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Law 11: Offside
Offside is not called in 6U or 8U.

Something interesting to note...though you may think Offside was intended to help the defense, the intent was actually to ensure that players earn the right to shoot on the goal in a fair manner. The soccer pioneers didn't think "Cherry Picking" was fair as those players didn't work for it, nor earn the right to shoot.

Also note...in Soccer, Offside means the player is off their side. Since a team only has one side...it is never plural.

An Offside infraction has two requirements:
1. A player has to be in an offside position; AND
2. That same player must be involved in active play

A player is in an offside position if he/she:
1. is in the opponents' half of the field; AND
2. is closer to the opponents' goal line than at least two opponents; AND
3. is closer to the opponents' goal line than the ball.

Offside is judged at the moment the ball is played or touched by a teammate.

It is not an infringement to be in an offside position if the player is not participating in play.

A player may be involved in active play by:
1. Interfering with play; or
2. Interfering with an opponent; or
3. Gaining an advantage by being in an offside position.

If a player is in an offside position, but the ball doesn't make it to them and they run back to get it, they are still Offside. A player cannot run onside to get the ball played towards them. 

Restart: The restart for Offside is an Indirect Free Kick for the defending team, and it is taken at the point the infraction occurred.

Exceptions:
A player in an offside position who receives the ball directly from a goal kick, corner kick or throw-in, is NOT penalized for offside.

There it is...pretty simple, right?

Keep in mind with this law as with any other, the Laws are written "In the opinion of the Referee".

Any foul, any infraction, any offside, will always be seen differently by different people. What I see in one game, an assistant referee may see differently depending on their angle for example. Coaches seem to see everything...but they too are at a different angle or may not thoroughly understand the way the Laws have been written.

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