Question Number: 29349

Law 11 - Offside 4/24/2015

RE: 8 Adult

William Stoneman of Fairfield, ca usa asks...

There is a rumour that the Offside law has changed to 'It is no Longer played and control to just touched by defense'. I have asked two instructors that I know and they have heard the same rumours. But seen nothing in print from USSF Do you know anything about this? Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Yes. There was a change as part of the memorandum last year. Basically if the defender touches the ball as a deflection and did not try to play it...offside is NOT RESET. If the defender attempts to play the ball, but mishits it..then offside is reset.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi William,
the correct definition is DELIBERATELY played.

Offside does not RESET for their opponents unless the ball is deliberately played by the defender

ANY ...touch... of the ball accidental or deliberate instigates the offside possibility for that player's team only, it does not mean the opposition offside criteria is waved, it still is in effect!

If the ball is deflected or rebounds off a defender it does NOT reset offside for the opposition!

If the ball is deliberately SAVED by a defender/keeper it does NOT reset offside for the opposition.

Consider the foul of handles the ball deliberately then think of how we JUDGE if it is a foul or not! To some extent it is how we determine if a defender has deliberately played the ball where he instigates the contact (player hits ball)versus a deflection or rebound where the ball creates the contact (ball hits player). We look at the time, space and speed of play to see if the player is deliberately trying to play the ball! This is in contrast to not being able to get out of the way or no time to adequately do more than flinch before the ball makes contact. What is slightly confusing is if a player makes a deliberate save which IS IN FACT a deliberate play of the ball, we treat it solely as a rebound and offside is NOT reset for the opposition!

What is also confusing for some is sorting out that a deliberately played ball can be miss hit or misdirected and it IS a reset of offside for the opposition. We do not reward mistakes nor should these errors be confused with a deflection or rebound which DO NOT reset offside.

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi William
Over the last number of years IFAB the law making body has been trying to limit the way offside is called. It has also tried to bring greater clarity to some of the terms used in Offside Law 11.
For instance offside could be called if in the opinion of the referee a player in an offside position made a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent. That was open to wide interpretation. So while the wording of Law 11 has not changed the advice and interpretation has. So deceives and distract has been removed and now a player in an offside position has to challenge an opponent for the ball or interfere with line of sight before the interfering with an opponent condition is met.

Similarly on the offside reset situation the wording now says deliberately plays which changed in 2013. What constitutes deliberately plays is left to the opinion of the referee and the current advice is that unless it is a deflection or a rebound or a save then a play of the ball by a defender has to be deliberate and as a result offside is reset. Now I have seen an example cited where a defender tried to head the ball yet was unable to reach the ball to play it resulting in the ball skimming off the players head. Some argue that such a touch is a deliberate play although I suggest that is a deflection.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The definition of gaining an advantage was changed two years ago. It now says that it is not gaining an advantage to play a ball that rebounds to a player in offside position from a deliberate play by the defender, not a deliberate save.

So, a deflection off the defender - - offside.
A rebound after a deliberate play by the defender - even a sloppy, poorly executed deliberate play - - not offside. Unless, the defender's play was a 'save' - meaning that the incoming ball was a shot on goal.

The concept is straightforward, although it can be difficult to judge on the field.

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