Question Number: 24849

Law 13 - Free Kicks 4/24/2011

RE: Intermediate Under 12

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24844

Thanks for a wonderful webiste. My only question is 'shouldn't the title of this question be, Law 13: Free Kicks, rather than Law 11: Offside'?

The defenders can never be offside on their half of the field, so the IFK for the attacking team must be for something else...like dangerous play or goalkeeper IFK infractions, right?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
Players can only be offside in the opposing half. In addition offside is always awarded to the defending team in its own half.
If an IDFK is awarded to the attcking team it must be for one of the listed IDFKs such as PIADM, impeding, commiting any other offence, not previously mentioned in Law 12, for which play is stopped to caution or send off a player or a GK handling infraction.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Thanks for spotting that Phil. Sometimes when I close out a question I'll click the wrong Law. You are correct, question 24844 deals with IDFKs inside the penalty area awarded to the attackers and should have been listed under Law 13. I have corrected that.
You are also correct that this could never be for offside. All IDFKs awarded for offside violations, by definition, are awarded to the defense. Now IDFKs coming OUT of the penalty area are a different matter. I would bet most IDFKs coming out of the penalty area are from offside calls against the attacking team.
IDFKs awarded the attackers inside the penalty area would be for misconduct, impeding, PIADM, any of the goalkeeper violations, or charging an opponent off the ball.