When to Hold the Offside Line and When to Run with the Attacker

Playing a high line is popular at every level of the game.  Lots of teams like to try and shrink space by playing a tight line. The problem is, a team with quick players who can time their runs are going to get a lot of 1-on-1s with your keeper.  

Figuring out when to hold the line and when to follow the runner is tough work, but here’s the best way to think about it.  

Don’t Assume the Ref Will Make the Right Call

Though refs call off-sides all the time, you can’t assume the referee will make the right call every time. Soccer is a game of mistakes, and that includes the refs. 

That being said, let’s say you’re holding the off-side line with your teammates, and an attacking player appears to break the line slightly before the ball is played in their direction. Don’t assume the referee is going to make the right call. Your perspective is also different from the referee’s. You might think that an attacking player has run past you, when in reality, they’re running horizontally. 

The safer, more intelligent option is to run with the attacker, and assume the referee ISN’T going to call off-sides. This way, you can keep the attacker away from the goal if they receive the ball. 

When in Doubt, Go – Don’t Stay

In an alternative scenario, let’s say you’re holding the off-side line and the other team is moving the ball deeper and deeper into the attacking third. Suddenly, an attacking player starts running towards the goal and they’re about to break the off-side line. 

You look up the field to see if a pass is coming, but you can’t tell for sure. 

When in doubt, it’s best to apply the same logic as the previous example and run with the attacker.  

You might be thinking, “What if I chase the attacker past the off-side line, only to find out the ball hasn’t been played? Isn’t that a waste of energy?”.

As cliche as it sounds, better safe than sorry. You had no idea whether the ball was going to be played or not. Sometimes, being safe and smart requires a little energy. 

Communicating When Holding the Off-Side Line

Another crucial aspect of holding the off-side line is communication with your teammates. In many cases, an attacking player breaks the off-side line, and the defense isn’t sure who should chase them. Maybe the attacker is running between you and your teammate, but your teammate has your back to them. Or, maybe you’re not sure if your teammate can see the attacking player or not.  

The only way to find out is to communicate to your teammate (e.g. “Runner!”, “Drop, drop, drop…” etc). If your teammate doesn’t hear you, the runner is your responsibility.  

Navigating uncertain situations like this is much easier when you’ve seen how the pros do it. That’s why we created BGTV, a massive library of professional footage organized by position. Each clip features high-level players making smart decisions - like chasing attackers past the off-side line - with analysis from professionals explaining how the player knew what to do. 

When you find yourself in the same situation, you’ll remember the footage you watched and take action, instead of standing still and wondering what to do. More familiarity with different situations = quicker decision making, something coaches and scouts love to see. 

Ready to check out BGTV? Use code FREEMONTH1 to get your first month free!