Question Number: 15354

Law 11 - Offside 5/2/2007

RE: competitive Under 18

Ken McMahon of Dublin, OH USA asks...

This question pertains to offside and the halfway line. I understand that an area on the field includes the lines that create that area.

I know that a player cannot be offside if he is in his own half of the field (or is it that he can only be offside if he is in his attacking half of the field?).

Questions then are, is a player considered to be in an offside position if.....
first the feet....
A. The whole of both feet are on the halfway line or in his defending half,
B. Parts of one or both feet are completely over the halfway line and in the attacking half,
C. All of one foot is completely in the attacking half,
D. All of one foot and part of another is completely in the attacking half,
secondly, the arms/hands....
A. Part of a hand is on the halfway line,
B. Part of a hand is completely over the halfway line,
thirdly, the torso or head...
A. Parts of the torso or head are on the halfway line (vertical plane),
B. Parts of the torso or head are completely over the halfway line,
C. All of the torso/head are over the halfway line?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

A few years ago it was more confusing than now. The offside position is now based on the closest part of the body (except hands and arms) to the goal line. Thus if any part of body (head, belly, foot, etc) is over the halfway line, that player is deemed to be on his attacking half of field.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Ken, before 2005 torso over the halfway line was the determining factor. Now any part of the body legally able to score a goal over the halfway line nearer the opponent's goal line than the last two of them and the ball constitutes offside position. All the A's and B's or 1's and 2's in a list are not going to alter this fact because it is explained as such in International FA Board Decision 1 of Law 11.

Bottom line is if Little Johnnie's belly button is past the halfway line and is nearer the opponent's goal line than the last two of them and the ball he's in an offside position. It is a simple Game.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

If there is body part that is closer to the opposing goal line than the last two opponent's that can legally play the ball be it a head a nose an ear a toe or a knee, chest or thigh, offside is the correct decision.

A striding attacker can have his foot in behind the second last opponent, his shin to the knee even with the second to last opponent and the rest of his body in front of that second last opponent it may not look offside but it is in fact offside that foot decides not the fact most of the body is not yet there!
A leaning attacker can have his head well I think you get the picture. Mind you this is only easy to spot in static slow positions and as AR you are correctly placed to view. Players in juxtaposition running at 20 miles an hour in opposing directions that nose, ear, toe thing is much harder and to be truthful if in doubt we are instructed not to wave it about! Our flag that is! Cheers