Thoughts on the Offside Law from a U8 Referee

The offside rule in soccer may be confusing for new coaches, referees and players. Basically an attacking player receiving a pass from a teammate must have two or more defenders as close or closer to the defenders’ goal (usually one is the goalkeeper). Otherwise the referee is to blow the whistle and give the defending team an indirect free kick from the point where the offside player was at the time the ball was last touched by a teammate.

As a second year referee doing and watching U8 games, I have occasionally seen players setting up behind the defense, receiving a pass and going in all alone on the goalkeeper. This "cherry picking" whether intentional or not has usually not been called (and I've missed a few myself).  Our aim as referees at the U8 level is to educate our kids regarding the rules - at this age they are just learning the game. (That is why we allow "do-overs" on improper throw-ins for example). Hopefully as the season progresses the players (and new referees and coaches) will become more familiar with what the rules mean.

My inclination at this point is to only call obvious cases of "cherry picking" at the U8 level (and not at all at U6).  When in doubt, let them play! But not enforcing the rules at all doesn't help to teach the players - if they continue on to the U10 and above levels the referees will expect them to know the rules and will call the game "by the book". Therefore, now is the time to start the educating (while having fun of course!).

Please note that offside is NOT to be called when the player receives the ball directly via throw-ins, corner kicks and goal kicks; and does not apply if “the offside” occurs while the attacker is still in their own (defensive) half of the field.

Hope this helps!!

Ron Schneeberger

To view the United States Soccer
Federation’s offside presentation, please
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To view a BBC guide on offisde, as modified by us, please click here.
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