Question Number: 29733

Law 11 - Offside 9/23/2015

RE: Rec Under 13

George of Parangarecutirimicuaro, CA Sacratomato asks...

Left wing is offside by about 5 yards. Midfielder receives a pass at about midfield and beats his opponent and now has an open field between him and the goalie. Midfielder is more athletic than the defenders and it is clear he is not going to be caught. Coach starts going crazy over the offside player. You can tell midfielder is focused on scoring and has no intention of passing. The PIOP is now excited and calling for the ball as he starts running in the direction of the goalie as well. At some point, both players are running almost side by side but midfielder is intent on scoring. Midfielder scores and coach gets even crazier. My question is, when does a referee judge a PIOP as being involved in the play? The player dribbling never had any intention of passing the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi George
Obviously the coach did not read or understand the opening line in Law 11 which I quote
** It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position.**
So in this situation what has the player in an offside position done to interfere with play or an opponent. Absolutely nothing so no offside offence should be called.
Now how does the Law judge interfering with play or an opponent. Very simply did the PIOP touch the ball or did he challenge an opponent for the ball or obstruct the opponent's line of vision to the ball. If the answer is NO which as described here there cannot be any offside offence.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi George,
as long as the PIOP or ORP is NOT interfering with an opponent given his onside team mate is resetting his positional restriction at every touch of the ball as he dribbles . In your version, there is no impeding or blocking the line of sight or physical touch of the ball or an opponent by the PIOP so hard to figure why the coach is so agitated over a non threat?
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi George,

To be actively involved in play, the Player in an Offside Position (PIOP), needs to interfere with play (touch the ball), interfere with an opponent (be physically in the way of an opponent trying to play the ball, or block the view, such as standing in front of the goalkeeper and blocking his view of a shot. Note that drawing a defender out of position is not enough to be penalised), or gain an advantage from being in an offside position (very specific, only refers to players collecting a ball deflected off the goals, goalkeeper or other opponent).

The winger has done absolutley nothing to become involved in play. Even if the winger drew a defender across to mark him, that still wouldn't be an offence.