Law 11: Offside Explained
Law 11 defines the offside position and when a player is penalised for being offside. It distinguishes between being in an offside position and committing an offside offence, and covers interfering with play, an opponent, and active play.
Key Points
- 1A player is in an offside position if any part of the head, body, or feet is in the opponents' half and nearer to the goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent.
- 2Arms are not used to determine offside.
- 3Being in an offside position is not an offence in itself.
- 4Offside is penalised when a player in an offside position receives the ball from a team-mate and is involved in active play.
- 5A player cannot be offside from a goal kick, corner kick, or throw-in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What body parts are used to judge offside?
Any part of the head, body, or feet that can legally play the ball is used to judge offside. The arms are excluded. This means a player can be offside even if only a shoulder is ahead of the last defender, but a hand or arm that is ahead of the defender does not make the player offside.
Can a player be offside from a corner kick?
No. A player cannot be offside directly from a corner kick, goal kick, or throw-in. Offside can only be called when a player receives the ball from a team-mate in open play.
What does "interfering with play" mean for offside?
Interfering with play means playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team-mate. A player in an offside position is only penalised when they become involved in active play — playing the ball, challenging for it, or clearly impeding an opponent.
What is the handball exception to offside?
A player cannot be penalised for being in an offside position if the ball was last played by an opponent, even if the opponent played it accidentally. However, if the ball hits an attacking player's arm or hand in an offside position and goes to a team-mate, this is considered interfering with play.
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