Question Number: 22243

Law 11 - Offside 10/14/2009

RE: High School

Frank Jobe of kalispell, montana USA asks...

If a player is in an offside position but may not be involved in the play, what are the mechanics of the AR?
We have some that continue up the touch line then when the player in offside position gets involved in the play the AR runs back up the line to approximately where the offside occurred, and then they raise the flag.

Is this the proper mecahnics?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The AR is to stay with the ball or next to last opponent until the offside offense happens. He then raises the flag and indicates what part of the field the offense occurred. Then he goes back to where the offside player was when the ball was played or touched by his teammate and indicates the place for the restart.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The recommended procedure in the US is: keep moving with the second last defender or the ball (to be in position to determine offside position when the ball is next touched or played). When the offside infringement occurs, raise the flag (right hand), on whistle, indicates offside by lowering the flag to show far, near or middle. The AR should then move back up the line to indicate the restart.

Since the mechanic for a good goal in-and- out is raise flag, wait for whistle, and then sprint a short distance up the line, ill feelings can happen if some think the AR has signaled a goal and some think the AR has signaled offside. Sometimes, the AR will need to delay moving up the line, just to be clear.