Does this sound right?

[sten_super]

In which case then, as soon as an opposing player is off the pitch during a passage of play (for whatever reason), the first thing the forward should do is goal-hang right next to the keeper IMMEDIATELY in the hope of receiving the ball. If the game is carrying on, as long as the ref hasn't called the physio over to attend whoever has left the pitch, then you only need ONE defender (ie the keeper) between the forward and the goal-line to remain onside.

The opposing player doesn't even have to be behind the goal-line, it could be anywhere.

I want to see Adams drilling this tactic into our players straight away.

The player DOES have to be behind the goal-line, or at least very deep in his own half; otherwise he wouldn't be "one of the last two defenders".

I also don't know how often a player leaves the pitch randomly without permission; can only think of something like changing boots (which would presumably happen near the dugouts in the middle of the pitch) or if they got a severe injury (although most players now just go down wherever they are on the pitch).

 

[Easy 10]

The player DOES have to be behind the goal-line, or at least very deep in his own half; otherwise he wouldn't be "one of the last two defenders".

I also don't know how often a player leaves the pitch randomly without permission; can only think of something like changing boots (which would presumably happen near the dugouts in the middle of the pitch) or if they got a severe injury (although most players now just go down wherever they are on the pitch).

Pfff, who's to say ? Cos the rules don't actually specify anything about the player having to be behind the goal line, it just says "off the field of play". How deep is "very deep" ? Theres no definition.

By this ruling, a forward could be standing on the edge of the oppositions penalty area, with the keeper on his line and NO defenders around him, receive a forward pass or a punt upfield and still be onside IF an opposition player is somewhere off the pitch without permission.

Fill yer boots. Goalhanging is now LEGAL

 

[sten_super]

Pfff, who's to say ? Cos the rules don't actually specify anything about the player having to be behind the goal line, it just says "off the field of play". How deep is "very deep" ? Theres no definition.

By this ruling, a forward could be standing on the edge of the oppositions penalty area, with the keeper on his line and NO defenders around him, receive a forward pass or a punt upfield and still be onside IF an opposition player is somewhere off the pitch without permission.

Fill yer boots. Goalhanging is now LEGAL

It says 'off the field of play', but it also says he has to be 'one of the last two defenders'. A defender off the field on the half way line would not be the last defender unless the team were holding their offside trap on the half way line, while anyone in the opposition half would not be able to affect an offside decision as he would not be in his own half. All it effectively means is that a player off the field is treated as being in the same position for an offside decision as he would be if he was on the field.

 

[Easy 10]

It says 'off the field of play', but it also says he has to be 'one of the last two defenders'. A defender off the field on the half way line would not be the last defender unless the team were holding their offside trap on the half way line, while anyone in the opposition half would not be able to affect an offside decision as he would not be in his own half. All it effectively means is that a player off the field is treated as being in the same position for an offside decision as he would be if he was on the field.

Sorry to labour the point here, but the rule doesn't actually SPECIFY that at all.
The player off the pitch without permission is deemed active, therefore he could be off the pitch absolutely anywhere, not just behind the goal-line. Although from the forwards point of view, the player being off the pitch behind the goal-line is absolutely ideal, because he can then stand ANYWHERE in the opponents half as long as its not behind the keeper when the ball is played, and still be onside.

As it stands, if he's level with some bloke rolling around on the touchline when they're trying to hold a high line, he'll be onside. Doesn't happen often, but its worth bearing in mind. Some smart-arse forward is going to take advantage sooner or later (and probably get a good kicking into the bargain as well).

 

[sten_super]

Sorry to labour the point here, but the rule doesn't actually SPECIFY that at all.
The player off the pitch without permission is deemed active, therefore he could be off the pitch absolutely anywhere, not just behind the goal-line. Although from the forwards point of view, the player being off the pitch behind the goal-line is absolutely ideal, because he can then stand ANYWHERE in the opponents half as long as its not behind the keeper when the ball is played, and still be onside.

As it stands, if he's level with some bloke rolling around on the touchline when they're trying to hold a high line, he'll be onside. Doesn't happen often, but its worth bearing in mind. Some smart-arse forward is going to take advantage sooner or later (and probably get a good kicking into the bargain as well).

I'm confused. That's exactly what it DOES specify, and what you then go on and use in your example.

"an opposing player cannot be offside when one of the last two defenders has left the field of play"

Ergo if a player, off the field anywhere around the pitch, is one of the last two defenders, then he can play the opposition on side. If, from the position he is writhing in agony, there are more than two defenders between him and the goal, then he is not playing anyone onside, as he would not be "one of the last two defenders".

I'm not sure that players very often attempt to crawl to the sidelines any more... the games I've seen players prefer to hit the deck as soon as they sustain an injury, generally forcing the referee to stop the game. The point is that now NO players will crawl to the sidelines, as it won't do them any good; until they get treatment from a physio (which has to be done with permission from the ref) it makes no difference whether they are on the pitch or not; the only difference being that the referee is more likely to stop play if a player is down on the pitch.