Question Number: 14287

Law 11 - Offside 10/27/2006

Robert of Old Saybrook, CT USA asks...

Does US High School use a different Offside rule than the rest of the world? I'm specifically referring to the "participation" of the offside player. In my daughter's game yesterday the referee called Offside (more than a few times)on an attacking player - who was in an offside position - but was not participating in active play/distracting an opponent/gaining an advantage.

Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

No, the offside positioned player MUST always get involved in play. This referee did not understand this or was just really bad at judging it.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Referees in high school are often as clueless as some referees outside of high school when it comes to judging an offside infraction. I'm constantly amazed and dismayed when I work with experienced ARs that still want to raise the flag when a player is simply in offside position

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

The approach/philosophy should be the same in both cases. The two things that should be present for the offside call to be made are being in the offside position AND becoming involved in play in some manner which can include such subtleties as obstructing the keeper's view of the ball. All the best,

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

High School rule 11 uses the same words, though not in the same order as Law 11. The meaning is the same. The application is the same. It is well within the realm of probability this referee doesn't understand offside and calls it offsides, thereby demonstrating his ignorance of the subject...

Regards,