Question Number: 29907

Law 11 - Offside 11/10/2015

RE: competive Under 18

Tye of Mission, Bristish Columbia Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 29879

Hello, need some clarification on referee Richard Dawson's answer. You state in situation (C) 'if B1 were to deliberately play the ball and it was not classified as a save or a deflection.... I was of the understanding that the new wording eliminates the deflection scenario of resetting the offside. If a defender contacts the ball in this situation and it is not classidied as 'a save', then is it not automatically considered 'deliberately playing the ball' regardless of the outcome, and therefor a PIOP would now be allowed to play the ball?

thanks

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tye
There has been no change in Law 11. IFAB provided advice to clarify situations where there was an attempt to play the ball which interfered with an opponent or impacted on a players ability to play the ball. It also clarified that a save was not restricted to a goalkeeper.
So if the ball rebounds or deflects off an opponent that will still be called offside if the player in an offside position interferes with play or an opponent. If the effort is a save by a player that is not a reset either.
So rebounds / deflects is still very much part of Law 11 and the challenge is to decide between what is the deliberate play and what is a deflection. Rebound I always felt was more easily defined and was always more likely off the frame of the goal or from a save.
UEFA has opined that in a situation where the ball moves towards the player with little time to react and it is instinctive reaction it is likely to be a deflection and not a reset. If the ball is played with good quality it cannot be a deflection plus the quality of play does not matter when it is considered a deliberate play.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Lionel,
Your confusion is understandable and you are nott he first nor last to comment on its interpretation .
No, a deflection is STILL a deflection . It still restricts a PIOP from gaining an advantage!
What is challenging is understanding the difference of a deliberately played ball (that is not a save) but has no control or possession and is a MISTAKE which resets offside but is NOT classified as a DEFLECTION.
EXAMPLE
PIOP is very near left goal post (player in the offside position)
2nd last opponent is outside the 6 yard goal area over on the right side of goal A dangerous attacking cross/pass is delivered into the penalty area nicely setting up an onside attacker on the run into space.
2nd last opponent realizing the danger that run represents deliberately tries to intercept the ball and kicks out the foot REDIRECTING that ball over to the left side of goal towards our PIOP who collects the GIFT and scores!
Why is this NOT offside?
Because a mistake is NOT considered a deflection!
He deliberately played the ball away from danger .
It is NOT a deflection because in essence he impacted the ball.
The ball did NOT hit him unaware or unprepared

Now if the ball was say hammered directly at the an opponent from 4 feet and the ball simply smacked him off his leg and DEFLECTED over to the PIOP that IS offside INDFK out!

The opinion of the referee will determine if the ball coming off the player is EITHER a ...REDIRECTION... of the ball based on a deliberate attempt to play that ball or a ... DEFLECTION... of the ball.

An excerpt of our explanation of offside see front main page

A miss kick or poor header is more often a MISTAKE made when choosing to deliberately play the ball!
We do not award offside for a mistake, if it was a DELIBERATE PLAY!
However, the position or movement of the defender's feet or head apparently trying to react does not necessarily mean the ball was deliberately played!
What determines if a mistake is a deliberate play or was it a deflection or a rebound?

�DISTANCE: How far away is the ball?
�FLIGHT PATH: Is the ball's direction, or angle altered on its way towards the player?
�SPEED: How fast is that ball moving?
�SPACE: is there room to react?
�TIME: Is there time to prepare?
�IMPACT: Does the ball strike the player, without the player being aware or time to react?
-----
An impact is NOT deliberately playing the ball, nor a mistake, it is either

�{a} rebound which is a ball that bounces back after striking a hard surface or

�{b} deflection which is a ball that alters it trajectory or being caused to change direction upon impact
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The problem that IFAB tried to clarify - and didn't do a particularly good job at - was that generally when the keeper makes a save it's a deliberate play. They wanted to say that particular deliberate play did not reset offside, but other deliberate plays do reset it.

They didn't remove the part about deflections that were not deliberate plays.