I seem to recall from previous answers that a player is still on their own half unless completely over the line. Is this correct?

Thanks again,

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
One can look at this both ways. The line is also part of the attacking players' own half. The law makers have opined that a player must have part of his body over the line not on it to be considered for offside.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Law 11 says, 'A player is not in an offside position if:
• he is in his own half of the field of play or ...'

If he is on the line, but not over, he is in his own half. (Because the line is in BOTH halves of the field.) So he is not in an offside position.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 28182