Question Number: 16426

Law 11 - Offside 8/25/2007

RE: rec/middle school Under 14

Alex M of hurricane, WV USA asks...

If a goalie is playing as a regular player in the last 5 minutes becuase they are losing how do you play the goalie on offside or offsides at all? do you play regular offside or play it a different way or what?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Alex, the goalie is a player like everyone else on his team, and he can play anywhere on the field, just like the others. The only difference is he can handle the ball inside his own penalty area, unlike the others. As for offside, remember we measure whether a player is in an offside position by whether they are closer to the goal line than the ball and the second to last defender. While the goalie is most often the last defender, there is no requirement in the Law that he be the last defender or even the second to last defender. Say for instance the goalie is standing at the top of his penalty area and he has three of his own defenders behind him, one on a goal post and two at the top of the goal area. Do you see how a player from the other team standing inside the goal area would be in an offside position because he is closer to the goal than the ball and the second to last defender? It doesn't matter where the goalie is, just where the defending team members - any of them - are located to judge whether a member of the other team is in an offside position. Hope that is of some assistance.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Many people think of offside in relation to defenders. This is sometimes true but not always. It is far better to think of offside as nearer the opponent's goal line than the ball and the last but one opponent or the last two opponents. Using this view simplifies how one views offside. The goalkeeper is an opponent the same as a defender, a midfielder of an attacker. Offside becomes a simple concept, doesn't it?

Regards,