Question Number: 29954

Law 11 - Offside 12/1/2015

RE: All

Gwyn Williams of Bridgewater, NJ USA asks...

A player cannot be offside if he is 'in his own half' when the ball is kicked. How is this defined? Is it similar to being in line with a defender i.e. no part of the body that can legally play the ball can be in the attacking half? Does it matter if part of one foot is still behind or on the halfway line?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Gwyn
The line is part of both halves so a player must have his foot or part thereof or part of his body that can legally play the ball over the line / plane of the line to be in the opponents half. It then makes no difference if part of the body is still on the line or in the players own half as on or behind the line he is deemed to be in his own half and not subject to offside.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Gwyn,<
the mid line because it belongs to both teams is rather an oddity but if you are a player on it the halfway line for the purpose of offside belongs to the attacking team, as such, for the attacker to be offside part of the body, except the hands/arms, must be over the line, even if by one inch.
Cheers