Question Number: 23322

Law 16 - Goal Kick 5/17/2010

RE: Select Under 17

Whitney of Tupelo, MS US asks...

On a goal kick, two of the offensive players (A&B)are past their midfield and one (say player A) receives the ball direct from the keeper. All defenders are standing at their mid-field thinking those two players are in an offside position. I know they are not. If player A, who received the ball plays it to his team mate player B, is player B in an offside position and once he/she receives the ball, is he/she offside? Does it matter if he stays 'even' with player A and the ball as the ball is played to him/her?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Whitney
Yes you are correct that a player cannot be offside directly from a goal kick. However once the attacking player A gains possession of the ball offside is reassessed depending on the new positions. If the team mate of the attacker player B is level with or behind the ball that player is not in an offside position and he/she can legally play the ball that is passed to him/her by player A.
However should player B move in front of the ball he/she would be in an offside position.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Law 11 says, 'There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from: a goal kick, a throw-in, a corner kick.' So you are correct that A is not offside if she receives the ball directly from the goal kick.

Now A passes to B. If B was in an offside position at the time of the pass, then B is offside. If B remained even with or behind the ball until A kicked it, she is not in an offside position and can receive the ball without penalty.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

No Whitney, they both ARE in an offside position. On a goal kick there is no offside offense if the ball is received directly and the player is in offside position, but they were clearly in offside position. It is not an offense to be in offside position. Now the 2 attackers are coming down the field toward the keeper who is the only opponent between them and the goal line. If they both stay even with or behind the ball, they will never be in offside position and can pass back and forth as long as they want. If one of them goes ahead of the ball he will be in offside position and if the ball is passed to him and he makes contact, he will be offside.