Question Number: 19049

Law 11 - Offside 5/10/2008

RE: Under 11

Brad of New Kensignton, PA USA asks...

I have heard that there are 8 situations in which you can be closer to the goal line than the 2nd to last opponent when receiving the ball without being considered offsides but, I can only think of 5. Corner kick, Your Goal kick (?), the opponent's goal kick, throw-in, and when in your half of the field.

What are the other 3?

Thanks, Brad.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Oh a test goody lets see
we know of the 3 restart exemptions corner, goal and throw as this applies for both teams not sure you can have these three count as six saying your (3) three restarts and their (3)three restarts but hey what rules apply to this test?
Law 11 states the criteria where inside ones own half of the field we are also exempt (1)
Now law 11 also states it is NOT an offence to be offside positioned so on ANY free kick (1) indfk or DFK (2?) by the opposition if they kick the ball to you while you are in an offside position you are free to receive it. Lets see 3 +3 +1 +2 hey that’s 9 ok lets say six if we are picky ok 5 if we are being obstinate that opposing free kicks are 1 not 2 as dfk or indfk.
Now on an attacking INDFK inside of ten yards but not closer than 6 yards to the goal line within the opposing penalty area the opponents are permitted to line up on the goal line thus we could receive a ball on the goal line as we are equal but waitthat isnot closer? HMM?
Ok try the PK I have two to consider here. First the PK taker is closer than the second last opponent as he is ahead of all those tucked back behind the 18 yard line and PK arc with only the keeper. Plus it is possible though unlikely as an attacker I can be tight to the 18 yard boundary line awaiting the PK and the second last opponent could be slightly away off that boundary line along with his team mates thus leaving only the keeper actually closer to the goal line then me
Now If I add these two to my first total I get 11 but my obtuse total I get 7
Ok lets try a drop ball situation inside the opposing goal area or along the goal line. If the keeper and I are the two players receiving the drop but the second last opponent for some reason is further away from the goal line then I can kick the ball into the goal .

Your scenario only says second last opponent and in situations of offside the ball as well is a determining point when no second last opponents are part of the equation. So if we take ANY team-mate with ball possession who touches the ball while I am not nearer that ball to the opposing goal line even if there are no opponents in between me and the goal I am not offside and free to receive the ball. That applies to any onside player who runs into an offside position to play the ball quite legally.
Ok that is at least 8 do we get a gold star? And if you win any money send us a contribution ok? Cheers




Read other questions answered by Referee Richard Dawson

View Referee Richard Dawson profile

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Actually you can *always* be nearer the goal line than the 2nd to last defender when *receiving* the ball. What matters is where you were when the ball was last touched by your teammate. Back to the drawing board to rewrite this trivia question.

Read other questions answered by Referee Gary Voshol

View Referee Gary Voshol profile

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Better to learn what Law 11 says and how Law 11 is applied than attempt to solve trivia problems...

Read other questions answered by Referee Chuck Fleischer

View Referee Chuck Fleischer profile

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

goal kick, corner kick, throw-in,own half of field, dropped ball, anytime the ball is last played by an opponent, and anytime you were not in offside position when the ball was played but received the ball in offside position. You can probably take these facts and come up with a lot more than 8 instances.

Read other questions answered by Referee Keith Contarino

View Referee Keith Contarino profile

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

I agree with Mr. Fleischer. Have an in depth understanding of the concepts within the laws and all is well.

Read other questions answered by Referee Ben Mueller

View Referee Ben Mueller profile