Offsides

Offsides is one of the more complex rules in soccer, but understanding it is important to playing well. The main rule is that a forward must have two defenders between him and the goal (equal to him counts) or he is in a "offside position" (note that the goaltender counts as one of the two defenders). This is designed to prevent people from "goalsucking" or "cherrypicking", two of my favorite tactics when I play forward (which is why I'm never allowed to play forward). Notice however that I say "offside position", not offsides. For offsides to actually be called, there are two other elements:

1. The player must be deemed by the referee to be involved in the play. If someone is sitting down they will probably not be called offsides.
2. The ball must be played FORWARD by a member of the same team (a player from another team kicking the ball can never make you offsides).

It is at the precise moment that the ball is kicked forward that the offsides call is determined. AS SOON AS THE BALL IS KICKED YOU CAN START RUNNING! There are also several exceptions that will prevent offsides from being called:

1. You can only be offsides in the other team's half of the field. If you are on your half you are safe.
2. If the ball is kicked backwards or sideways offsides cannot be called.
3. The ball must be kicked/passed forward, offsides is not called when someone is dribbling the ball.
4. You cannot be offsides if you are behind the ball (ie the ball is farther down the field than you are).
5. You cannot be offsides on a throw-in (or a corner-kick).

The key thing to remember as a forward is that as soon as the ball is kicked, you are free to run past the defenders and no longer worry about the offsides. The key thing as a defender is to always play until the whistle, and never quit playing just because you think someone is in an offside position.

Here are some examples:

Copyright 2001 Michael Sykes