Question Number: 16496

Law 11 - Offside 8/30/2007

RE: Comp College

Ed Looney of Auburn, Ca U S asks...

This question is a follow up to question 101

A player shoots the ball from 25 yards out and one of his players is pass the last def. would this be offsides

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

It depends on where that player was at the moment the player kicked/shot the ball and what he does next. If at the moment the ball was kicked he was closer to the goal line than the second to last defender and the ball, then he would be in an offside position, but it will depend on what happens next as to whether he is judged to be offside. Should that player have been even with the second to last defender at the moment the ball was shot, then he is not in an offside position - he is onside. If the player in an offside position interferes with play or gains an advantage from that position, then he will be called offside. If he stands still or moves away, the referee will understand he is showing he is not involved.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Not unless the player in the offside position got involved in play. You do not supply enough info for me even to be convinced that the player past the 2nd last defender is even in a offside position. He also needs to be closer to goal line than ball and on attacking half for him to be in an offside position.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

I need more information. What was the teammate of the player passing the ball's position at the moment the ball was played?