Question Number: 28860

Law 11 - Offside 10/17/2014

RE: Youth competitive Adult

Bob Dawson of Camarillo, Calif USA asks...

A player cannot be judged to be offside if they receive the ball 'directly' on a throw-in.

But ... if the ball is deflected, say, bounces off an opponents back, on a throw-in and is then played by a player in offside position, would they be judged offside as the throw-in was 'indirect'?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Still not offside - because deflections off an opponent do not change any offside decision. If the player would have been offside before the deflection, he's still offside when he becomes involved in play. (This is the 'gains an advantage' method of becoming involved in play, which is narrowly defined to apply only to deflections/rebounds.) Conversely, if the player would not be offside before the deflection - because she would have received the ball directly from a throw-in - then likewise the deflection does not change the offside decision.

Maybe IFAB did not word Law 11 in the best manner, but that's what they meant so that's what we do.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Since offside position is judged only when the ball is touched or played by a teammate and because the throw-in is excluded as a touch or play, the player remains eligible to play the ball. After the throw-in, if the ball bounced off a teammate's back, then offside position would be judged at the moment the ball subsequently touches the teammate.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Bob
A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team and that touch cannot be a throw in, goal kick or a corner kick. As a player cannot be offside from a throw in a touch by an opponent does not change that. The player cannot be offside.
However should the touch be off a team mate then that changes to offside as then the conditions of offside applies as it is no longer direct from the TI restart.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Bob,
cool last name lol are we related?

The only team that could be offside if you directed a throw in off an opponent's back is the rest of the opponent's team mates! This is a NEW touch of the ball and offside criteria are now in effect for that team only!
YOUR Team remains unaffected as there was NO OFFSIDE criteria being considered prior to the ball bouncing/deflecting off an opponent.
For that matter if the opponent had intercepted the throw in by deliberately playing the ball and then one of your team mates was to play it again no offside criteria is applied to your team as of yet.

IF YOUR player, taking the throw in for your team, was to throw the ball towards a team mate and play that ball off his back! That is a NEW touch of the ball by YOUR Team! NOW we have offside criteria being evaluated for YOUR team only! However, your opponents are still offside free!.


I agree, at times some wording of the LOTG give rise to impure law thoughts! lol

Cheers