Question Number: 31414

Law 11 - Offside 4/1/2017

RE: Rec and Select Adult

Tony of Whitehorse, Yukon Canada asks...

Is it an offside offence 'if a player receives the ball directly from a teammate during the taking of a drop ball assuming the drop ball was taken correctly and the player receiving the ball was in an offside position?'

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tony
Once the ball touches the ground it is in play so offside does apply from that moment onwards. So if say a player at the dropped ball kicks the ball to a team mate in an offside position who interferes with play or an opponent offside will be called.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Tony,
As soon as the ball touches the ground it's in play. So a player touching the ball then counts as that 'first touch' required for offside (which requires 2 attackers, the first one touching the ball and the 2nd one becoming involved in active play).

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Tony,
A player cannot receive the ball directly from a team mate at a dropped ball, only from the referee. After the ball is dropped by the referee and is in play all provisions of the offside law apply as normal.

Therefore, a player who was in an offside position and in the opponent's half when the ball was touched by a team-mate after the ball was dropped, would be penalised on becoming involved in active play.