One of the English 50-pence pieces issued to commemorate the 2012 Olympics. (image source: mirror.co.uk)
England has released 29 commemorative 50-pence coins to promote the upcoming 2012 Olympics in London. Which makes me wonder if they have to endure endless ads from an English equivalent of the Franklin Mint. We can only hope so.
Each of these limited-time issues celebrate a specific sport. And the one for soccer has created quite a stir, as it is designed to illustrate the offside rule. According to some, the coin may only add to the confusion about this often misunderstood rule.
A linesman signaling offside. (image source: seensport magazine)
The Offside Rule
Historically, a player is deemed offside if they have fewer than two opponents between them and their opponents’ goal at the moment the ball is passed to them. The purpose of this rule is to prevent what we in America call “cherry-picking.”
For attackers, the key to staying onside is timing their run. They want to be even with the last defender (in most cases, the opposition goalkeeper counts for the second player between the attacking player and the goal) the moment the ball is passed to them. In cases when the attacker is even with the defender, the linesman is supposed to rule in favor of the attacker. That is, of course, assuming the linesmen himself is even with the two of them and therefore in a position to make the call.
The real challenge for officials, linesmen, and players is keeping one eye on the ball (to determine exactly when it is passed) and the other eye on the attacker and defender in question (to determine whether or not the attacker is in an offside position at that particular moment). It’s hard to do, since human eyes don’t work independently of one another.
The best way for attackers to time this correctly is to make diagonal runs. Instead of sprinting towards goal and hoping their teammate passes them the ball before they run past the last defender (again, assuming the goalkeeper is in a position to count as the second man), smart strikers will gain speed by running diagonally, only turning upfield – and past the defender – the moment the ball is kicked.
In modern times, the rule has been modified so that an attacker can be in an offside position but only ruled offside if he receives the ball. In other words, the player is in a position that would rule him offside if he did receive the pass, but if he doesn’t receive the pass (or, as we’ll see, otherwise interfere with the action) then there is no offense.
A good example of this is when there is a direct kick on goal. An attacking player may choose to place himself in an offside position if he believes his teammate is going to put the shot on goal. The intent is for the player to be there to kick in any ball that may be mishandled by the goalkeeper. This is tough to defend against, because if a defender marks that player then it allows other attackers to move that much closer to the goal, putting them all onside.
As I mentioned, referees and linesman must also now determine whether or not the player in the offside position has an effect on the play. For example, an attacker in an offside position may not receive the ball (and therefore be deemed offside), but he can be ruled as such if he interferes with the goalkeeper (or some other aspect of the game) by being in that position.
This is where things get tricky, as interference can be as straightforward as screening the goalkeeper to something more difficult to determine, such as visually distracting the goalkeeper. This can be accomplished by dancing around in the keeper’s line of sight, hoping to distract him from those who have the ball. It can also be as simple and subtle as being at the far post, which some officials might rule is distracting because the goalkeeper knows his opponent is there and – uncertain as to whether or not the player is onside – must treat him as an eligible threat and expose more of the goal at the near post to cover the possibility of the player receiving the ball at the far post.
The bottom line is that if the referee feels the player is gaining an advantage by being in an offside position, then it is an offense. Which has led to a lot of the misunderstandings, including those surrounding the coin, because many still assume its an offense to simply be in an offside position.
The diagram on the coin that caused the uproar. (image source: mirror.co.uk)
The Coin Confusion
Frankly, I think the media critical of the coin design are being a bunch of twits. Nowhere on the coin does it claim that the player labeled “offside” is committing an offense, which is the assumption that led to the criticism. It simply identifies which player is in an offside position, and does so accurately and clearly.
Besides, can you reasonably expect a coin to convey all that I just explained – on one side? No, but that doesn’t mean they were wrong for trying. Though it does fall short of detailing all its idiosyncracies (as even this article does), the coin does serve as a basis for explaining the rule. Plus it’s worth 50 pence!
Speaking of worth: for what it’s worth, here’s what FIFA has to say about the offside rule in the governing body’s 140-page Laws of the Game:
Offside position
It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position. A player is in an offside position if:
• he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent
A player is not in an offside position if:
• he is in his own half of the field of play or
• he is level with the second-last opponent or
• he is level with the last two opponents
Offence
A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by:
• interfering with play or
• interfering with an opponent or
• gaining an advantage by being in that position
No Offence
There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from:
• a goal kick
• a throw-in
• a corner kick
Hand Ball: The Game’s Most Misunderstood Rule
Offside may be the most commonly asked about rule in the game. And it can often be explained to novices with the use of a few pint glasses. But the most misunderstood rule in all of soccer is the hand ball – also known as handling the ball. This is especially true among parents watching youth soccer in the United States, but it’s shocking how many football fanatics around the world – even on-air commentators and TV pundits – get it wrong.
The most infamous hand ball was committed by Diego Maradona in Argentina's quarterfinal against England in the 1986 World Cup. Despite his arm clearly being in an unatural position, the referee failed to make the right call, allowing Maradona to punch the ball over the keeper and into the net for a goal. Argentina won the match 2-1, and went on to hoist the trophy after beating West Germany in the final. Rather than admitting that he cheated, as the video evidence clearly demonstrated, Maradona claimed the goal was scored with his head and the "hand of God." Yes, not only did he cheat and then lie about it, but he also claimed that God was complicit. (image source: abhisays.com)
When you ask someone what the first rule of the game is, most will state that you can’t touch the ball with your hands. But in FIFA’s 140-page Laws of the Game, they only dedicate four words to the subject. Under the second set of player offenses for which a direct kick can be awarded, “handles the ball deliberately” is the last of three offenses listed. And there is even a set of seven other offenses listed before this one.
I stress this because hand – and arm – contact is assumed to be a grievous infraction by most. And players, pundits, and parents alike immediately demand a call whenever the ball comes in contact with a player’s hand or arm.
But that is clearly not what the rule states. The key word that everyone seems to overlook is “deliberately.” The ball making contact with a player’s hand or arm is not a hand ball. It does not mean that a free kick should be awarded by the referee.
Even some referees get confused by this. And it’s understandable, because often times it is difficult to determine what is “deliberate.”
If I am in a wall, defending against a free kick, and I’m covering my Dick Cheney with my hands, my intent should be quite clear to the official: I prefer to avoid the pain associated with badly bruised testicles. Therefore, a ball that’s kicked into the wall and strikes my hand or arm should not be deemed a “deliberate” handling of the ball. It is not an offense, according to the rules of the game. It’s what we call “unintentional.”
However, if I extend my arm out to the side or up above my head, in an unatural position, it should be clear that my attempt is to handle the ball, to deliberately block the shot. In this case, an offense is made and the official should deem it as such.
Things can get interesting when a player raises his arm to protect his face in such situations. Those kicks can travel as fast as 70-100 mph, and you definitely don’t want to take one to the head – let alone your face. But it’s tough for a ref to determine what’s a natural protection of the players face and head, and when the player is lifting or extending his elbow – as his forearm remains over his face – in an attempt to block the shot.
Clearly it’s a challenge for the officials. But one area where I feel they fall short is when it comes to a player’s arms being in a natural position. Watch a player when he takes a shot. His arms are typically out wide, for balance, and often times one arm will swing above his head on the follow-through. If the ball is deflected back at that player, striking him in the arm or hand, no offense should be awarded. The player’s arms arm in a natural position, therefore he did not make a deliberate attempt to play the ball with them.
The same is true for defenders, who often have their arms out for balance when running or turning. Just because a shot or cross strikes them in the arm doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a hand ball. And when a player clearly tries to move his arm out of the path of the ball yet is still struck by it, referees definitely should not deem that an offense.
When it doubt, the best thing to do is see if the player moved his arm or hand towards the path of the ball. In most cases (though there are exceptions, such as when a player is falling forward), this indicates a deliberate effort to handle the ball. That’s a hand ball. Otherwise, the ball making contact with a player’s hand or arm is not an offense.
Keepers Get A Break
In closing, I’d like to note the one rule that is almost universally ignored by officials at all levels, in all countries. According to FIFA’s Laws of the Game, an indirect free kick shall be awarded (at the spot of the infraction) when a goalkeeper “controls the ball with his hands for more than six seconds before releasing it from his possession.”
You often see goalkeepers holding the ball in their arms for more than six seconds, especially when they are trying to kill time towards the end of a game in which they are leading. Even when fans count to six, rarely does an official ever award the free kick. And, in fairness, it’s understandable. Six seconds isn’t a lot of time for a goalkeeper to look around and make sure an opponent isn’t sneaking up behind him, to then survey the field looking for a teammate to send the ball to, before actually rolling, throwing, kicking, or punting it to that teammate. In fact, it took you more than six seconds to read that last sentence.
Despite having 140 pages describing the laws of the game, officials must make a lot of split second decisions about the intent of athletes – most of whom are determined to win by any means possible. It’s not easy. And if you have never officiated a game, you should give it a try. Maybe then you’ll opt to give the ref a break next time you disagree with his call.
