Scheidsvlak

Scheidsvlak is a Dutch term that combines scheids (referee) and vlak (plane or surface). It is used in discussions of sports officiating and spatial analysis of play, rather than as a formal concept in official rulebooks. The term functions as a way to describe an imaginary surface that serves as a reference point for judging positions and actions on the field. Because it is not standardized, its exact orientation and application can vary by sport and author.

In practice, scheidsvlak refers to an abstract plane used to frame judgments about whether actions occur within play, whether a player occupies a legal position, or how an incident relates to the playing area. In football (soccer) and field hockey discussions, it may be invoked when explaining offside decisions, the legality of a shot, or the relation of players to the line of play, without implying a fixed, codified rule.

Outside sports, the term can be used metaphorically to denote a boundary surface or decision plane in arbitration or procedural contexts, though such usage is rare and informal.

Etymology: the compound reflects the idea of a surface associated with refereeing judgments. Usage tends to appear in Dutch-language explanations, training materials, and analytical writings rather than in official documentation.

See also: line of play, offside, referee, spatial analysis in sports.