Question Number: 31618

Law 11 - Offside 6/22/2017

RE: high school/travel High School

richard hawkins of seaford, new york usa asks...

1. is it possible to be offsides on a goal kick?
2. is it possible to be offsides on a goalie punt?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Richard,
(1) NO
(2)YES

on a goal kick NO offside is possible as it is one of the three restarts exempt from offside, the other two are throw in and corner kick.

Now in free play a keeper punting the ball out after utilizing his six seconds of ball handling possession or throwing or drop kicking it or simply dribbling it out then kicking it away , offside positional criteria are IN effect at the last touch of the release in any form.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Richard
A player cannot be offside from a goal kick, throw in or corner kick. On a GK punt the ball is in play so offside applies as it is not a restart.
So the answers to your questions are
A Not possible to be offside
B. Yes Offside is possible.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Richard,
A player cannot be offside when receiving the ball directly from a goal kick, corner kick or throw in.

Bear in mind that there needs to be 2 attackers involved for offside to be considered - the one touching the ball, and the other attacker who then becomes involved in active play (usually by touching the ball).

So let's say, for an example, that an attacker is standing in an offside position when the goal kick or throw in is taken. The kick then touches an opponent, then goes onto the Player In an Offside Position (PIOP). This is NOT offside (there is often confusion about this) - because there's still no relevant attacking touch. There's the attacker putting the ball into play - which is irrelevant here, the defending touch, then the receiving attacker. There's no initial attacking touch that counts - so there need to be 2 attackers involved after the touch that puts the ball back into play.
Free kicks are different - the touch putting the ball into play does count as that 'first' touch.

As for a goalkeeper's punt - this is not a restart; the ball is in general play so it's treated just like any other touch of the ball.