Retreating Line
Information Booklet
Introduction
The retreating line has been used successfully in New Zealand Football since October 2011, with
WaiBOP football adopting this game day format for our U11 teams in the Junior Development
Program (Waikato Reps) and U12 Federation Talent Centre (FTC) program.
The ruling encourages all teams to play the ball out from the back with defenders learning to control
and accept the ball without been put under immediate pressure. While at the same time it
encourages midfield players to make run to show for the ball between the lines, while strikers learn
to defend from the front by making angled runs to close the ball down. Overall it provides our young
players realistic movements both on and off the ball.
Technical Overview
A line is marked on the playing field to indicate
the ‘Retreating Line’ (approx. 13m from goalline). This can be either a line marked on the
pitch or alternatively cones can be placed next
to the side-line to create a guideline. The
purpose of the Retreating line is to encourage
teams/players to play out from the goalkeeper
When a team’s goalkeeper catches/picks-up
the ball or is taking a goal kick, the opposition
must drop back behind the retreating line.
Only after the goalkeeper plays the ball out,
and a teammate retouches the ball can the
opposition advance over the retreating line.
PLAYERS MUST BE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE
THEIR FIRST TOUCH AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
Technical Overview Cont…
If an attacking player advances beyond the
retreating line before the opposition has
touched the ball, or fails to drop behind the
line, the match referee will award an indirect
free kick on the retreating line.
The retreating line is also the offside line on
attack.
The attacking player (Yellow) is OFFSIDE
when receiving a pass from a team-mate in a
position between the defending team’s
retreating line and goal line, at the moment
the ball touches or is played by one of his
team
RETREATING
LINE
OFFSIDE
The attacking player (Yellow) is ONSIDE when
receiving a pass from a team-mate in a
position before the defending team’s
retreating line even if he is beyond the last
defender, at the moment the ball touches or
is played by one of his team.
Retreating Line – Pitch Dimensions
9 v 9 Boys
Pitch Dimension: 70m x 50m
Penalty Area: 16m wide x 8m out
Retreating Line distance from Goal Line: 13m
7 v 7 Girls
Pitch Dimension: 55m x 35m
Penalty Area: 16m wide x 8m out
Retreating Line distance from Goal Line: 13m