Question Number: 30796

Law 11 - Offside 9/21/2016

RE: Competive Under 19

Mike S. Hawkins of Milford, CT USA asks...

Starting from just over the midfield line on the attacking half and due to a collision by both defenders, player A1 & player A2 are coming down against the GK.

Scenario #1 - A1 elects to shoot from just inside the penalty area slightly off center to the right. A2 is about 5 yards behind A1 slightly off center to the left when the ball was struck towards goal. GK makes the save and A2 runs in and kicks the ball in and scores. Is this offsides???

Scenario #2 - same as above except this time A1 passes the ball back to A2 who shoots and scores. A1 does not distract or interfere with GK at all. Is this offsides???

Thanks in advance

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mike
To be in an offside position a player the player must be nearer to the opponents’ goal line than BOTH the ball and the second-last opponent.
In both your examples the 2nd attacker is behind the ball so he is clearly in an onside position so there cannot be offside. In fact it is the only way to stay onside without the presence of a 2nd opponent. Move the player ahead of the ball at the moment of the shot by his team mate he is in an offside position which make him unable to get involved in active play.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

As long as both players are behind the ball, they are not in an offside position. (That's what it sounds like from your description.) So no offside.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

In both of the examples given, player A2 was behind the ball when it was played by a team mate, so not in an offside position and therefore no offside offence has occurred.