How to Understand Offside in Soccer (Football)
Check for offside only on the opposing half of the field., Compare the player's position to the ball., Look at the two defenders closest to their goal., Only check for offside at the instant a teammate touches the ball., Expect a penalty only if the...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Check for offside only on the opposing half of the field.
A player can only be offside if they are on the side of the field that contains the opposing team's goal.
The purpose behind the offside penalty is to prevent attackers from waiting too close to the goal.If you are on the opposing half of the field, and if any part of your head, torso, or legs are over the line, you will be judged offside.
Arms and hands do not count. -
Step 2: Compare the player's position to the ball.
A player can only be in an offside position if they are between the ball and the opposing goal. , The attacker is "onside" as long as there are at least two defenders level with him or in front of him.
If there are one or zero defenders between the attacker and the goal, and the attacker also meets the two conditions above, he is in an offside position.The goalkeeper is usually one of the two defenders closest to the goal, but any two defenders count. , There is no penalty just for being in an offside position.
The referee checks an attacker's position only when one of their teammates touches the ball.
As soon as an attacker releases a pass, the offside and onside status of each teammate "freezes." Each player will remain officially offside or onside no matter where they move.
This only changes when the ball touches another teammate (causing offside to be "calculated" again), or when an opponent makes a deliberate play with the ball (removing all offside statuses).
This is why you often see attackers sprint past defenders as soon as the ball is played.
Even if someone is past the defender when she receives the ball, she is still considered onside if she was behind the defenders when the ball was released. , A referee can only penalize a player for being offside if he interferes with the play or tries to gain an advantage from being offside.
A player can be penalized for this at any point until the opposing team takes control of the ball.
Here are a few examples of situations where a referee would call an offside penalty:
Teammate passes to an offside player.
Teammate kicks the ball, it bounces off a defender, and reaches an offside player.
Offside player gets in the way of a defender trying to reach the ball.
Teammate shoots at goal, offside player places himself near the goal hoping to get the rebound. , If you're spectating a game and think a possible offside penalty is coming, watch the assistant referee (AR).
If he spots an offside player interfering with play, the AR will raise his flag straight in the air.
The referee may then blow the whistle to stop play, and raise his arm to indicate that an indirect free kick is awarded to the defending team.
If the referee does not do this, he disagrees with the AR and has decided to overrule him.
If the referee blows the whistle, the AR will lower his flag by a certain amount to signal which player was offside.
He will lower it by 45º for a player across the field from the AR, 90º for a player near the center, and 135º for a player on the near side., An offside penalty awards an indirect free kick to the opposing team.
This kick takes place where the penalty occurs, and the team that received the penalty must stay at least 10 yards (9.15 m) back until the ball has been kicked.If the penalty occurred inside the penalty area, the attackers must remain outside the penalty area until the ball has left it.
If the penalty occurred inside the goal area, the defenders may take the free kick from anywhere inside the goal area. -
Step 3: Look at the two defenders closest to their goal.
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Step 4: Only check for offside at the instant a teammate touches the ball.
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Step 5: Expect a penalty only if the offside player interferes with the area of play.
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Step 6: Watch the referee.
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Step 7: Understand the penalty.
Detailed Guide
A player can only be offside if they are on the side of the field that contains the opposing team's goal.
The purpose behind the offside penalty is to prevent attackers from waiting too close to the goal.If you are on the opposing half of the field, and if any part of your head, torso, or legs are over the line, you will be judged offside.
Arms and hands do not count.
A player can only be in an offside position if they are between the ball and the opposing goal. , The attacker is "onside" as long as there are at least two defenders level with him or in front of him.
If there are one or zero defenders between the attacker and the goal, and the attacker also meets the two conditions above, he is in an offside position.The goalkeeper is usually one of the two defenders closest to the goal, but any two defenders count. , There is no penalty just for being in an offside position.
The referee checks an attacker's position only when one of their teammates touches the ball.
As soon as an attacker releases a pass, the offside and onside status of each teammate "freezes." Each player will remain officially offside or onside no matter where they move.
This only changes when the ball touches another teammate (causing offside to be "calculated" again), or when an opponent makes a deliberate play with the ball (removing all offside statuses).
This is why you often see attackers sprint past defenders as soon as the ball is played.
Even if someone is past the defender when she receives the ball, she is still considered onside if she was behind the defenders when the ball was released. , A referee can only penalize a player for being offside if he interferes with the play or tries to gain an advantage from being offside.
A player can be penalized for this at any point until the opposing team takes control of the ball.
Here are a few examples of situations where a referee would call an offside penalty:
Teammate passes to an offside player.
Teammate kicks the ball, it bounces off a defender, and reaches an offside player.
Offside player gets in the way of a defender trying to reach the ball.
Teammate shoots at goal, offside player places himself near the goal hoping to get the rebound. , If you're spectating a game and think a possible offside penalty is coming, watch the assistant referee (AR).
If he spots an offside player interfering with play, the AR will raise his flag straight in the air.
The referee may then blow the whistle to stop play, and raise his arm to indicate that an indirect free kick is awarded to the defending team.
If the referee does not do this, he disagrees with the AR and has decided to overrule him.
If the referee blows the whistle, the AR will lower his flag by a certain amount to signal which player was offside.
He will lower it by 45º for a player across the field from the AR, 90º for a player near the center, and 135º for a player on the near side., An offside penalty awards an indirect free kick to the opposing team.
This kick takes place where the penalty occurs, and the team that received the penalty must stay at least 10 yards (9.15 m) back until the ball has been kicked.If the penalty occurred inside the penalty area, the attackers must remain outside the penalty area until the ball has left it.
If the penalty occurred inside the goal area, the defenders may take the free kick from anywhere inside the goal area.
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William Griffin
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