Ninh explains – the Offside Rule
The offside rule in association football (or
soccer to some of you) is the rule in all
of sports that confuses the biggest number
of fans.
But it’s not difficult to understand, or
spot, if you know what you’re looking for.
Firstly, you have to know what it actually
is.
It’s a rule to prevent opposing players
from just hanging around the other team’s
goalkeeper all game, so that when the ball
comes near them, they just poke it into the
net.
As you can imagine, this would make an incredibly
unfair and boring game.
So, the offside rule is there to prevent that.
The official definition of the offside rule
is this, but it’s better to explain the
offside rule in this flow chart which consist
of two parts.
Part One – Are they in an offside position?
To determine an offside position, an imaginary
line is drawn from the second to last opponent.
The last opponent is usually, (but not always)
the goalkeeper.
Or alternatively level with the last two opponents.
The offside area now is anywhere behind this
imaginary line.
When the ball is played – members of the
attacking team must be behind or level with
this imaginary line to be onside.
So if any part of their head, feet or torso
are in front of this imaginary line when the
ball is played, they are in an offside position.
Note that the decision is made at the time
the ball is originally played, NOT when the
ball is received by the teammate.
So this would be an onside position, as every
member of the opposing team is behind this
imaginary line.
This would be an offside position, as one
player is past this line when the ball is
played.
Onside position.
Offside position.
Onside position.
Offside position.
Onside, offside, onside, offside.
Simple, right?
But being in an offside position isn’t enough
to call the infraction of offside, hence why
you need part 2:
Are they interfering by doing any of these?
- Whilst in an offside position, if you interfere
with play, by touching or contesting for the
ball.
This is offside.
- Whilst in an offside position, if you interfere
with your opponent, by fouling or blocking
their view, this is offside.
- Whilst in an offside position, if you gain
advantage by just being there i.e. you’re
the first one there to tap in a rebound off
the crossbar, this is offside.
If a player is NOT guilty of any of these,
even whilst standing in an offside position
– this is NOT offside.
For example, this player is in an offside
position, but because he doesn’t touch the
ball, he isn’t interfering with any opponent
and he’s not gaining any advantage by just
standing there.
This is NOT offside, and the goal stands.
So to recap, are they in an offside position?
Yes?
Or no?
If Yes, are they also one of these scenarios?
If the answer is yes again, it’s offside.
Otherwise it’s not.
A few other things … offside cannot be called
from goal kicks, from any play within your
own half, on throw ins or on corner kicks.
However, offside called be called from free
kicks.
That’s literally it in a nutshell, but I
know some of you have some hypothetical grey-area
questions.
What if the ball is played and there is no
second to last opponent?
What if I’m ahead of them already?
If that’s the case – the line of the ball
is used instead of the line of the second
to last opponent.
So, the same rules apply.
Anywhere behind the line of the ball is onside.
Anywhere in front of the ball is offside etc.
What happens if a player is exactly on the
halfway line?
Is this offside?
The halfway line is classed as neutral, so
any player breaching the halfway line at the
same time the ball is played is considered
to be onside.
So if I’m in an offside position, when does
it reset?
When am I no longer classed as ‘offside’?
Excellent question!
A recent rule change by FIFA stipulates that
if an opponent has made a deliberate attempt
to touch the ball (and does), the original
offside position no longer applies.
So for example here – this player is clearly
in an offside position.
But because the opponent has made deliberate
contact with the ball, offside no longer applies
because the ball hasn’t come from your own
teammate, but rather your opponent.
Therefore this subsequent goal is onside and
it counts.
Remember, it’s only offside if you receive
the ball ahead of the line from your own teammate.
If the opponent gives it to you, that’s
a different story.
Wait, if this is the rule – can’t the
opposing team try and run forward together
to make the offside area bigger?
Yes, they can – and that’s exactly what
they do.
Defending teams will try and force opposing
players in an offside position by running
forwards together, usually in a straight line.
This is known as the offside trap and is a
tactic used by defending teams to eliminate
attacks and regain possession of the ball.
When done correctly, it robs the other team
of otherwise good goals.
When done badly … disaster!
So to summarise - are they in an offside position?
Yes?
Or no?
If Yes, are they also one of these scenarios?
If the answer is yes again, it’s offside.
Otherwise it’s not.
If you have found this video at all helpful,
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Thanks a lot, and we’ll see you in the next
video.
Ninh Ly - www.ninh.co.uk - @NinhLyUK
