Question Number: 17280

Law 11 - Offside 10/13/2007

RE: Competive Under 13

John Sullivan of Colorado Springs, CO USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 16720

If the red team defense is playing up by the midfield line, the green team has forwards on the red teams half of the field with only the keeper between them and the goal (an offside trap as I understand it), is the green team offside if the last green player to touch the ball is on the green team half of the field when the the ball is kicked over or between the red defense players to the green forwards?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

A player is in an offside position if she is closer to the goal than the ball, the 2nd to last opponent, and the half line. As you describe it, Green has player(s) in an offside position.

Once in an offside position, the player cannot participate in play. Even if the ball comes from the other end of the field.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

John, take a minute to look at the excellent paper on Law 11, Offside on our main page. It should answer this question for you in the easiest manner. By your description, the green players are in an offside position, and could easily be called for offside if they make any play for a ball last touched by one of their own team, or interfere in any way with the defense while they are in an offside position. If they do, then they are judged to be offside. The soccer Law on offside is NOTHING like the offsides violations in pointy ball American football.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Yes, the green team has players that are in an offside position. Now, if that player gets invovled in play, then there would be an infraction.