Question Number: 30311

Law 11 - Offside 4/17/2016

RE: Travel Under 18

Vincent Traynor of Connellsville, PA 15425 asks...

A player was in the attacking half of the field in an offside position when the ball was played. He crossed over the center line and entered the defending half of the field and was the first to touch the ball but in his defending half of the field. Should a offside be called in his own defending half of the field.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Vincent,
All we're concerned about is where he as at the moment the ball is last touched by a teammate. There is no option for an attacker to 'put themselves back onside' after this touch has occurred - so even if they run back into an onside position (whether this is back up past the defenders, or back into his own half) he will still be penalised because of his location at the moment the ball was last touched by a teammate.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Vincent,
once a player is deemed offside there is NOTHING that restricted PIOP can do on his OWN to put himself back onside . That includes returning to his own half! Under the news LOTG just published it will now be an INDFK from where the PIOP interferes with play/opponent. In this case you are correct, it would inside his own half as that is where he became involved! Under the OLD LOTG it would have been back where he was determined to be in an offside position when in the opposition's half.
There are only 3 ways he regains the right to rejoin play.
(1) Other team deliberately plays the ball to reset
(2) a NEW team mate touch occurs and he is no in an offside position
(3) Ball goes out of play
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Vincent
As described this is offside. It makes no difference where the PIOP touches the ball to complete the offside offence. The IDFK in your example is taken from where the player was located in the opponents half when the ball was played / touched by his team mate.
It is a reasonably rare offence and the more common one is PIOP coming back from an offside position, touching the ball in front of the defenders in what is an onside position.
Interestingly this is about to change in June 2016. The IDFK for the first time will be taken from the players own half where he touched the ball. The location of the IDFK will also change to where the ball is played. player interferes with an opponent etc.