Question Number: 29999

Law 11 - Offside 12/15/2015

RE: Competitive Under 12

Aaron Speca of Virginia Beach, Virginia United States asks...

I think this is a good example of a mistaken offsides call but I can definitely see how it could happen because when I saw it live I thought the AR was right. Unfortunately, it appears that the player flagged for offsides was still on the defending side of the center line by a good two yards when the ball was played, and the call took away a promising counterattack at a critical point in the match (blue down by a goal with under two minutes remaining). I don't think it was a positioning issue on the part of the AR.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSZDifyhnY8

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Aaron,
where were you standing though? The AR has a special positioning challenge to be sure to see these calls. If you are at angle across the field offside is in fact nearly IMMPOSSIBLE to judge accurately. Especially on close calls.
The Blue player was clearly not offside! And yes the AR positioning is in question as you do not see straight, looking at angle. AR is running ahead of the play rather than with ball or the midline as the 2nd last opponent is inside the opposition half. Should be crabbing, thus square to the play, not sideways running looking over shoulder to play to see the ball being played and the position of the blue player CLEARLY inside his own half. Loose the s on offside it is like saying geeses! Lol Merry Christmas and you are 1 question away from being 30000 lol
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

That shouldn't be a hard call to get right, but I can see where the ref might make a mistake. When the ball gets to the player he looks so blatantly offside, instinct takes over and the flag goes up. In the heat of the play the ref forgets that the player was on his own half of the field when the ball was touched.

If the ref had gotten it right and didn't flag for offside, I could just hear the howls from the sidelines for 'missing' the call.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Aaron
Yes this is not offside. The Blue player was in his own half of the field when the ball was played. The AR was well positioned at that time albeit with a poor body angle as he was at the half way line. Only the AR can tell why he called it. Did he miss the moment of the pass through, did he think that a player could not be that far forward unmarked not to be in offside, did his poor body angle take out the view of the half way line or was there just someone howling in his ear OFFSIDE?. I would hope that the AR knew the principles of Law 11
Have a look at these tests
http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football.cfm?page=3156
https://vimeo.com/96426103
This shows who difficult it can be for ARs
Now in real time without technology some can look offside. ARs do not have the luxury of technology.
I also think here that had the AR not flagged or the CR waved down the flag there would have been howls of protest and inexperienced officials can make what looks like the obvious decision when put under pressure.