Question Number: 15211

Law 11 - Offside 4/18/2007

RE: Rec Under 13

Mark of Elkins, WV US asks...

I have a 2 part question pertaining to offsides. First, I understand that a player can't be offside during a goal kick. Does this mean he can be behind the second to last defender before his goalie punts the ball and not be considered offside if he receives the ball? And secondly, how is offsides different at the high school and college level? At the level I ref I understand that "being in an offside position alone is not considered offside." Is it at the high school and/or college level? Thank you!

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Mark,
PUNTS??? I hope you are not asking about the ball in active play, a punt is no different than a normal touch of the ball and offside applies
(1) YES the player can recieve the ball directly from the GOAL KICK restart by his team-mate or off any subsequent deflections off an opposing player!

(2) Offside is one of the laws that I BELIVE remain unchanged in the never ending confusion of USA political soccer. But a USSF colleague will undoubtably reply to confirm or deny.

I have a request that when you use the word offside drop the (s)

There are THREE exceptions where being OFFSIDE POSITIONED is allowed as the criteria of a ball LAST touched by a teammate is ignored on the direct restart of a corner kick , goal kick or throw-in.
Here you can be INVOLVED in active play while offside positioned free of worry until the next contact between a team-mate and the ball where the offside phase of play is reset back to judging the criteria once again! Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Offside is not different in USA/NFHS rules or USA/NCAA rules.

Mark, your understanding: "I understand that a player can't be offside during a goal kick." is flawed. It is a fact a player may be in an offside position at any time during a match. It is also a fact that "It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position" and "There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from a goal kick or a throw-in or a corner kick".

What is the flaw? It's in your definition of a goalkeeper's "punt", this is not a goal kick, it is a continuation of play and his colleagues in offside positions are prohibited from getting involved after his touch. A goal kick is a restart of play after the ball is kicked across your goal line, having last been touched by your opponent and a goal is not scored. From that restart of play as well as two other restarts of play, throw-in and corner kick, there is no offside offence if a colleague gets the ball directly.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Mark, fisrt; dump the "s" on the end of offside. Second, you are a referee, you should not have to ask these questions. Offside should have been covered thoroughly at your certification course and subsequent recerts. But.... since you asked: there is no offside offence if the ball is received directly from a goal kick, corner kick, or throw-in so a player may stand wherever he or she wishes and not be judged offside if the ball is received directly. If the ball touches another TEAMMATE on the way to said player, everything changes. A keeper's PUNT is NOT a goal kick! You know this. "Being in an offside position alone is not considered offside" is a restatement of the first line of Law 11!!!!!!!!!!!! read, re-read, and re-read it. At ALL levels of play It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position. PERIOD!!! There must also be active involvement.