Question Number: 30731

Law 11 - Offside 9/8/2016

RE: Varsity High School

Kevin Czerak of Aurora, Illinois United States asks...

If a ball rebounds off the goalie, can a different offensive player crashing the goal from the other side be called offside when going for the rebound?

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Potentially, yes - but only if the relevant criteria were to be met. So if this second attacker were closer to the opponent's goal than both the ball and the second last opponent at the time of the initial shot and if this player were then to either play the ball or interfere with an opponent, an offside offence would have occurred.

In the case of playing the ball, this would come under the category of 'gaining an advantage'as opposed to 'interfering with play' since it involves a rebound from an opponent.

However, if the other attacker had been behind either the ball or the second last opponent at the time of the shot, there would be no offside offence.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Kevin
The answer depends on the location of the 2nd player at the moment of the shot. If the player was in an offside position that is ahead of the ball and the 2nd last opponent then he is precluded from playing a rebound or a deflection either off an opponent or the frame of the goal. Should he do so he is called offside.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Kevin,
offside criteria is SET at the moment a teammate contacts the ball. A deliberate save or a rebound or a deflection off a keeper or a defender will NOT reset offside criteria of the opponent.
So the other team mate in competing for the rebound would be judged PRIOR to the save. If he WAS a PIOP then he will be held accountable for gaining an advantage and an INDFK will be awarded. If the competing attacker was onside at the moment of the last touch/shot by the teammate he is free to play the rebound.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Kevin,
Yes, this player can be called offside. There actually is a diagram on page 48 of the NFHS (high school) Rules Book that shows this situation. A rebound from the goalkeeper is treated the same as a rebound from the goal. A player who is in an offside position when the ball was last played by a teammate would remain offside. I hope that your high school team has a very successful fall season.