Question Number: 31354

Law 11 - Offside 3/16/2017

RE: Youth to adult, comp and rec.

Barry Stewart of Chilliwack, BC Canada asks...

Since the 2016 update to the offside law, I've noticed less than full adoption of the new guidelines, in amateur ranks. I hope your panel can help.

Are there some video examples that show the following?:

- placement of the free kick where the POP has become involved in play, rather than back to where they were when the pass was first made.

- movement of the AR if the POP perhaps takes 20 steps to run after a free ball, rather than standing still where the offside 'sequence' began.

- keeping the flag down until the POP becomes involved in the play or is potentially going to contact an opponent.

Thanks again!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Barry
Unfortunately with being so soon into the new guidelines the availability of new videos is very limited.
One of the sites with the most instructional offside videos is
https://vimeo.com/offsideexplained/videos/all
Here is a video of an AR following the ball and PIOP for about 12 yards or so before finally putting up the offside flag
https://vimeo.com/106949742
Here is one where the flag went up too early
https://vimeo.com/106949548
The UEFA 2016 Referee Assistance Programme can be downloaded from here
https://wetransfer.com/downloads/895a8e0e97228181e853f94c46233c6420170109113351/9d9ae2
It is a very large file and it is videos only. There are PPT files to go with same at the workshops
I hope that helps

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Barry,
no matter how many videos are reviewed there will be always fodder for discussion on close decisions. Offside is rarely a decision that adheres to EXACT blades of grass but understanding the LOTG historical standard of restarting at the site of the foul is fairly self explanatory given it will be an opinion where involvement occurs the proximity of actual interference or the physical touch of the ball will dictate the restart location

The AR should stay with the 2nd last defender unless the ball becomes the focal point . IF the OPP departs into an area of the field away then the AR should side step towards that location to indicate the point of restart if that becomes the touch/interference point.

Keeping the flag down is a matter of the AR keeping focus, anticipating but not reacting until 100% convinced all aspects for WHY we would stop play have been met! Be calm stay calm act calm

Cheers