Offside

Still the most misunderstood Law of the Game. 

Be sure to watch the video linked at the end of the article!  It contains the best, most simple explanation of offside I have found.

Law #11 Offside

First of all a clarification for American's. The correct term is offside, with no "s" on the end. Offsides occurs in American football, not soccer. Offside is probably the most difficult LOTG of soccer for spectators to understand and interpret.

1) An attacking player must be behind the ball OR have two defending players between him and the goal when the ball is played to him.

2) A player cannot be offside on his own half of the field.

That's the simplest explanation I can give.

Complications:

Offside does not have to be called on a player in an offside position. A determination is made by the referee crew if that player is involved with play.

The call of offside is NOT always made immediately upon the ball being played forward to a teammate. The proper technique for the AR and CR is to wait until a play is made on the ball by a player in an offside position. If no play is made on the ball by an atacking player in an offside position, play is not stopped and continues with a defender playing the ball.

Furthermore, you cannot be offside when receiving the ball directly from a thrown-in , on a goal kick in your favor or if you receive a ball directly from a corner kick.

This is a link to an excellent animated explanation of offside. It does a far better job than my written word can do.


http://www.dynamic-thought.com/OffsideClicketteLo.html