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[mhall]

I may not have referenced the title correctly, but what I would like to know is whether there is a limit to how far beyond the side line a player can be while playing in the game.  Here's an example of what I am looking at.  An offensive player is running down the field.  He is at or near the side line and runs 2 to 3 yards outside of the side line.  Is there a limit to how far outside the field of play a player can run?

This was brought up last night during a discussion between parents because in our kids game the day before we watched a player run outside the limits of the field by a good two or three yards, return to the field of play, gather the ball on a pass and run at goal.  This was all in the course of an offensive build-up moving down the field of play.

Thanks for the help as always!!

[kameharem]

I'm not a Ref but I found this in the Fifa Laws of the Game:

Going off the fi eld of play
may be considered to be part of a playing movement.

[mhall]

Thanks kame!  No reference as to a limit of how far you can go off of the field though.

[Futsal]

Did you know that you can be standing outside the field and play the ball as long is it remains within the field?

[kameharem]

Yes, in soccer it is the position of the ball that determines play and not the position of the players so there is nothing in the rules except to state that a player will not be penalized for leaving the field of play and that leaving the field may be part of the playing movement.

The only exceptions listed are for players leaving and returning for substitutions or for injury treatment and then there are rules around how and when to enter the game and permision from the refs.

or so I have read if I haven't missed anything.

[mhall]

Yeah, I knew that a player could basically play the ball from outside the lines on the field.  Thanks!

[Futsal]

Two other fun questions

1. If a goalkeeper steps outside the penalty area but is holding the ball within the penalty area ... is it handling the ball?

2. Can a goalkeeper drop kick a ball outside the penalty area if the ball was released from his/her hands while still inside the penalty area?

[metz123]

There used to be a scenario on the ref exams way back in the day that involved a player stepping off the end line to avoid being on the field, so they could would not be offsides. Once they changed the rules on offsides to involve a player attempting to play the ball or being involved in the play, that scenario went away.

The scenario posed back in the day was...

Q: Player in offside position, to avoid being called offside, they step off the field over the end line. What should the ref do?

A: Player would not be offside but would not be allowed back onto the field of play until a stoppage in play (similar to a player having to leave the field due to a bleeding issue or a uniform infraction).

[mhall]

Hi Metz!

So, it use to be that if a player stepped off of the pitch he was no longer considered offside?  Now the rule is that he is offside regardless if he is on the field or off of the field.

So, ultimately if the field has enough room a player can run outside the sidelines as much as he wants and not affect the play of the game in any way.  Good to know and it answers the question.  Thanks!

[Redkard]

The big question would be is that player still involved with play.  If the player returns to the field and becomes involved with play they could be considered taking advantage from being in an offside position.

If a defensive player steps off the field to put an attacker in an offside position, that defender can be issued a yellow card for unsporting behavior.  A referee should still have counted that player as if they were on the touchline or goal line (where ever they left the field).

At the levels that we deal with this would be a very rare situation.

[Bathos]

The cartoon series "You Are The Ref" had a similar issue this week regarding corner kicks.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jan/05/robin-van-persie-arsenal

[BigBilly]

Yes or No: If a player leaves the area of play (other than a dead ball) only the ref may allow him/her back on the pitch?

It sounds like we have conflicting reports on what is allowed and what is not. 

[ThiKuBC]

If you leave the field of play only the ref can allow you back on. Not the lino's or the 4th.

Obviously if you slide out of play making a tackle etc etc you can feel free to walk back on the pitch.

[Refdad]

Two other fun questions

1. If a goalkeeper steps outside the penalty area but is holding the ball within the penalty area ... is it handling the ball?
NO
2. Can a goalkeeper drop kick a ball outside the penalty area if the ball was released from his/her hands while still inside the penalty area?
YES

[Refdad]

If you leave the field of play only the ref can allow you back on. Not the lino's or the 4th.

Obviously if you slide out of play making a tackle etc etc you can feel free to walk back on the pitch.

Players are permitted to leave the field of play without the referee's permission when it's incidental to playing the game.  The game is played on the field and players are expected to return to the field promptly when play does takes them off the field.

Players leaving the field to deceive an opponent have committed a cautionable offense. The context of the why they left the field (or what they did) will determine the reason for the Caution (yellow card).  But at minimum, the caution can be for leaving the field without the referee's permission.  

There's no set distance or limitation in the Laws at which a player off the field of play is to be considered "leaving without permission."  As with much in soccer, it's left to the opinion of the referee in that match.  Referees are best just asking themselves if the action that took the player of the field was part of "normal" play.  Or, if a player leaves the field, is what they have done or doing an effort to "cheat".

Otherwise, let's keep playing...

[mhall]

Hey refdad!

That explains what my question was asking for me and actually makes sense.  Thank you for the explanation.

[Oneblindmouse]

A player is allowed to leave the pitch during the course of play only if it would be a natural movement; i.e. sprinting for a ball that was going out of touch in an effort to keep it in touch, or to go around another player.  A couple of yards would not be something I would concern myself with, however if they left the pitch in an effort to deceive the other team into thinking they were not currently apart of the 11 players then we have moved into the idea of trickery and deception.  Players are to be issued a yellow card/caution for leaving the pitch without the referee's permission.  I personally have never seen or heard of an actual instance of a player leaving for trickery/deception, but I guess some coach could think it might work to their teams advantage..... 

I may not have referenced the title correctly, but what I would like to know is whether there is a limit to how far beyond the side line a player can be while playing in the game.  Here's an example of what I am looking at.  An offensive player is running down the field.  He is at or near the side line and runs 2 to 3 yards outside of the side line.  Is there a limit to how far outside the field of play a player can run?

This was brought up last night during a discussion between parents because in our kids game the day before we watched a player run outside the limits of the field by a good two or three yards, return to the field of play, gather the ball on a pass and run at goal.  This was all in the course of an offensive build-up moving down the field of play.

Thanks for the help as always!!

[Oneblindmouse]

Yes, in soccer it is the position of the ball that determines play and not the position of the players so there is nothing in the rules except to state that a player will not be penalized for leaving the field of play and that leaving the field may be part of the playing movement.

The only exceptions listed are for players leaving and returning for substitutions or for injury treatment and then there are rules around how and when to enter the game and permision from the refs. Players can also be cautioned for leaving the pitch if the referee feels that it was not part of the normal course of play - theoretically a player could be cautioned for leaving the pitch w/o permission if the player merely stepped off the pitch.  The idea of not cautioning a player who leaves the pitch during the normal course of play takes into consideration that they immediately return and that they did not "intentionally" leave the pitch to circumvent some other Law

or so I have read if I haven't missed anything.

[Oneblindmouse]

Two other fun questions

1. If a goalkeeper steps outside the penalty area but is holding the ball within the penalty area ... is it handling the ball?
Nope, ball is still within the penalty area and therefore the special exceptions for a keeper handling the ball inside the penalty area apply
2. Can a goalkeeper drop kick a ball outside the penalty area if the ball was released from his/her hands while still inside the penalty area?Yep, but this causes us refs so much grief as it will undoubtably elicit some parent/coach to yell at us for allowing the keeper to "handle" the ball outside of the penalty area 

[Oneblindmouse]

Hi Metz!

So, it use to be that if a player stepped off of the pitch he was no longer considered offside?  Now the rule is that he is offside regardless if he is on the field or off of the field.In this case the player is considered to be on the goal-line and therefore can still be included in the offside decision - regarding whether or not they became involved in play

So, ultimately if the field has enough room a player can run outside the sidelines as much as he wants and not affect the play of the game in any way.  Good to know and it answers the question.  Thanks!Not really, the only reason a player should leave the pitch while the ball is in play is if they have no other choice, to leave the pitch on a regular basis would definitely draw the attention of the ref and start to make them wonder why the player was leaving (deception/trickery)

[Oneblindmouse]

Yes or No: If a player leaves the area of play (other than a dead ball) only the ref may allow him/her back on the pitch?
Regardless of when a player leaves the pitch, only the ref has the authority to let a player back on.  If a player, during active play and with no attempt at deception/trickery, leaves the pitch, they may immediately return to the pitch as part of the fluid nature of play in soccer.  If they step off in order to circumvent some Law of the Game, they cannot return to the pitch until the ref beckons them back on, most likely at the next stoppage of play and after they have been issued a yellow card for UB.  Contrary to popular opinion among coaches, just because it is a dead ball situation does not mean you get to automatically substitute your players, you must wait for the ref's permission before calling off the players to be substituted and then also wait for the ref's permission to send on your substitutes.

It sounds like we have conflicting reports on what is allowed and what is not. 

[Oneblindmouse]

The cartoon series "You Are The Ref" had a similar issue this week regarding corner kicks.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jan/05/robin-van-persie-arsenal

Situation #2 brings up another good thought, when a ref beckons you onto the pitch, you had better be ready to enter the pitch right away, you do not get to delay your entrance onto the pitch.  If the ref beckons you on and you do not enter, they will consider this to say that you are not entering at all, and then if you do you will most certaintly earn yourself a yellow card for entering the pitch without permission.