Offside (bandy)

Offside is a rule in bandy which states that if a player is in an offside position when the ball is touched or played by a teammate, the player may not become actively involved in the play.

A player is in an offside position when closer to the opponent's goal-line than both the ball and the second-to-last defender (which is usually the last outfield player), and also in the opponent's half of the bandy field.

Goals scored after committing an offside offence are nullified if caught by the referee.

FIB has clarified in section 11.2 in fine and in the comment section C11.5 of the Bandy Playing Rules that a player who does not participate in the game and does not disturb his opponent, shall not be stopped for offside.

When the game has been stopped because of offside, according to section 11.2 of the Rules the defending team shall have a free-stroke.

The blue forward on the left of the diagram is in an offside position as he is in front of both the second-to-last defender (marked by the dotted line) and the ball. Note that this does not necessarily mean he is committing an offside offence ; it only becomes an offence if the ball were to be played to him at this moment, whether or not he is in an offside position when he receives the ball, as he could receive the ball in an onside position but he'd still have committed an offside offence .
The blue forward in the penalty box of the diagram is not in an offside position , as he is behind the ball, despite the fact that he is in front of all but one of his opponents.