Question Number: 30759

Law 11 - Offside 9/14/2016

Brian of Brooklyn, NY USA asks...

Hi guys,

Pretty sure I asked this last year but don't remember.
Is there off-side from a goal kick i.e an attacker receiving the ball from his own keeper's goal kick can legally stand behind all defenders regardless of what half of the field he's in (except opposing keeper) and no off-side is called?

I suspect the answer is 'play on' but why do so few people,including referees not know this?!

Cheers.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brian
A player cannot be offside from any restart where the ball has crossed a boundary line. So a goal kick, throw in, and corner kick are all exempt from offside.
Why some do not know this is because they do not bother to find out or because offside rarely happens on the goal kick. I think the modern game has become more possession orientated with many goal kicks now going short to maintain possession. Rarely does one see the long goal kick. When I played I could kick the goal kick easily 80+ yards and it was used as a tactic. I see that less now plus the kicking off the ground is not as strong as it used to be.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Brian,
You are correct it is play on, there is no offside criteria YET in effect.
Another little known fact is on ANY Free kick by the defending team within their own penalty area the ball MUST completely leave the PA before it can be played.
Cheers

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 30771