Question Number: 30921

Law 11 - Offside 10/19/2016

RE: Competitive High School

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

Case #3: Suppose the score is 0-0 and the green team has possession of the ball. Green player 1A is dribbling the ball in the opponent's box for 20 minutes straight. Let's say green player 1C put's himself in an offside position by being in front of the last defender because he though player 1A was going to pass it but 1A didn't and continues to dribble for another 5 mins. 1C was previously in an offsides position 5 minutes ago and 1A decides to finally pass it to him. Would he be offsides since 1C was coming from an offsides position? Would this still be the same if in their own half like green was dribbling in his own half for 20 mins, another green player steps over the half way line and then comes back to his own half and receives a direct pass from the dribbling teammate 5 mins afterwards?

Pic: http://tinypic.com/r/a791x/9

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark
Offside is determined at every single touch of the ball. A player can be in an offside position and there is no offence in that. It is only an offence at the moment the ball is played by a team mate that the player in an offside position interferes with play by touching the ball.
So the key to your question is the position of 1C at the MOMENT the ball was played by 1A. If 1C was in an onside position at the moment the ball was played to him there is no offence and play continues. If he was in an offside position at the moment the ball was played to him then he is called offside no matter what position he touches the ball in.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Mark.
I hope we make a difference in your understanding of offside lol I encourage you to read our offside explanations especially the part about when the offside restrictions are LIFTED. You know the 3 exemptions right? The key point is Once an offside restriction comes to be in force NOTHING the OPP can do on his own will reset it. There MUST be a NEW phase of play which includes a new touch of the ball by a teammate or a deliberate play /possession of the ball by an opponent or a restart of some sort for the ball going out of play.
When it is his team with the ball, the OPP must move to a new non offside position at the moment his team mate next touches the ball then poof he is free to be involved in active play.
When the opposition deliberately plays the ball or has actual possession again the OPP off the other team is now free to play the ball There are some restrictions in rebounds or deflection or a deliberate save that will not reset offside as they are not classified as actual possession.
Thirdly a ball out of play for a restart will start up a new phase. If it is in favour of the opposition your position is reset but if it is your free kick you might have to move to be in a place where upon that touch you are not in an offside position but that is your decision. Be aware of the 3 exempt restarts of goal kick corner kick and throw in.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Mark,
Once again, the offside is determined when the ball was last played by a teammate. In both situations that you describe at the time that the ball was passed by player 1A, the players receiving the ball were in the onside position so that they would not be offside.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Mark,

Same answer again - it doesn't matter where the player was beforehand, only where he was at the exact moment of the last touch by a team mate.