Question Number: 28233

Law 11 - Offside 3/4/2014

RE: Under 19

dave of des moines, ia us asks...

This question is a follow up to question 28182

'The law makers have opined that a player must have part of his body over the line not on it to be considered for offside.'

I certainly don't question this, but could you please cite from where this would be gathered from?

I find that this is not an infrequent scenario especially at lower levels.

For example an attacker and defenders standing on or near the CL while waiting for a keeper with lesser kicking skills to make a goal kick.

It makes for a very easy call when they are just standing there when the ball is kicked, and if questioned, a brief 'his foot was over (or not over) the CL sir' will quickly settle any dispute.

But I would like to know where this is written so as to keep it in my bag, should I ever need to prove my decision if it is questioned after the game, or perhaps if it comes up in a discussion in the ref tent.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

An excellent opportunity to announce that for referees in the United States, the USSF has published a new Advice To Referees. It states:

'Determining if an attacker has been ahead of an opponent has been subject to various informal interpretations over the years but the only correct definition focuses on those parts of the attacker's body which can legally play the ball (head, torso, legs/feet). If any of these parts are closer to the opposing team's goal line than the second to last defender, the ball, and the halfway line, then the attacker is in an offside position.'

The ATR is available here:
https://ussoccer.app.box.com/s/ruqcsf0671k1bcf6dzwf/1/348010025/14809733210/1

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dave
Law 1 states that ''lines belong to the areas of which they are boundaries.''
Law 11 states that a player is not in an offside position if:
# he is in his own half of the field of play.
The half way line is part of his own half.
Quoted from Page 108 of the current Laws of the Game
'"Nearer to his opponents' goal line" means that any part of a player's head,
body or feet is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the
second-last opponent. The arms are not included in this definition.''
Add all three together and one has to confirm that as long as the player has his feet and body on or behind the half way line he is not in an offside position.
What ever about it coming up in the referee tent I would not advise proving decisions to anyone. My experience is that many don't care, many are dismissive and will find some other gripe very quickly.

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