Lesson 9: Football 3

• Offside Positions


  • A player is in an offside position if closer to opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent
  • A player is not penalized for being offside if not involved in active play and not interfering with the goalkeeper, not gaining an advantage, or on the same level as the second last defender
  • A player in an offside position is penalized if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by a teammate, involved in active play by interfering with play, an opponent, or gaining an advantage
  • No offside offense if a player receives the ball directly from a goal kick, a throw-in, or a corner kick
• Referee's power of penalizing extends to offenses committed when play is temporarily suspended or when the ball is out of play
• Referee's Duties

  • Enforces the rules
  • Keeps record of the game and acts as timekeeper
  • Has discretionary power over any infringement of the rules and can suspend or terminate the game due to interference of spectators and other incidents
• Referee's decision is final
• Dropped Ball

  1. Restarting the match after a temporary stoppage while the ball is in play

  2. Referee drops the ball at the place where play was stopped

  3. Play starts when the ball touches the ground

  4. Ball is dropped again if touched by a player before touching the ground or if it leaves the field of play after contact with the ground or player
• Referee's authority commences as soon as he or she enters the field of play