Question Number: 19944

Law 11 - Offside 9/14/2008

RE: Comp Under 15

Jay of sacramento, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 19925

Offside player is in pursuit of the ball and is the only one who is reasonably able to get it. Richard Dawson states that the AR should raise the flag at this point. Let's say the player's team mate sees the flag before the center and yells out 'Hey, Susie, you're offide'. So Susie stops pursuing the ball before the center blows the whistle. No call?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The assistant's flag is a signal to the referee that offside should be called. It might also indicate something to Susie, with or without the intervention of her teammate. No matter - if the referee accepts the AR's call, then Susie is offside. She should have recognized her offsidedness (is that a word? it is now) a moment or two earlier.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The only reason to delay or wait to signal an offside infraction would be if there was an onside player who could also potentially get to the ball being pursued by the offside positioned attacker.

Without that caveat, there is no reason not to put up the flag at the moment the offside positioned player becomes involved in active play by interfering with play or an opponent or by gaining an advantage in the AR's opinion.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

In the words of that imortal song It's Too Late' by Carole King.
It too late SUZIE its TOO late although we really did try to make it!
If you reread the initial response note I said
ONLY when INVOLVEMENT HAS 100% OCCURRED will the AR raise the flag! Once is popped it is a done deal! ONLY the referee can say otherwise. As a team mate if you yell it out to SUZIE before the flag goes up it might even delay that flag if the AR is still in deliberation mode so tactically it is a good idea to communicate QUICKLY
Cheers