by Mr. Q

Created on: May 19, 2009   Last Updated: May 26, 2009

The offside law seems like a very simple one because many fans and coaches think that it is all about the offside position. While the offside position is a central aspect of the offside law, it is establishing an offside offence and applying the law that is so troublesome.

The easiest part of the offside law is the offside position. To be in an offside position an attacker must be in the opponents half of the field. Apart from this, he must also be ahead of the ball AND the second to last opponent at the moment that the ball is played to him by a teammate. This is supposed to be the simple part, but there are some points worth noting.

a) The position of the ball is critical to establishing the offside offence

b) If the ball is received from a deliberate play by a member of the opposing team, the attacker cannot commit an offside offence

c) The offside position is judged at the instant that the ball is played by the teammate

d) A player can be considered in an offside position if any part of his body (except his hands and arms) is beyond any part of the defender's body (except hands and arms) at the moment that the ball is played by a teammate.

If that does not seem complicated enough, there is even more. An attacker cannot commit an offside offence if the ball is received directly from:

a) A throw
b) A goal kick
c) A corner kick

It is not an offence to merely be in an offside position. The offside position is just a prerequisite. From this point, the referee or his assistant will have to determine whether an attacker who was in an offside position at the moment that the ball was played was:

i) Interfering with play
ii) Interfering with an opponent
iii) Gaining an advantage from being in an offside position

Interfering with play suggests that the attacker who was in an offside position either touched or attempted to play the ball from his teammate's pass.

Interfering with an opponent is a lot trickier. If an attacker- who was in an offside position- distracts his opponent by any means, he can be called for the offside offence. This includes preventing the opponent from playing or retrieving the ball. In addition, if an attacker tries to poach the ball before the defender controls it and plays it, the attacker can and should be called for an offside offence.

Gaining an advantage from being in an offside position is concerned with attackers benefiting from balls that rebound from the posts, crossbar or opponent. If an attacker- who was in an offside position- plays the ball in those circumstances, he would commit an offside offence.

If a player steps off the field to demonstrate that he is not involved in active play, but re-enters without permission, he should be cautioned for unsporting behaviour. The interpretation of various terms in the offside law (like whether a defender/ attacker is involved in play or not) is what makes the law even more contentious.

The offside law consists of three dimensions. The offside position is the easiest aspect of the law. Then there are criteria for establishing the offside offence. The offside sanction only comes into play when an offside offence is committed. Among these three areas is a web of stipulations that are not a complete mystery, but leave acres of space for inconsistent interpretation.

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