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Everything You Need to Know About the Offside Rule in Soccer

The most complicated and perhaps controversial rule in soccer is offside. It can be a difficult call for referees – so much so that one of the main jobs of the assistant officials is to just monitor play for offside violations. Because it’s such an established part of soccer, it’s important to understand the rule, how it’s enforced, how it can benefit the defense in the right circumstances, and how to avoid it if you’re attacking.

SS24_Offside_Rule_2_1
SS24_Offside_Rule_2_1

What is the Offside Rule?

The offside position is when an opponent is closer to the goal line than the ball and his second-to-last opponent. The goalkeeper is the last defender, and 2 players and the goalie must be in front of the player with the ball during an attack. If any part of the body, like an arm, a leg, or head, is ahead of the second to last defender, it’s offside The offensive player who’s receiving the pass must be even with or behind the player making the pass. Calling offside in a game isn’t easy for officials because it’s fast-paced, and it can be difficult to know exactly where the person is who's receiving the pass. The important factor to consider is when the ball is passed. If the player is even with or trailing the passer when the ball is passed, they aren’t offside. Below are some basic offside scenarios.

 

  • Offside Teammate: It’s possible for a teammate to be offside if they aren’t receiving a pass. If a player passes the ball to a teammate who isn’t offside, but another teammate is, an official must determine if the offsides player affected the play. Perhaps they obstructed the goalie’s view, which would be offside. If the teammate doesn’t affect the play, it’s not offside.
  • Indirect Free Kick: If offside is called, the opposing team is given an indirect free kick at the spot of the foul. A free kick occurs when the ball is placed on the ground and a player kicks the ball without being challenged. Opponents must be 10 yards away from the kicker unless they’re on their goal line. If the penalty occurred on the goal line, players must be outside the penalty area. The ball is in play once it’s kicked.
  • Corner Kick, Throw-In & Kickoff: There is no offside on corner kicks, throw-ins, and kickoffs. Corner kicks are when a ball passes the goal line and it’s last touched by the defending team. The kick is taken from the corner of the field. A throw-in is when a player tosses the ball back into play with their hands over their head. It happens after a ball leaves the field of play. A kickoff is how each game, half, and overtime session are started. The attacking team gets the ball at the center of the field.
  • Making the Offside Call: Two referees placed on each sideline must flag offside. One of their primary responsibilities is to watch for offside. Ultimately, the head referee must apply the indirect free kick for offside.

 

History of Offside

The offsides rule was implemented in 1863 to deter players who parked near their opponent's goal. It made scoring easier if you had players who could be positioned close to or inside the goalie’s box. The initial rule was that 3 players from the opposing team had to be in front of the player with the ball. In 1925, the number of players in front of the player was reduced to 2. The rule was changed again in 1990, allowing the player with the ball to be even with or behind the second defender. The loosening of the offside rule made scoring easier, but it’s also created controversy for fans, players, and coaches because a player can be inches offside. In those instances, it’s hard to get the call right. Some matches use VAR (Video Assistant Referee) to help make offside calls. Using VAR doesn’t always solve the problem of whether a player is offsides since the camera angles can be unclear, making the call open to interpretation.

 

What is the Offside Trap?

The addition of the offside call created an incentive for the defense to deceive the attacking team and try to lure them into the offside position. The offside trap is when the defensive players move up field simultaneously just before the attacker is about to pass the ball. It’s a risky strategy and it requires great communication and timing from the defense. If the attacker passes the ball even a fraction of a second before the defensive players get behind the attacker, it’s a legal pass. That leaves the defense vulnerable because they won’t be in a good position to help guard their goal. Teams that use the trap must be able to recover quickly and get back into a good defensive position if offsides isn’t called. Without a fast recovery from the defense, the goalie is vulnerable. The trap is considered a surprise tactic and teams that employ it don’t do it often.

 

How to Beat the Offside Trap

Teams practice their attack positions every day, working on strategies to be in position to pass the ball without being offsides. Anticipating the trap play is the key to beating it. Below are 3 ways to counter the trap:

 

  • Horizontal Run: It’s important to scout the team you’re playing. You need to know the tactics they employ to lure attackers into an offside position. A defender will often call for the offside trap on a pass. Typically, a center back will call for the trap. One of the best ways to employ the trap is on long passes to a forward who’s trying to beat the defenders downfield. Avoiding this trap requires offensive discipline. You must make sure you receive the pass with the defenders in front of you. One way to do this is to run horizontally before receiving the pass. That could mean slowing down. You can do this by running horizontally while the ball is traveling toward you. The goal is to receive the ball while you are even with the defenders, not letting them fall behind you.
  • Fake the Pass: A skilled dribbler and passer can fake the pass on an offside trap and keep the ball. Instead of passing the ball to a teammate on either side, where the defense is setting the trap, they can try to break through the line of defense and put themselves into a 1-on-1 position to score.
  • Through Pass: This requires the receivers to recognize the trap. They’ll typically have to slow down to make sure the defenders don’t drop behind them. The passer must make the correct decision on which player to pass the ball to, making sure it goes to a receiver who’s not offsides.

 

It can take years to master the intricacies of the offside rule. Even seasoned players must constantly adapt to the evolving nature of the rule and its impact on both the offense and defense. For beginners, learning the rule will help improve your game-time strategy and give your team a better chance to win.