Question Number: 19979

Law 11 - Offside 9/17/2008

RE: AYSO Under 13

Ken of Truckee, CA USA asks...

Another which I would appreciate opinions on...
Attackers kick a ball from several feet on their side of the halfway line during normal play. At the time of the kick, two defenders are right at the halfway line (Goal Keeper is back in his PA and I wish I could draw a picture). There were three attackers who were just past the defenders at the time of the kick but the kick started in the attackers' side of the field. No offside if the ball is in your own side of the field. My feeling at the time was that the defenders were 'asleep at the switch' and were not watching the attackers. The attackers were definitely beyond the defenders but the ball came from the attackers side of the field. I did not call offside and the attackers went on to score. I was going with the Spirit of the Law rather than the Letter of the Law. It seems to me that the defenders were, as I said before, 'asleep at the switch' rather than playing an offside trap. So, I guess the question comes down to when are the attackers offside since the ball was kicked from their side of the field?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Ken, you have a totally incorrect interpretation of Offside Law 11. It is not the location of the ball, but the location of the players that determines offside position.

'A player is in an offside position if:
? he is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent
A player is not in an offside position if:
? he is in his own half of the field of play or
? he is level with the second last opponent or
? he is level with the last two opponents'

The players in your game were not in their half of the field, and were beyond both the ball the second to last opponent. It matters not why the defenders let them get behind them, the fact is that they were beyond. Offside should have been called when one of the offside-positioned players played the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Ref Voshol puts it pretty plainly, and I can hardly improve on that!

My question to you, Ken, is how did you come to believe the ball coming from the attackers end of the field meant there was no offside? That makes no sense whatsoever.

It is the position of the attackers in relation to the ball AND the second to last defenders that matters, unless the attackers (not the ball) are in their own end of the field.

Your misapplication of the Laws of the Game could allow the game to be protested and replayed. Please carefully read the Offside paper posted on this site to help you review and relearn this very important Law.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 20005