Question Number: 31912

Law 11 - Offside 10/16/2017

RE: Select Under 15

Mel Fros of Urbana, IL USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 31906

Thanks. You replies make sense. It just seems to me -it is my opinion, and my opinion means naught :)- that once all the players are in the attacking half, the offside rule should become inactive. This adds an element of surprise to a low-scoring game. A team that is arrogant enough to go for a full-fledged attack, should be made to pay.

Thanks again. Fortunately this situation has not happened while I ref-ed...but it nearly happened, and one coach asked 'What if...', and I was unable to answer. Just for the fun of it, I asked other coaches who consider themselves 'seasoned in the LoTG', what they thought, and the results were mixed. :)

Answer provided by Referee MrRef

Hi Mel,
we all appreciate the thanks, those on this panel work as volunteers to help explain and resolve conundrums within the game for those having issues exceptions or questions. It is always rewarding for them to have their efforts appreciated as they do it for the love of the game!

From our pitch to your pitch in the spirit of Fair Play

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mel
There are plenty of scenarios where offside should not apply or to put it another way the law was never intended for that purpose
Have a look at this video
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vwGXSgHLi5Q
The conditions for offside were met and the offside was called. Was it offside in the true sense of the principle behind the Law. No yet our is not to reason but to implement what is written down. So in Law 11 was the condition met to be onside that there was two opponents between the player and the goal line and that he was in the opponents half so as there was not it is offside.