Question Number: 30372

Law 11 - Offside 5/1/2016

RE: Varsity High School

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

So this is sort of a hypothetical question but it's come close to happening a couple of times in matches I've watched so I'm curious. This video illustrates the 'hypothetical' question.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGiBB9KaXCI

Let's say #10 black is an ORP, and doesn't touch the ball until after it has completely crossed the goal line. But obviously she was in a position to play the ball. Even though she was in the area, if she didn't touch it until the ball crossed, is there an offsides violation?

In this case, I don't think she was offsides so it didn't come into play, but I was wondering about the 'what if'.

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Aaron,

From the video it is not clear if the black player is in an offside position when the ball was kicked. Assuming that she was and she did not touch the ball until it crossed over the goal line, she should be called offside and the goal would not count. She is offside because she was seeking to gain an advantage by being in that position. The current NFHS Rule 11-1-4 indicates that a Player is offside if, at the time the ball is played by a teammate, the player is seeking to gain an advantage by being in that position. I hope this clarifies this situation for you and that your daughter's team has a successful season.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Aaron
Not offside. It looks like to me that no player in an offside position touched the ball or interfered with an opponent.
For offside to be called here a PIOP would have to play the ball or interfere.
Being in an offside position or running towards the ball is not offside until the player in an offside position touches the ball, attempts to play the ball which interferes with an opponent or the PIOP interferes with a players ability to play the ball such as line of sight to the ball or movement that interferes.
In this video had the PIOP touched the ball before it crossed the line or prevent a defender from getting to the ball or challenged a defender in the act of trying to score then it would be offside. However the PIOP had no impact on play so no offside.