Question Number: 30528

Law 11 - Offside 6/20/2016

RE: Competitive Under 13

Jeff of Canmore, Alberta Canada asks...

Offense player crosses centre, approaching the offside line. Another offensive player is on the goal side of offside line, in on offside position. Player carrying the ball takes a long shot on goal, and the goalkeeper plays the ball, with a deflection landing precisely with the player who was in that offside position, then plays the ball and puts it in the goal. My presumption was that the goalkeeper in this instance, couldn't take that player offside, who was in the offside position for the duration of this play. ?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

It could be offside. Offside is reset upon a deliberate play by the opponent, unless that play is a save. A save is defined as a player stopping the ball when it is going into or very close to the goal. If the ref sees it as a save, then offside. If he sees it as any other kind of deliberate play, then offside considerations were reset by that play, so no offside. Clear as mud?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jeff
The answer depends on whether the play was a save by the goalkeeper and from your description that is most likely so it is offside for gaining an advantage by being in that position.
The laws state that Gaining an advantage by being in that position means playing the ball or interfering with an opponent when it has: # rebounded or been deflected off the goalpost, crossbar or an opponent # been deliberately saved by any opponent to a player who was in an offside position at the moment of the original shot.
If it were not a save just a deliberate play then the offside is reset by the opponents actions. Most times it is a save by the GK in goal yet there can be times when it is not. Your description of the situation reads offside to me.