Question Number: 30920

Law 11 - Offside 10/19/2016

RE: Competitive High School

Mark Ralt of San Jose, CA USA asks...

Case #2: Suppose a free kick is taking place for the green team. Green team player (1A) is taking the kick. But lets say while player 1A was placing the ball and the referee was giving the green team 10 yards. 1B was in front of the goal keeper, in an offsides position since the orange team was told to 'keep their line' so placing 1B in an offsides position. Then 1B realizes this and puts himself even with the last defender and when the ball is kicked, he heads the ball into the goal. Wouldn't player 1B be offsides because he came from an offsides position?

Pic: http://tinypic.com/r/xoe72o/9

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark
The decision rests on the position of Green 1B at the MOMENT the ball was kicked by Green 1A. It makes no difference where 1B was before the kick. So if 1B was in an onside position at the moment the ball was kicked there is no offside.
If 1B is in an offside position at the moment of the kick and comes to an onside position to play the ball then it is offside when 1B touches the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Mark,
so offside is a major theme in your current quest to understand the LOTG. I suggest you read our offside info off the main page it should help you.
Again WHERE is the teammate when the other teammate LAST touches the ball? The defensive wall at 10 yards is a straight line that includes the 2nd last opponent then the teammate receiving the ball from the kicker cannot be beyond that wall without being in an offside position. A wall is sometimes a bit straggly and offside position is based on the nearest PLAYABLE body part so a leg struck out the back might hold the key to keeping a player onside or offside.
Remember the offside position restriction is NOT inforce until that LAST touch occurs what goes before as they run around is not relevant to offside, only that FREEZE FRAME moment when the kick is taken as the last touch is it NOW important to see where everyone is!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Mark,
In the situation that you describe, 1B would not be offside, because he was not in an offside position when the ball is kicked. Again, please read NFHS Rules 11-1-1 and 11-1-4 on pages 40 and 41 of the NFHS Rules Book Please also read the offside diagrams on pages 43 through 52 of the NFHS Rules Book. They are very helpful in understanding toe offside rule. Please remember that the position of a player is determined at the time that a teammate last played the ball. Thus, if a player is onside when the ball was last played, he/she would not be offside.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Mark,

Once again, all that matters is the position of the player at the moment of the last touch by a team mate. It doesn't where he was 30 seconds, 10 seconds or even one second before that touch.