In most field games in which the main purpose is to score through the opponents' goal, some restrictions are applied to prevent a player waiting in close proximity to the goal. ready to score from short range.

The restricting rule in soccer is known as the offside law. and it provides notable technical features of the game. As the punished infringement of this law results in an immediate break down of attack, it is essential that the issue of the law should he clearly grasped in all its details.

It is not an offence in itself for a player 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 shall only be penalised for being in an offside position 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 with an opponent, or
• gaining an advantage by being in that position.

A player is not in an offside position if:

• he is in his own half of the field of play
• he is level with the second last opponent
• he is level with at least two opponents.

There is no offence if a player receives the ball direct from a throw- in, corner kick or goal kick.

For an infringement of the law. an indirect free kick is taken by a player of the opposing team from the place where the infringement occurred (unless the offence is committed by a player in his opponents goal area, in which case the free kick is taken from anywhere within the goal area).

from Know the Game Soccer, ISBN 0-7136-6008-2

Published by A& C Black £4.99