Question Number: 22990

Law 11 - Offside 3/24/2010

RE: potential youth ref Adult

Steve of Chamblee, GA usa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 22960

Why is this not called offside to begin with?

*Editor's note: reference Question #22960

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Steve, the answers posted to the original question make it clear that an attacker cannot take advantage of his offside position to challenge a defender for the ball, unless the defender has full control and possession of the ball. Once the defender has full control and possession, offside position is no longer relevant, and the attacker can safely challenge for the ball.

The referee's decision regarding whether there is full control and possession by the defender will vary with the age and/or skill level of the players. The younger and/or less skilled the players, the less likely it is that control and possession will be established before the pressure applied by the attacker in an offside position, and the more likely it is that the attacker will be considered interfering with an opponent.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Steve
One of the elements that has caused difficulties in the implementation of Law 11 is 'interfering with an opponent'.
"Interfering with an opponent" means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent"".
The clear cut ones are the offsides where a player in an offside position is standing directly in front of the goalkeeper obstructing his line of vision or where a player in an offside position physically challenges for the ball before clear control has been established . Now where it gets difficult is where the referee has to determine when a player in an offside position is making a gesture or movement which deceives or distracts an opponent. The examples in the Laws of the Game pages 105/106 Diagrams 9 & 10 show two very similar examples. The only difference is distance to the opponent. It is then a matter of opinion as to what that distance is and whether distraction actually takes place. That is a matter of judgment based on the assistant referee's experience.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Law 11 instructs that it is not an infringement to be in an offside position. The infringment occurs when the player becomes involved in active play. Ref Maloney and Ref McHug note what constitutes such involvement and when the prohibition against participation in play ends.

Law 11 is premised on the notion that it is unfair for a players to participate when the players are not on their team's side (initially, on their side of the ball). The player who was off their side - - off side - - was put in a player's limbo. As the offside law has evolved, the notion became that so long as the player did not participate in play, there was no reason to punish the other teammembers who were onside.

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

See Question: 23033