by Drew Price

Created on: April 03, 2007   Last Updated: April 27, 2007

Teams can live in die by the offsides trap! The "offside trap" refers to a strategy that some teams use in order to manipulate the offside rule to their favor. As the title of this article indicates I will spend some time explaining the advantages and disadvantages of using this strategy. I will also assume that all who read this have a basic comprehension of the offsides rule. I am afraid that the explanation of the rule itself would belong under another topic.

Often times when playing against teams that often score off of quick counter attacks, a coach will attempt to draw the forwards offsides to eliminate this threat. If a coach notices that the opposing teams defense likes to play directly into the space in front of forwards so that they can run onto the ball (a style sometimes refereed to as "long ball" an effective offsides trap would eliminate this threat. A team that plays long ball often keeps one or even two forwards pushed up on the last defenders. These forwards basically wait for their teammates to play a ball through the defense, or over the top. Speedy and aggressive forwards can often muscle a defender off the ball creating a one on one on the keeper, a definite goal scoring opportunity. If defenders are having trouble keeping up with these forwards a risky but effective solution would be executing an offside trap.

In order to execute the offside trap, a coach most spend a few practice sessions with his defenders to make sure that they are all on the same page. It only takes one defender to make a mistake which may lead a goal. One defender usually takes a leadership role, most of the time it is the sweeper, or simply the furthest defender back. This defender must be observant, intuitive, and vocal. Once the opposing teams defense or midfield wins the ball and the forwards begin to run vertically down the field this sweeper would instruct his fellow defenders to step up. If the defensive unit (all 4 defenders) has successfully moved forward passed the oncoming forwards before the ball is played than a linesman should raise his/her flag indicating offsides. Communication and timing are key to pull off a trap consistently. Successfully executing the trap will not only eliminate the threat of a quick counter attack and neutralize the speed of the forwards, but it will frustrate the opposition and force them to look for alternate routes to score.

As I stated, teams will live and die by the trap; I just explained how team will live. The trap invites many dangers as well. The most obvious would be inexperienced, or inefficient officiating. In order to pull the trap off it is detrimental that the official is doing his job diligently. If you notice that the ref has not called one or two obvious offsides, I would immediately instruct your sweeper to stop pulling the trap. Clever forwards can also prove to be a problem. In order to adapt to the trap a forward may play further off the defense, or simply make diagonal or even horizontal runs. This way the forward can still build up speed while staying onside waiting for his teammate to send the ball. Once the ball has been played that forward is home free, especially if a defense tried to trap him by running forward. Another point to keep in mind is that a player cannot be offside while he is standing on his own half of the field. If a defense is pushed up further than half way a forward may legally stand on the other side of the defense.

I hope this shines a light on what the offsides trap is and how it is used. It is a risky strategy that I would use with caution and only with certain personnel in certain situations. Good luck! and I hope that you get good officials!

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