Question Number: 30924

Law 11 - Offside 10/19/2016

RE: Competitive High School

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

Case #6: Suppose green is on the counter attack. Green 1A has the ball and is in line with the last defender has he's dribbling. 1B realizes that he is in an offsides position so he slows down to be behind the whole play and green 1A passes him the ball and 1B shoots and scores. Is this still an offsides position since he is recieving a ball coming from an offsides position to an onside position.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark
Where was 1B at the MOMENT of the pass / touch by his team mate 1A?
If 1B was in an onside position at that moment there is no possible offside. It makes no difference where 1B was prior to that MOMENT when the ball was played by his team mate 1A.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Mark,
you need to grasp that a players' offside POSITION is RESET at EVERY NEW touch of the ball by a team mate. If there is NO 2nd last opponent then the OPP must be even or behind the BALL itself as to be closing to the opposing goal line.
In your scenario there can be no offside if at the time of the pass the recipient was further away from the opposing goal line then the ball as there was but one defender.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Mark,
Your description here is a little confusing but what I understand is that 1B was not in an offside position when !A passed the ball to him. 1B would, therefore, not be offside. I help these help you to better understand the offside rule and that you have a very successful high school season.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Mark,

The same principle applies here, as in all your previous questions. Hopefully the earlier answers provide you with the guidance you need here as well. Remember, it doesn't matter where the player is coming from, only where he is when the ball last touched a team mate.