Why is the offside rule necessary in football (soccer)?

Question

So why not let them 'cherry pick'? There's always a defensive price to pay for going too far forward. It should be a choice whether you want to go more for offence or defence. I've seen so many wonderful athletic plays called back for what seems like an unecessary rule.

Uuuh, the boundary would be the lines on the field.

The offside trap seems to me to be a silly way to defend your goal. The only reason that is a sound strategy is because people are reacting to what seems to me an odd rule.

Answer 1

The main consequence of the offside rule is decreasing the size of the "playable field". I believe it is an important rule, so it makes the game more plastic, enjoyable to watch. Without the rule, it would be more physical, those that could run better would have bigger advantage. Also, some of the best plays are about dealing with that rule. Without off-sides, there would be probably more goals, but they would be definitely, much worse-looking.
It is interesting to notice that, originally, the off-side rule was even more strict: it was necessary TWO defenders plus the goalie before the ball line to make the play legal. It changed long ago, in the early 1900's. Football originated from the same rules as rugby did, and this fact is an evidence of that.

Answer 2

Because there is no skill or strategy in "cherry picking". Picture what the game would look like ... basically just a mass of people running as fast as they can up the field trying to catch a pass (kind of like American Football :-) Why not just allow players to pick up the ball and run with it? And why only 1 point for a goal? Why not 3 points for a goal on the field (like... a field goal), 2 for a goal scored on a corner kick, 1 for a penalty shot. But then.... well, it would not be the same game. As far as seeing great plays ruined by a silly rule.. if the team was offsides, it was no more a great play then if someone hit the ball into the net with his hand .. but it was a really nice looking hand ball.

Answer 3

Supposedly to stop cherry-picking, but it would seem to be better if soccer had a rule similar to the NHL, where the puck must cross the blue line before any offensive player can go into the offensive zone (my suggestion would be a dashed line a few meters out from the penalty arc, so that there could be no offsides unless the ball goes back over that line).

Would stop the stupid offsides traps that teams always try.

Answer 4

becuz otherwise u could justt stand by the goal and wait for a kick and tap it in becuz kick low and upclose are very hard for a keeper to defend
and so it makes it harder to score making the game more exciting.
also an an offsides trap it is an effective way to defend cuz once u pull up the the oposindg forwards r useless
its just a rule of the game if u play get used to it and if u don't it would make more sice if u did

Answer 5

there was actually a few matches a few years ago,where they tried to see how the game would be played with out offsides and without the use of a "blue line".. so cherry picking was encouraged in other words...

but, the game was still mostly played around the midfield, there was no overly obvious plays of cherry picking, because teams would still mark up that man.

offsides basically keeps the game in a somewhat more 'zone' type defense as compared to a more man on man style

Answer 6

All sports has rule, and it's something like in american football, related to the ruled that the ball can not be pass by a forward-pass to another player after the line of scrimmage.
In each case (soccer or american football) each rule was define to avoid advantage in a play, when this advantage is not consider fair.
This rules that avoid the unfair advantage, in soccer are refer as the Offside rule.

It you want to see and understad the offside law, check this article, that has a flash animation:
http://www.aysosm.org/misc/fifa-offside/offside.html
it;s very cool.

Answer 7

Because people could cherry pick and just stand down by the goalie and when the defense moved up get a pass and be alone with the goalie.

Answer 8

It is not as simple as you say, but I agree with you.

The pitch would be bigger( as using an offside tactic will make the playing area smaller) and thus enjoy a more open game with more chances.

Answer 9

So that offenses of a soccer team would be evened out with defenses. Its really not simple at all.

Answer 10

why would it not be? there has to be a boundary, otherwise they would wind up playing out in the streets.