re: When soccer was first conceived, invented, codified, whatever...

quote:

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1) In the rulebooks, benefit of the doubt on offsides should go to the attacking player. In practice this seems to happen about 1/10 times.

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History of the offside rule:

1) Initially, you had to have 3 opposing players (generally keeper and two defenders) in front of you.

2) Amended so that you only had to have 2 opposing players (generally keeper and last defender) in front of you.

3) 1990, Amended so that if you were LEVEL with the last defender, you would be onside. Previously, if you were level, you were offside.

I'd like to make the change where if ANY part of your body (say your foot) is level with the defender, you should be considered onside. I hate it when goals are called back when the player looks like he's only marginally offside. This minor rule change will still prevent cherry picking while giving the attackers the benefit of the doubt on an offside call.