Question Number: 21741

Law 11 - Offside 8/4/2009

RE: Rec, RecPlus, Competitive Under 17

William Guynes of Mechanicsville, MD USA asks...

In light of the March 25 position paper titled 'Offside " Interfering with Play', I have seen some confusion on the field with the mechanics of AR positioning.

One bright young AR had an attacker, A1, who was in an offside position just beyond the center line at the moment the ball was kicked and cleared from the defensive half. My AR froze in place and did not remain even with the ball. I correctly read his intent and was ready when A1 actually DID (*whew*) achieve first touch. If he had not, then my AR is woefully out of position to help me further.

I forsee this situation happening with increasing frequency now, given the position paper. Even if a defender arrives on the ball first, there is a chance (s)he could control and subsequently lose the ball to a challenge.

The AR mechanic should be to chase the play? If attacker gets first touch... then flag up, wait for stoppage, run back to offside and signal appropriate third of field from there?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The AR should remember the spot of the original offside position, and then follow play. As you note, if participation in play does not follow, the AR could be sorely out of position to judge any of a multitude of things that might develop: the ball over the goal line (and possibly in goal), a subsequent offside offense, fouls, who kicked the ball out for a throw-in, etc.

If offside does happen, the AR would raise the flag and after the ref stops play, would move back to the offside location before pointing the flag into the field.

One possible side benefit of this might be that as players, coaches and fans see the mechanic, they will begin to realize that offside doesn't always happen instantaneously. They might note the AR moving back toward the center of the field and think, 'Oh, back there was the offside. OK, I understand.' Or maybe not, maybe they will just think we're indecisive and it takes us a while to get it.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

It requires additional focus by the assistant referee to continue following the ball/second to last defender. But, it pays huge benefits when someone else makes contact with the ball or the ball does something odd near the goal line.

The correct mechanic also requires additional focus by the referee. The late flag is easier to miss. The referee must keep an awareness of the assistant referee and the potential offside flag when the PIOP becomes involved in active play.

Outside the US, the assistant referee is given more freedom to raise the flag in the belief that there is no one else who can play the ball from an onside position. In the US, we are instructed that the way to be sure that no one else will play the ball is to wait and see who plays it.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

the AR you describe acted improperly. He should always follow the play striving to be even with the next to last opponent or the ball whichever is closer to the goal line. After actual contact is made the AR then goes back to where the offside player was when the ball was played by his teammate and give proper signal for location of restart.

There's nothing in the March memo that should alter AR mechanics as far as positioning is concerned. All the March memo says is that in order for a player to be guilty of interferring with play, contact with the ball must be made. He still could be penalized for interferring with an opponent if an opponent is close by without touching the ball.