Question Number: 15260

Law 11 - Offside 4/23/2007

RE: Competitive Under 11

Michelle Parker of Temecula, CA US asks...

A goal kick was awarded to "B" team. If all players from both "A" team and "B" team clear the 18 yard box for a goal kick for team "B", and a player from "A" team is closer to the goal than a player from "B" team, can the player from "A" team be called offsides if he reaches the ball before player from "B" team if the player from "A" team is in offside position? Is there such a thing as offsides on a goal kick?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

First, lose that trailing "s" - the word is offside.

The easy answer is that there is no offside infraction, for either team, when receiving the ball directly from a goal kick.

The more involved answer is that if Team B is kicking the ball, only players on Team B have any offside considerations. Law 11 says offside applies when the ball is last played or touched by a teammate. B kicking the ball to A is simply a gift, no matter where the Team A player is located.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

How can an opposing player be offside? Remember, offside is ONLY judged at the moment the ball is played or touched by a teammate. Anyone may be in offside position at any time if they are nearer the opposing goal line than both the second to last opponent and the ball, and are in the attacking half of the field but the first words in Law 11 tell us it is NOT an offence to merely be in offside position. Offside requires not only position but active involvement in play. Thanks for the question. We have the Laws of the Game posted on our main page and you are welcome to download them from here or at FIFA's site www.fifa.com