Question Number: 15275

Law 11 - Offside 4/25/2007

RE: Recreational

david grome of cincinnati, ohio USA asks...

Is the area inside the goalie net considered in the field of play?

My specific question is if you are an offensive player can you step inside the goal area on your offensive side of the field and not be called for offsides?

Does it matter if you are involved in the play or not?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi David,
if a player steps over the goal line into that netted area for offside purposes he is considered to be standing on the goal line. This applies to a defender as well as an attacker. It is expected players remain on the field of play but circumstances sometimes through momentum a player could be there inadvertently. IF a player chooses to leave the field of play to receive or gain a tactical advantage in the opinion of the referee that player could be cautioned and shown a yellow card at the next stoppage.
It does matter in the opinion of the referee if this player leaving the field without permission has ulterior motives

Note these FIFA Q&A relating to this subject

2. Does a referee penalise a player who is in an offside position and
moves off the field of play to show the referee that he is not involved
in active play?
No. It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position and there is
no need for the player to leave the field of play. However, if the referee considers that he has left the field for tactical reasons and has gained an unfair advantage by re-entering the field of play, the player should be cautioned for unsporting behaviour.

3. A defending player moves beyond his own goal line in order to place an opponent in an offside position. What action does the referee
take?
The referee allows play to continue and cautions the defender for
deliberately leaving the field of play without the referee?s permission, when the ball is next out of play.


4. An attacking player?s movement takes him between the goal posts
into the goal net and at the same time, a team-mate kicks the ball
into the goal. What action does the referee take if
a) The player who is between the goal posts remains stationary as
the ball enters?
No action should be taken. A goal is awarded.
b) The actions of the player distract an opponent?
The goal is disallowed and the player is cautioned for unsporting
behaviour.
Since the offence was committed off the field of play, play is restarted with a dropped ball at the place where it was located when play was stopped*.
cheers

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If you do this, you are considered to be at the point where you left the field. This is a cautionable offense if the player stepped off field to place a player in an offside position.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You can leave the field of play to indicate you are NOT participating in play and know you are offside. In order to be penalized for offside any player by definition MUST participate in play. It is not an offence to merely be in offside position