The Ohio State University: College of Education and Human Ecology

Offsides Rule – 2

The Offside Rule – 2

The second offside principle is very similar to the first. Yes, you must be even with or “behind” the second-to-last defender or even with or “behind” the soccer ball in the field of play. Again, this means you must be even with or “behind” the soccer ball when it is kicked – you can receive the ball anywhere on the field after that. You can even be past every defender on the field as long as you are even with the ball!

Defensive red O’s are again defending their goal against offensive blue X’s. There are 2 blue X’s that are “past” the second-to-last defender, but because they are even with or “behind” the soccer ball, they are still onside, and not found to be in violation of the offside rule.

Now, instead of the offside “line” moving with the second-to-last defender, the offside line moves with the ball. It is important to remember though that this only applies when players would otherwise be in an offside rule violation because they are past the second-to-last defender. The offside line does not follow the ball all over the field.

Defensive red O’s are again defending their goal against offensive blue X’s. There are 2 blue X’s that are “past” the second-to-last defender, but because they are even with or “behind” the soccer ball, they are still onside, and not found to be in violation of the offside rule. Now a line is drawn on top of the soccer ball to indicate where the offside line is.

It is because of this rule that a player cannot be offside on a corner kick assuming they receive the ball directly from or off of the corner kick. The ball starts at the goal line – it is impossible to be “past” the ball and still be in the field of play. Once the ball is touched once, you can be offside if you are past the ball and/or the second-to-last defender.