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Get FitSports & ActivitiesThe offside rule: or the most complicated thing in football
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The offside rule: or the most complicated thing in football

continued from page 1
If that all sounds a bit long-winded, this simplified version from San Marcos Youth Soccer is more like the instructions you get with a flat-pack wardrobe:

A player is offside if he or she is ahead of the ball, except if the player also...

  • Is in his own half of the field.
  • Has two opponents even with or behind him and the opponent's goal line. The referee's `moment of judgment' is the instant the ball is played, not when the ball is received.
  • Is the first to receive the ball from a throw-in, corner kick or goal kick.
  • Is not involved in active play by interfering with play, interfering with an opponent, or gaining an advantage by being in that position.

    And another thing...

    If you think that is complicated enough, try employing these rules when you have a split second to decide if a player, running at full tilt, is standing in a position with only the goalkeeper to beat when you see/hear that a ball is being kicked forwards - then receiving abuse from players and fans for making a judgment.

    Assistant referees (or linesmen, as they used to be known) have to deal with this in every game they officiate. These hapless souls are the men (sometimes women, but not very often) running up and down the side of the pitch with a flag in their hands. Most often these poor fellas have problems with their sight and judgment and are very often from questionable parentage (if the fans are to be believed), but no one will say that they have an easy job.

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