Question Number: 19932

Mechanics 9/12/2008

RE: REC Under 13

Paul of Barstow, CA USA asks...

In tournaments when a player is attacking the goal and gets behind the defenders stops dribbles back in front of the defenders the referee will signal with his arm from front to back and then back to the front. Giving the other team the ball. What is he calling?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

What you are describing sounds like a signal occasionally used to describe an attacking player who was in an offside position, and who then tries to put himself back onside by running back toward the halfway line. The problem is that a player cannot put himself back onside - it requires someone from his team touching the ball and resetting the offside line or movement of the defenders which puts him back in an onside position.

I cannot fathom a situation where a player with the ball, who had it before he dribbled behind the defenders, could be flagged for offside - unless that's where he was when he first received a ball last played or touched by a teammate.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

If my colleague has figured out what you are describing an offside restricted player who when he participated in play looked onside because people move after the ball is played then BOBs your uncle .
I was having a difficult time following this and thought maybe it refered to an indoor soccer question or a ball that went out of play as in over a touchline or goal line? What was the restart? I frankly have no clear idea what the referee had decided.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The only time I ever have used this signal or seen it used was to explain that a player was in offside position when the ball was touched by a teammate and even though he now appears to be onside he must still be punished for an offside offense. A referee using this signal for a player dribbling around the pitch must know something I don't know.