AYSO Program: Referee
Lead Instructor: Intermediate
Referee Instructor

Module 16-Offside-
Intermediate and How to
be an Assistant Referee
Latest Revision Date: 1/1/05

Length: 2 � hours

Lesson Plan Number:)
Page: 2 of 9




1. DESCRIPTION
a. To reinforce training and experience obtained by referees in
understanding and applying Law 11 Offside.
b. Provide training to assistant referees to develop adequate knowledge to
effectively act as an assistant referee in more physically demanding and
challenging AYSO matches.

2. GOALS
a. Provide the referee and assistant referee with an intermediate
understanding of the offside, Law 11
b. Reinforce the referee and assistant referee calling offside under FIFA
(AYSO) Laws
c. Cover in detail duties, responsibilities, signals and communications of the
Assistant Referee as outlined in Law 6

3. PREREQUISITES
a. For non-certification: None
b. For certification as Intermediate referee: Basic Referees must complete
Modules 14 through 19 which may be attended in any order
c. For certification as Assistant Referee, U-8 Officials must complete this
module plus Module 10 or 15. Modules 11 may be substituted for this
module.
4. STUDENT MATERIALS
a. AYSO edition FIFA Laws of the Game
b. AYSO Guidance for Referees and Coaches
c. USSF Guide to Procedures for Referees, Assistant Referees and Fourth
Officials
d. USSF Advise to Referees on the Laws of the Game

5. INSTRUCTOR EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS
a. Overhead projector and screen
b. Flip chart, dry or chalk board with markers or chalk
c. TV/VCR
d. Subuteo Game Field
e. Assistant referee flags
f. Video Tape: USSF-Making the Offside Call (featuring Womens World Cup
99)
g. Overheads AYSO Program: Referee
Lead Instructor: Intermediate
Referee Instructor

Module 16-Offside-
Intermediate and How to
be an Assistant Referee
Latest Revision Date: 1/1/05

Length: 2 � hours

Lesson Plan Number:)
Page: 3 of 9




6. INSTRUCTOR NOTES
:
Note to instructors: Part 1-Offside-Intermediate 1 hour
Part 2-How to be an assistant referee 1� hour
Total time 2 � hours. It is strongly recommended that both part 1 & 2 be
presented together.
7. ATTACHMENTS
None (See hand outs and overheads published separately).
AYSO Program: Referee
Lead Instructor: Intermediate
Referee Instructor

Module 16-Offside-
Intermediate and How to
be an Assistant Referee
Latest Revision Date: 1/1/05

Length: 2 � hours

Lesson Plan Number:)
Page: 4 of 9




LESSON PLAN
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Introduce self and co-instructors
B. Introduce topic
C. Link to past, as appropriate

II. BODY

Part 1
A. Offside
Note to instructors: There are a variety of methods of presenting
this information ranging from using visual aids such as the
Subuteo Game Field overhead or dry board. In addition, the
instructor should consider showing the USSF video outlined in the
material section of this lesson plan. It is also important to determine
the knowledge level of the students and make certain that the
presentation is appropriate.
1. The criteria for offside - A player is in an offside position if:
a. he is nearer to his opponents goal line than the ball
b. he is nearer to his opponents goal line than the second to last
defender, and
c. he is in his opponents half of the field
2. A player in an offside position is only penalized if, at the time the ball
touches or is played by one of his team, he is,
a. in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by: interfering
with play or
b. interfering with an opponent or
c. gaining an advantage by being in that position.
3. There is no offside offense if a player receives the ball direct from:
a. a goal kick or
b. a throw-in or
c. a corner kick
For any offside offense the referee awards an indirect free kick to the opposing team.
Unless the offense occurred in the goal area of the team awarded the indirect free kick
the restart will be taken at the point where the offending player was when the offside
infraction occurred. AYSO Program: Referee
Lead Instructor: Intermediate
Referee Instructor

Module 16-Offside-
Intermediate and How to
be an Assistant Referee
Latest Revision Date: 1/1/05

Length: 2 � hours

Lesson Plan Number:)
Page: 5 of 9




B. Confirmation: Instructors may prepare various offside scenarios and use the
Subuteo Game Field, overhead projector, on field demonstration or other
visual aid. The following are questions or situations that may be used in
confirmation.
1. Ask: Blue player A carries out a lone attack on his opponents goal, and is
defeated by the red goalkeeper who has cleared the ball down field. Blue
player A is near the intersection of the red goal area line and goal line when
blue player B intercepts the goalkeepers clearance near to the penalty area
line and shoots the ball into the goal. Is blue player A in an offside position?



Yes.
2. Ask: Is blue player A penalized for being in that offside position?



No.


3. Ask: Why is blue player A not offside?



Because he was not involved in active play.
4.
Ask:

Using the same scenario except the shot taken by blue player B hits the
goal post and is deflected towards blue player A who traps the ball.
Ask:

Is blue player A now penalized for being in an offside position?



Yes. Player A gained an advantage from being in an offside position.
5.
Ask:

In a day with a strong wind the blue team is attacking the red goal
against the wind. A shot on goal goes over the goal line. When the red team
takes the goal kick all of the blue players except the goalkeeper are in the red
half of the field. There are two red players in the blue half of the field. The
red goal kick reaches one of the two red players. The red player dribbles the
ball down field and shoots it into the blue goal. Has a goal been scored?



Yes.
6.
Ask:

Where the red players in an offside position?



Yes.
7.
Ask:

Why were they not offside?



Because players cannot be offside if they receive the ball directly from a goal
kick.
8.
Ask:

What are the other two restarts where a player in an offside position will
not be offside if they receive the ball directly?


Corner Kick and Throw-in.

AYSO Program: Referee
Lead Instructor: Intermediate
Referee Instructor

Module 16-Offside-
Intermediate and How to
be an Assistant Referee
Latest Revision Date: 1/1/05

Length: 2 � hours

Lesson Plan Number:)
Page: 6 of 9




Part 2
a. How to be an assistant referee
1. Objective-To re-train referees to be competent assistant referees
Note to instructors: Be thorough in covering positions and signals.
Use overheads or other visual media to show proper positions and
techniques

It is recommended that this portion of this module, where possible,
be taught outside or in a gymnasium

Some of the material in this module is also contained in Module 14-
And 18, which are modules that are included in the Intermediate
Course. If this module is taught in a course format, carefully review
other modules and modify the presentation to reduce redundancy.
This module should be used as the primary module for teaching
Assistant Referee duties and responsibilities.
2. Briefly review the diagonal system of control
3. Discuss the pre-game instructions and activities
a. Pre-Game
i. Get instructions from ref
ii. Enter as team with ref and other AR
iii. Inspect field and players
iv. Record info (coin toss, etc.)
v. Flag furled
vi. Check nets and move to touch line
vii. Count players, check GK readiness (silently)
viii. When read you unfurl flag and hold down, make eye contact
with ref
b. During Game
i. Job is to assist, not insist
ii. Give ref the facts, decision is his to make
iii. Eye contact with ref extremely important
iv. AR has 3 lines of responsibility
1. Touch line
2. Goal line AYSO Program: Referee
Lead Instructor: Intermediate
Referee Instructor

Module 16-Offside-
Intermediate and How to
be an Assistant Referee
Latest Revision Date: 1/1/05

Length: 2 � hours

Lesson Plan Number:)
Page: 7 of 9




3. Offside line This is one of three locations. Second-
to-last defender or ball behind STL defender or half
way line.
c. While ball is in play you are in 1 of 3 locations
i. Second-to-last-defender (STLD)
ii. Following ball behind STLD all the way to goal line
iii. Halfway line
iv. Side-stepping is most common way to move, but you must
turn and run when necessary.
d. Restarts
i. Kick offSTLD
ii. Throw-inoffside line, if in throwers way move slightly
toward goal line; should always be goal line side of thrower
unless throw is so fast you cant get there without interfering
(immediately move after signaling to get proper position)
iii. Corner kickLooking down goal line whether kick is taken
from location 1 or 2; on near side kick can move back to get
out of kickers way after checking ball placement
iv. Goal kickstart at 6 yd. line to make sure ball is in goal
area, then move either to 18 to check ball in play or
encroachment or move to STLD if GK is going to kick long
v. Penalty kick---move to intersection of goal line