Question Number: 22904

Law 11 - Offside 3/5/2010

RE: Select Under 17

Walt of Hendersonville, TN USA asks...

Despite my many attempts to answer this question myself, I cannot. So here it is: If attacking player is standing with his heels on the half line and the rest of his body in the defending end, is this player in an offside position?
All I can find in LOTG in relation to this is that 'the lines are part of the boundaries they enclose.; however, at this point, which side of the field are the lines enclosing?
Unfortunately, the IOTLOTG will not open on my computer, so I cannot use that resource.
Thank you for all your help.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

You should also look up such questions on the official USSF answer site, AskASoccerReferee.com.

Part of the issue with your question has to do with where the defenders are located. If the attacking player is standing as you suggest but there are at least defenders between him and the opponent's goal line, the point is moot.

However, if the player is the only attacking player on the line, and all but one of his opponents are in his own defensive half, the guy is in an offside position. Does that help? Remember the line is part of the area it encompasses - so the halfway line does double duty.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Walt
I would refer you to Slide 7 of FIFAs Interactive Guide to Law 11 (ADSL). http://www.fifa.com/img/aboutfifa/developing/Law11offside.jpg
A player cannot be offside in his own half of the field and the picture on the slide includes the half way line in the player's own half.
I believe it can be argued either way but if the benefit is to be given to the attacking side then the half way line should be in the attacker's own half. If the player has any part of the foot over the line then it is in the opponent's half.