Question Number: 30

Law 11 - Offside

RE: rec. division 1 Under 12

kristina of Sacramento, California USA asks...

once the ball is kicked, are you offsides, if you pass the defender after the ball was kicked? (If the ball isn't passed the defender?)

Answer provided by Referee hoare

Assuming that you still have the goalkeeper in the right place and the defender is the second rear most defender then no-way can you be offside if you pass after the ball has been played.

Answer provided by Referee glenn

This actually pretty simple, have patience here. A couple of things should be present. Position and involvement are the key factors. ..If, when the ball was kicked, the player in question was not in an offsides position but moved once the ball was kicked and receives it he is legal in his play...Keep in mind that a player can be in an offsides position when the ball is played, hovever if in the opinion of the referee the player who is in an offsides position is not actively involved in the play, offsides will not be called. ..Clear as mud??

Answer provided by Referee Stacy Kalstrom

Offside is judged at the MOMENT the ball is played. Therefore, if the player was not offside at that "moment" then he is free to play the ball without worry of his having infringed the laws of the game.