Question Number: 31142

Law 11 - Offside 1/1/2017

RE: U5 and up to high school rec, select and competiti High School

mary Ramirez-de-Arellano of damascus, MD United States asks...

You yesterday sent me a detailed explanation about the recent change made to the offside call. I think I get it . So, what exactly does the AR do now? Raise the flag and point at the restart point even if it is on the field to his left? This is quite different from pointing near, middle or far straight across his field.

Again, thanks for a thorough response to my questions.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mary
The AR signals for offside in the normal manner and that has not changed. As to an offside restart in the other half it is an outlier situation which the advice does not deal with specifically. One would like to think that as the referee has seen it as an offside call then it is up to the referee to deal with the location of the restart so the AR does not have to signal location.

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Mary,
The role of the AR in indicating the new spot must be defined since there was previously a clear procedure. As indicated previously, the high school rule and procedure has not changed. A clarification of any change is expected at the NFHS Soccer Rules Meeting in later this month. At that time, if the FIFA interpretation of the point of the infraction is adopted, I expect that the procedure of the AR in assisting the referee will also be defined. The results of the NFHS Rules meeting will be available in late February and any changes will begin with the fall 2017 soccer season. Thank you for asking about the AR's new role.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Mary,
we are glad to be of help and you are most welcome!
You have referenced a very real problem where some adaptation of procedures might be required given the restart location is not a direct line within the opposition half . REF Manjone alludes to the NFHS rule committee on high school soccer to discuss this very thing.
For now the AR is to STAY with the second last opponent just as has always been the advise and follow the ball towards the second last opponent's goal line once it becomes the deciding ingredient to a decision.

As you pointed out there is some confusion as to how ARs must now approach offside & whether or not they should cross the midline if an OPP runs back into his own half and interferes with an opponent or the ball where a restart occurs inside his own half. The problem being if the 2ND last opponent has drifted back towards his own goal line taking the AR with him but the OPP runs BACK into his own half the AR must not follow the OPP, only be AWARE of him.

I suspect the AR , raises the flag if he sees involvement and when the CR whistles play, the AR get eye contact, use the freehand to point and make an over and back motion much like basketball or lacrosse to signal (kind of like the Queen wave) lol indicating the OPP went back into his own half to recover the ball or interfere with the opponent. However if he risked staying with the OPP and the OPP NEVER interferes, new offside positions are occurring up the opposition side of the field and a ball suddenly lobbed forward the AR could be miles out of position!

Although I have doubts if the OPP would be very far into his own half much more than say 10 yards. Like many farfetched situations, for example where both teams COULD have restricted offside personal in the same phase of play there could be some head scratching as what is the best thing to do by the AR but eye contact with the CR, a wave of the hand or point to the mouth (lets talk) should solve most any difficult situation effectively!

The mechanics of staying with play often altered in multiple match situations during tournaments where officials are doing multiple matches as staying with the ball is difficult! It involves a great deal of running which is why the officials of professional matches only do a SINGLE match given their mandate to STAY with play. I see early flags where it is painfully obvious the AR is unable to stay with play from simply being too tired and just sort of best guesses at what an end result might be.

If the AR is on the move following play no one can know that he will raise the flag for the OPP or if he could be just looking to see when the ball exits the FOP. The AR should stay with the ball if the OPP is chasing the ball towards the opposing goal line and be aware that if the ball is headed into touch with doubt the OPP could get to it the AR follows the ball out! then signals for the appropriate restart, be it a goal kick, a corner kick, a throw in or an INDFK for offside should the OPP actually touch that ball..


An AR who stays still but is looking to raise a flag for an OPP who is possibly in pursuit of a ball that he MIGHT get to, actually INDICATES offside ahead of the interference! This could warn an observant player as to the impending possibility of offside thus tactically relaying information inadvertently. His behavior must be neutral . Of course we see the opposite where defenders see the AR non movement and THINKING the AR is going to raise the flag actually stop playing . ALWAYS a BAD idea for players to THINK a flag will save them . The FLAG is ONLY a signal for the CR and one that the CR can CHOOSE to disregard as easily as accept! Players MUST learn to ONLY play to the whistle

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Cheers