| Your daughter just signed up for a youth soccer | | | | more. The time it takes for the ball to travel this |
| team, and the team needs a volunteer coach. You | | | | distance allows time for a player to get into a |
| don't know if you have time, however when the | | | | position that looks to be very clearly an offside |
| email comes out with the ultimatum of finding a | | | | position. However, since the player was not in that |
| coach or not playing, you decided to step up. | | | | position when the ball was kicked, the advantage |
| Coaching you daughter's team should be a rewarding | | | | goes to the offensive player, as they moved into |
| experience, but you need to have a place to turn for | | | | that position after the ball was kicked. The new |
| preparation and resources. Many good books are on | | | | coach or parent is left to wonder what the point of |
| the market describing what and how to coach, and | | | | the rule is in the first place since it appeared that the |
| many more about the rules of soccer. One of the | | | | offensive player was ahead of the defender when |
| most basic rules, yet seemingly one of the hardest | | | | they received the ball. The second is the defensive |
| to understand for people new to soccer is the | | | | strategy to use the offsides trap. This can be a very |
| offsides rule. | | | | effective, especially against aggressive offensive |
| The offsides rule is simply designed to prevent | | | | teams. The strategy involves constantly pushing the |
| teams from keeping a player in an offensive position | | | | defense up before the forward pass is made, causing |
| that would give them an unfair advantage. The rule | | | | the offensive player to be in an offside position |
| basics are as follows: | | | | when the ball was kicked. Defensive coordination is |
| · Offensive player must have one defender | | | | key, and mistakes are often very costly, however |
| and the goalie between them and the goal | | | | the reward is the ability to shut down a superior |
| · Offensive player must be over the half line | | | | offensive team allowing your team to stay in the |
| · The offsides position is determined when | | | | game. |
| the ball is kicked, not where the player is when they | | | | Coaching soccer can be a very rewarding experience. |
| receive the ball | | | | Understanding the rules and having resources for |
| · The offensive player must be in front of | | | | practice and games are essential for success. Keep |
| the ball, if the ball is in front of the player, they | | | | your practices moving, fun, and reinforce the positive |
| cannot be offsides | | | | aspects of every players game, and your players will |
| · No offsides on a throw-in | | | | respond. The offside rule can be confusing, but |
| That's it, fairly simple right? | | | | understanding the basics: when was the ball kicked, |
| The rule gets a little complicated for two reasons. | | | | and have a player and the goalie between you and |
| The first is that timing determining whether a player | | | | the goal, will break the rule into simple and |
| is in an offside position is when the ball is kicked. In | | | | understandable pieces. |
| soccer, the ball can be kicked from 50 yards away or | | | | |