Although it is one of the 17 shortest rules present in the official football regulations, the number 11 relating to offside is perhaps the one that generates the most misunderstandings of all. This rule was introduced in the 19th century, to liven up the game by preventing players from remaining positioned near the opponent's goal while waiting for the pass. Over time, it has been modified several times to try to change the speed and pace of play, but basically its purpose has always remained the same. The most recent change was made by FIFA in 2005: it serves to prevent offside being applied to players who are not actively involved in the action.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Understanding the Offside Rule
Step 1. The offside rule only applies inside the opponent's half
A player can only be offside within the opposing team's half. The main purpose of this rule is to prevent the attackers from waiting for the passage of their teammates by remaining stationary in the vicinity of the opponent's goal.
A player is in the opponent's half when his head, torso or legs have crossed the half way line. The arms and hands are not taken into consideration
Step 2. Evaluate a player's position relative to the ball
A player can only be offside if he is between the opponent's goal and the ball.
Step 3. Locate two defenders near your goal
The attackers are "in play" as long as there are at least two defenders on the same line or between them and the goal line. If the number of opposing players is less than 2 and if the attacker fulfills the two conditions described in the previous two points, then he is judged to be offside.
The goalkeeper is normally one of the two players closest to his goal, but the rule refers to any two players on the defending team
Step 4. Offside can only be called when a teammate touches the ball
The fact that an attacker is offside is not in itself an infringement. The match director is required to check the position of the player to whom the pass is aimed only when the teammate touches the ball. As soon as the player of the offensive team makes the pass, the status of each teammate (whether "in play" or offside) is frozen, regardless of the movements performed or the position taken on the pitch. This status will be re-evaluated after the next touch of the ball by another team-mate. If the ball gets into possession of the defensive team, all the opposing players offside will automatically re-enter the game.
This is why attackers are often seen sprinting over the defenders' line as soon as the ball is played by a team-mate. This is a correct choice because, to be judged offside, it is not the position when you enter into possession of the ball that counts, but the initial position taken at the time of the pass. Therefore, even if the attacker is offside at the moment he receives the ball, he is still considered "in play" if he was in a regular position at the time the teammate's pass started
Step 5. The offside attacker commits an offense only if he actively participates in game action
The referee may call the offside only if the player in question interferes with the action or tries to take advantage of his illegal position. The player who is offside may be penalized at any time as long as the defensive team does not regain possession of the ball. Here are some examples of situations in which the referee would call offside:
- A player passes the ball to an offside teammate;
- A player passes the ball which, after hitting an opponent's defender, reaches a teammate already offside;
- An offside player interferes with the action of a defender in an attempt to reach the ball;
- A player kicks at the goal while an offside teammate positions himself near the goal to take advantage of the possible bounce of the ball.
Step 6. Check the referee's signals
If you are watching the game and you think an offside is about to be called, look at the assistant referee (the linesman). If the latter identifies an offside player who judges to be in an active position, he will raise his flag in the air. At this point, the referee can decide to stop the game by raising his arm in the air to indicate that he has ordered an indirect free kick in favor of the defensive team. If the referee lets it go, it means that he disagrees with the linesman's call and has decided not to take it into account.
If the referee has whistled the offside, the line assistant will lower the flag at a precise angle to indicate the position of the offside player: if the angle of the flag in relation to the assistant's body is 45º, it means that the offside player is near the opposite sideline; if the angle is 90 °, the offside player is in the central part of the field; finally, if the flag angle is 135 °, the offside player is in the field area closest to the linesman
Step 7. Understand the penalties to apply
The offside is punished with an indirect free kick in favor of the defensive team. Play shall be resumed at the point where the offside was called and the offending team must maintain a distance of at least 9.15m from the spot where the free kick will be taken.
- If the offside has been called inside the penalty area, all players of the opposing team must stay outside the area until the ball is put back into play.
- If the offside has been called inside the small area, the goalkeeper or defender can resume play by placing the ball anywhere in the area.
Part 2 of 2: Exceptions and Limit Cases
Step 1. Recognize situations where it is impossible to award an offside free kick
The offside rule does not apply in the case of a corner kick, throw-in or throw-in. In these three situations, the ball went out of bounds and stopped play, which is why previous offside assessments are no longer valid.
Step 2. Understand when offside players are considered "in play" again
There are some specific events that "cancel" the offside of players in the offensive phase. For example, when the defensive team regains possession of the ball: in this case, any attacking player considered to be offside returns to being in a valid position to actively participate in the action without committing a foul. However, there are some borderline cases whose assessment is not very clear. In such situations it is the referee who, at his sole discretion, is called upon to evaluate whether or not to stop the game for offside. However, there are some guidelines drawn up to facilitate the race director's work:
- If a defender accidentally touches the ball and deflects its original trajectory, the offside status assessed at the start of the action remains in effect. In this case, the instinctive reactions caused by the attempt to intercept the ball are also included. Now it is clear that we are faced with situations in which it is very difficult to assess the offside by the referee, especially if we take into account that he has only a fraction of a second available to decide.
- If the defender makes a save on the line to prevent the opponent's goal. Also in this case the offside status assessed at the start of the action remains in place (this rule was created to prevent an offside attacker from gaining an advantage from his position).
- In order for a player who has found himself offside in the offensive phase to return to actively participate in the game, an opposing defender must gain control of the ball (the assessment of this situation is subjective, but normally if the attacker starts from a sufficiently large distance, is considered "in play" again).
Step 3. Keep in mind the defenders who leave the playing field
If a player were to leave the pitch due to the inertia of his movement (a slide, a tackle, etc.) he will still have to be counted as an active player at the time of the offside evaluation.
Step 4. Evaluate offside players who interfere with the action despite being in a position away from that of the ball
An offside player who is not actively participating in the action can still cause play to be stopped due to offside if he blocks a defender's line of sight, hindering their action. Due to the regulation change made in 2013, this is the only situation in which an offside player can commit a foul, while not coming into contact with the opposing defender or the ball. Mimicry and shouting, aimed at distracting the opposing player engaged in the action, while not violating any rule regarding the evaluation of offside, can be punished by the referee with a foul for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Advice
- The offside rule applies to any player on the pitch, it is not reserved exclusively for attackers.
- One of the most common misunderstandings regarding the application of offside occurs when the goalkeeper moves away from his own goal, leaving only one defender to protect the line. If an opposing attacker receives the ball beyond the line occupied by the goalkeeper, he is judged to be offside. An example of the application of offside in this circumstance is Carlos Vela's goal disallowed in the Mexico-South Africa match of the 2010 World Cup.
- In games where younger categories are involved (such as children), the referee may be less taxing in calling the offside or may even decide not to apply this rule.
- The offside rule has been changed numerous times over the years, impacting more and more on the way the different teams play.
Warnings
- Never argue with the referee. Remember that he won't change his mind or mind just because you disagree with him. Most likely, he will simply feel annoyed by your protests, which will make him much less tolerant of his future decisions.
- If you play as a forward, be careful not to fall into the so-called "offside trap". This defensive mechanism consists in the simultaneous advancement of the entire opposing defensive line a few moments before the ball is played by your teammates, in an attempt to leave you offside. If you keep moving and facing your goal while waiting for your teammates to pass, it will be much more difficult to be caught off guard by this defensive tactic.
