Question Number: 30386

Law 11 - Offside 5/4/2016

RE: High School

Ray Kohl of Galax, VA USA asks...

In determining offside, is a player in an offside position when standing with one foot on one side of the midfield line and the other foot on the other side of midfield with no defensive player between him and the goal, other than the goalie, when the ball is played to him. I know you cannot be offside in your own end of the field, but which end of the field are you in in this situation.

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Ray,

As indicated in NFHS Rule 11-1-1b note: 'The position of any part of the player's head, body or feet will be the deciding factor. Thus, the front foot that you described above is in the offside position. Another example of the front foot rule is on a throw in where one foot is behind the boundary line and the other is on the field of play during the throw-in. Thus, the throw-in is deemed illegal. I hope that you do not experience this situation very often, and I hope that you have a successful season.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ray
The half way line is unusual in that it is part of both halves. That though is only a factor in offside as a player cannot be in an offside position in his own half. If he is on the line, not over it, he is in his own half. However when a player has part of his body that is capable of playing the ball over the line and there is only the goalkeeper in the opponents half then he is in an offside position. Now this is a very rare situation and one that is quite difficult to call at speed at the moment the ball is played by a team mate.
Another way to look at it is that the edge of the line closest to the opponents goal is the offside line in the same way as say a defender foot / body would determine the offside line elsewhere in the opponents half. Those imaginary lines that TV show in screen to adjudge offside or not.
Have a look at this video. While now somewhat dated in parts it shows clearly the answer to your question at around 4.00
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9BgcolsU6s&t=3m28s
I hope that helps