Question Number: 30128

Law 11 - Offside 2/20/2016

RE: Intermediate Under 13

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 30124

The videos that referee Joe McHugh posted were interesting, especially the one at https://vimeo.com/106949742. I can see a reason for a wait & see in some situations where only an offside attacker can get the ball.

I had a situation where all players were in the attacker's half of the field, except for 2 attackers. They were on the far side of the field, but past the 1/2 way mark. An attacker kicked the ball diagonally toward my touchline & an offside attacker ran toward it. I kept the flag down because I wasn't sure whether the offside attacker would get to the ball before it left the field, even though no one else was near. This would make a difference in the restart (an IFK vs. a throw in by the defenders).

The PIOP got the ball just before it went out & I raised the flag & indicated offside. Of course, parents still got upset because, by the time he got the ball, the defenders were back & it appeared to spectators that he was onside.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
Yes there will be plenty of times when we must delay such as where it is likely that the ball is going to go out of play or where there is an onside player capable of getting involved. Now those are judgement calls and so be it. I would be none too bothered about the reaction of parents / spectators or those not in the know. As described by you the correct decision is an IDFK for offside.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Phil,
the speed and pace of the player versus the power and ball flight, if it appears the ball WILL go out of play you are correct to allow that restart to take precedence. Yet in cases where it only might go off the FOP or an opportunity for say a keeper to intercept safely the wait and see follow is correct but notice when the flag was pulled she stopped and remained still. IT is not uncommon for a delay of flag and of course players move in the meantime . I had a u-18 player in a tournament completely sure he was not offside because when he arrived to take ball possession he had to dribble around two defenders. Spectators are no different, they all forget the part where once you are restricted at the critical moment of touch if nothing has occurred to change it you are still restricted no matter 40 yds of space was covered and 22 players changed position on the FOP
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Yup, and then someone on the sideline will yell, 'It's when the ball is kicked!' Duh, that's why you called the offside - because only you were paying attention when the ball was kicked.