Question Number: 30017

Law 11 - Offside 1/13/2016

RE: Recreation Under 15

Bob F. of Corona, Ca Usa asks...

A1 is in offside position in front of opposing net. Defender attempts to clear the ball. The kick is blocked by A2's foot 50/50 contact (who is onside position) the ball carries to A1 who is still in offside position. A1 converts the goal. I thought A1 gained an advantage from being in offside position. However looking at Law 11, it sounds like that applies to rebounds off the crossbar, posts, or defender making a save. In this situation, did the defense controll the ball the moment he attempted to clear it? Or would the contact of A2 on the ball be considered playing the ball to A1.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi bob,
the element of speculation with offside is due to the fact each official as an individual will have an opinion as to the degree of culpability a defender might have as to what is a deliberately played ball. That fact though does not apply to ANY touch of the ball by a team mate of an attacker

You also need to grasp that offside parameters are reset at EVERY touch of the ball by a TEAM MATE of the attackers

EVEN IF the defender clearing the ball was a deliberate kick to put A1 in a playable scoring position by lifting his restriction! The subsequent block by the A2 attacker will be a NEW TOUCH by a team mate which A1 will be re-evaluated positionaly.

You seem to have a decent grasp of offside so yes the contact of A2 is a new touch .A1 receiving this ball off a deflection via a team mate if he is offside positioned at that time of the A2 deflection, he is UNABLE to rejoin play. You are correct there is no gaining an advantage the ball was played to him having been last touched by a team mate thus interfering with play.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Bob
Thanks for your question. Your last point covers it. Law 11 refers to touch and play so the last player to touch the ball was A2. As the ball went then to A1 who was in an offside position then offside would be called for interfering with play when A1 touches the ball. It makes no difference if the touch by the team mate is deliberate or unintentional.
To quote Law 11 *A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play.*

Gaining an advantage by being in that position only applies when the ball rebounds / deflects off the frame of the goal or an opponent to a player in an offside position having been last played again by a team mate.

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