The Off the Side (Offside) Rule
Law 11: Off the Side
(Or more commonly, “offside” — Enforced only for Ages 9-13)
What is an “offside position”?
A player is in an offside position when:
- on the opponent’s half of the field; and
- nearer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent
IT IS NOT AN OFFENSE TO BE IN AN OFFSIDE POSITION.
Off the side (or simply offside) is a rule in soccer designed to prevent players from gaining an unfair field position advantage at the more advanced levels of soccer play. This rule is only enforced in the 9-13 age groups.
When is an “offside” player penalized?
A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched by a team-mate is only penalized when they become actively involved in the play by:
- interfering with the play by making contact with the ball; or
- interfering with an opponent
“Interfering with an opponent” means doing one of these things (or something similar):
- clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision
- challenging an opponent for the ball
- clearly attempting to play a ball which is close to him when this action impacts on an opponent
- making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball
Off the side (or simply offside) is sanctioned by an indirect free kick to be taken from the location of the offending player.
Therefore, players are only “offside” if they are in an “offside” position when the ball is played (as opposed to when the player reaches and touches the ball); and “offside” offenses are only penalized when the offside player “clearly makes an obvious action” that “clearly impacts” the play by virtue of their action; not by virtue of their presence in an offside position.
A player is not penalized for simply being in an offside position!
A player in an offside position is only penalized if, at the moment the ball is played by one of his team (for example, a pass or a shot), he is involved in active play by:
- interfering with play
- interfering with an opponent
- gaining an advantage by being in that position.
A player is not penalized for simply being in an offside position!
There is no offside offense during a goal kick, throw-in or a corner kick. Offside offenses are only enforced during normal play and free kicks from penalties.