The offside rule – it’s the stuff of nightmares, really – all that hard work, all those near-misses, and missed opportunities, only to have it all snatched away by an annoying offside call.
Just when you think you’ve got a handle on the rule, it goes and changes on you. It’s like the chameleon of soccer rules, constantly shifting and changing to keep us all on our toes.
And let’s not even get started on VAR and its love affair with horizontal and vertical lines.
It’s somewhat like we’ve stepped into some sort of bizarre alternate universe where goals can be ruled out because of a player’s butt, shoulder, or toe. It’s enough to make even the most diehard football fan want to tear their hair out.
In this article, I will shed some light on this often confusing rule and delve into some of the lesser-known quirks that make the rule such a love-hate relationship for us all.
The Offside Rule
Being out of line means that you’re in a position where you’re more likely to score than your opponents. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, it gets a bit more complicated when you throw in the technicalities.
According to the official Laws of the Game, if any of your body parts that you can use to score ( leg, head ) are in the opposing team’s half of the field and closer to their goal line than the ball, the second-last opponent, and both, you’re offside.
Now, if you do find yourself on the wrong side of the offside line, fret not. Being called offside doesn’t mean you’re in trouble with the referee – it just means the opposition team will be awarded an indirect free kick.
No booking for you, at least not for being offside.
Can A Player Be Offside From A Throw-in?
The answer, in short, is no.
If a player gets the ball straight from their own team’s throw-in, there is no offside violation. This one seems to be more widely known among soccer enthusiasts, but it’s always good to get a refresher.
Now, it wasn’t always this way. Under the original laws of 1863, it was against the law to be offside from a throw-in.
However, it would have been difficult for a player to substantially benefit from being ahead of the ball, as the ball had to be thrown in at a straight angle to the touchline.
But in 1877, the throw-in rule was changed to allow the ball to be thrown in any direction, and a revised rule the following year allows players to be offside after a throw-in.
One thing that can be confusing about the offside rule is how it applies to throw-ins. As we mentioned earlier, a player cannot be offside from their own team’s throw-in.
But what about the opposition? Can they use the offside rule to their advantage during a throw-in?
The answer is, well, sort of. Because of the meaning of being in an offside position, the opposition could prevent a player from throwing the ball forward by standing level with the player taking the throw.
If they stand level with the thrower, and the player taking the throw-in still throws the ball forward to another player on their team, then the player receiving the ball would be in an offside position.
Because they would be:
- Nearer to their opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent
- In their opponents’ half of the field
They would be committing an offside offense when they become involved in active play.
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Can You Be Offside From A Goal Kick?
Absolutely NO!
There is no offside offense if a player receives the ball directly from a goal kick, no matter what position they take up on the pitch at the time.
This has been the case since the FA laws were first introduced in 1863.
In fact, the ‘strict’ law used in 1863 meant that every player on the attacking side would automatically have been in an offside position from a goal kick since it had to be taken from the goal line.
There are some non-official but logical reasons behind this rule that we can discuss.
One theory is that you can’t be in an offside position if the ball was already outside the field of play and your team is putting it back in. This applies to throw-ins and corner kicks as well.
But theories aside, there are some benefits to relaxing the offside rule when it comes to goal kicks.
Since no player is in an offside position during a goal kick, the players of the offensive team will try to spread forward and locate themselves inside the opponent’s side of the field in order to receive the ball and get an advantage.
But what’s in it for the defensive team?
Well, they get to play the role of the stay-at-home parent, making sure their zone is well-guarded in case their opponents manage to get their hands on the ball. It’s a way of transferring the pressure to the opponent’s side of the field instead of their own.
But what if the rule didn’t exist? That would be a disaster. The whole opposition team could just run towards the other half of the field, leaving the team taking the goal kick exposed and vulnerable to a counterattack.
Can You Be Offside From A Corner Kick?
No! A player cannot be offside when a corner kick is taken. After a corner kick, no calls for offside will be made, regardless of where you are positioned.
The reason for this is that when a corner kick is taken, the 18-yard box becomes crowded with players from both the attacking and defending sides, all trying to either score a goal or stop the opposition from scoring.
Due to the absence of offsides, teams may devise several inventive strategies to either score from or successfully defend a corner kick.
An offside can be called after two players have touched the ball following a corner kick. Meaning, this rule only applies to the first pass being played by the corner kick taker.
If you pass the ball to a teammate and he immediately passes it back to you, the defending team may have already moved their defensive line higher up the field in anticipation of this play.
Similarly, if a player heads the ball to a teammate who is in an offside position after a corner kick, that teammate will be considered offside, even if they were not in an offside position earlier.
If you are in an offside position and are actively involved in the play, you will be called offside.
Can You Be Offside If The Goalkeeper Is Out?
The short answer is Yes. An attacking player is considered to be in an onside position if they are level with or behind the second-to-last defender.
The positioning of the goalkeeper does not affect the offside rule and will not be taken into consideration by the referee when making an offside decision.
If the goalkeeper runs out of the penalty area and two of their teammates are behind the goalie, this will not change the offside status of the attacking player.
According to the governing rule :
- any part of the head, body, or feet is in the opponent’s half (excluding the halfway line) and
- any part of the head, body, or feet is nearer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent
The hands and arms of all players, including the goalkeepers, are not considered. For the purposes of determining offside, the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit.
A player is not in an offside position if level with the:
- second-last opponent or
- last two opponents
This means the offside position of an attacking player is determined by their position relative to the second-to-last defender. The difference between a player and the goalkeeper is not made in the offside rule.
That the position of the goalkeeper (also a player ) may not necessarily be considered when determining offside, depending on where they are positioned in relation to their teammates.
If the goalkeeper is further up the field than two of their teammates, their position will not be taken into account in the offside decision.
However, an attacking player who is past the last defender but is behind the ball will still be considered onside.
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When Is Offside Not An Offence?
An offside position does not necessarily result in an offside offense if the following conditions are met:
- You are not interfering with play or an opponent
- You are not gaining an advantage from a rebound, save, or deflection
- An opponent deliberately played the ball to you
- You receive the ball directly from a goal kick, corner kick, or throw-in by your team
- If you are in your own half when the ball is played, you cannot be offside regardless of your position when you receive it.
Can You Be Offside On A Goalkeeper Punt?
YES!
Even the most skilled goalkeeper can’t save their team from an offside call if they have the ball in their hand and decide to launch the ball toward an attacker who is standing in an offside position.
It’s a hard lesson to learn, but remember: just because the ball is in the goalkeeper’s hands doesn’t mean the rules of the game go out the window.
In this situation, the ball is already in open play, so the old adage of ‘the goalie can do whatever they want doesn’t apply in this context.
Is It Offside If It Comes Off A Defender?
No! It is not offside if the ball is played to a player by an opponent, including if it is deflected off a defender.
In order for a player to be offside, they must be in an offside position when the ball is played to them by a teammate. If a player is in an offside position when the ball is played to them by an opponent, including if it is deflected off a defender, they are not committing an offside offense.
Is It Offside If You Are Behind The Goalkeeper?
Yes, it is still an offside offense.
The offside rule states that there be at least two players from the opposing team between the attacking player and the goal when the ball is played to them.
However, the presence of the goalkeeper is usually sufficient to meet this requirement, so it is typically only necessary for there to be one additional outfield player between the attacking player and the goal.
This is what referees look for when determining offside, and if there is only one player between the attacking player and the goal, the play is generally allowed to continue even if the goalkeeper is also present.
Final Thought- Offside From A Throw-In
Offside is a critical rule in soccer, but it is often the subject of controversy and debate due to its subjective nature.
While it is clear when an offside player directly interferes with play, determining whether they are interfering with an opponent is up to the referee’s interpretation.
Despite the challenges, offside looks set to remain a key part of soccer for the foreseeable future
Now you know the ins and outs (pun intended) of the offside rule and how it applies to throw-ins, goal kicks, and corner kicks.
