Question Number: 31906

Law 11 - Offside 10/15/2017

RE: Travel club Under 14

Mel Fros of Urbana, IL USA asks...

Team A, with ball,has all 10 players in the attacking half (team B's defending half).Team B wins possession in its own half and makes a quick counter-attacking forward pass to player B1, who is stationed in the attacking half (team A's defending half) at the moment the ball is touched by a team mate from team B.

Off-side? I think not. By choosing to place all but team A's goal keeper in the attacking half, an off-side situation for team B does not exist at the moment the ball is touched by team B.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mel
It is offside. The only way B1 can stay in an onside position is by coming back into his own half and staying there before crossing the half way line until the ball is played. It makes no difference that Team A has chosen to move all its players into the opponents half. The offside line in that scenario becomes the half way line and offside still applies.
Now a number of years ago there was a myth circulating in the US that offside did not apply in such situations where a team had only none or only one player (thegoalkeeper) in its own half. Absolutely a myth and not the case. Offside applies at all time except at a goal kick, throw in and corner kick.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Mel,
The offside law says that a player is in an offside position if they are in the opponent's half and closer to the opponent's goal line than the ball and the second last opponent. In the scenario you describe those conditions are met. So if B1 becomes involved in active play an offside offence has been committed.

I have also come across the myth that ref McHugh refers to, in fact I think it has been included in questions on this site before although I have no idea how it may have arisen.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Mel,
you best think YES for thinking not is incorrect.

TWO opponents closer to the opposing goal line or even or else the player must be within his OWN half when the ball is kicked/touched/played by any of his 10 teammates OR in behind the ball when a non PIOP teammates plays/touches the ball

Heck the keeper can be inside the opposition half so NO players are defending in their half if a member of the other team is INSIDE that empty half and receives a ball last touched by his own team offside criteria applies inside the opposition half. .

He is allowed to run into the opposition half to chase a ball and be the first to it as an ONSIDE player
or can benefit if an opposition member was to inadvertently last play the ball back into their half as LONG as it was not deflected after a team mate last touch
Cheers

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See Question: 31912