Question Number: 21582

Law 11 - Offside 6/23/2009

RE: Rec Under 15

Roger of Denison, IA USA asks...

Does offsides still apply if the fullbacks push up past the center line, leaving the defensive half of the field?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Yes it does. Remember there are 3 factors in determining offside position, and all must be true. Closer to the goal line than:
1) The ball
2) The 2nd to last opponent
3) The half line.

You cannot be offside in your own half, so if the opponents push *way* up - beyond the half line - you could be standing in your own half beyond the 2nd to last opponent, but you wouldn't be in an offside position.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Offside criteria are not dependant on the sole position of a 2nd last opponent. The location of the ball and being inside their own half could exempt an attacking player. If your defence pushes up into the opposing half as long as the attackers are NOT in your half when their team -mates hits the through ball your guys are going to be hard on the bicycle in pursuit
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hey coach. You are the victim of a myth we have been trying to figure out how got started for years. This is a myth that only coaches believe which makes it more puzzling. The myth is that if all the defenders except the keeper leave their half of the field and enter the attacking half, offside no longer applies to their opponents. This is absolutely untrue. Offside criteria remain the same ALWAYS.
Offside position:
1. in attacking half
2. nearer the opponent's goal line then the next to last opponent, and
3. Nearer the opponent's goal line than the ball

It is NOT an offense to merely be in offside position

there is no offside offense regardless of position if the ball is received directly from a throw-in, corner kick, or goal kick.

Other than these exclusions, if a player is in offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched by a TEAMMATE, he may not become actively involved in play.

An offside player becomes actively involved in play by

1. Interfering with play
2. Interfering with an opponent or
3. Gaining an advantage by being in offside position. This is limited to the times a ball is shot and deflected by the goal or an opponent to the player that was in offside position when the ball was shot by a teammate.

Offside is judged when the ball is played or touched by a teammate not where the player was when he received the ball.