Question Number: 32241

Law 11 - Offside 2/18/2018

RE: Youth-Adult, comp and rec

Barry Stewart of Chilliwack, BC Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 32239

Re: Joe McHugh's video examples.

The first one https://vimeo.com/106949742 is a fairly close example of my 'grey area' problem.

Yes, the Red PIOP is likely to get there first and seems committed to the run. The angle and pace of the ball suggests that it has a chance of going out of bounds, though.

There's no audio on this clip, so we can't know when the whistle is blown. I suspect it's a second or two before the Red PIOP stops the ball, close to the sideline. Without that stop, the ball likely would have gone out.

I believe Richard Dawson would have liked this ball to go out - or the Red player to actually play the ball, or interfere with a defender, before the flag was raised. Yes?

A learning point (which I've been caught on as well): for an offside signal, the flag should have been switched to the right hand, raised high, then pointed at the spot of the kick. No?

In this video https://vimeo.com/106949742, the AR uses the left hand, makes the straight up sign for offside, then gives a direction signal, as for a throw or free kick.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Barry
Yes the AR should have used her right hand to signal offside and raising the flag above her head. That allows the body to open up to view the CR. I believe the signal is down in front of her rather than a direction which is correct for a near side offside. The camera angle is not good but that is the way it looks to me. She also looks a bit unsure and seems to move around after making the call?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Barry,
you are correct I prefer to wait and see. The AR appears to be inexperienced and could benefit from additional training.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Barry,
For me this is (as you say) a grey area. The AR could flag based on the 'only player likely to play the ball' provision or wait for actual involvement or the ball to go out of play. I can see arguments for both courses of action and I don't think you can say that either is clearly wrong - or clearly right.

It is true however that the flag mechanics leave a little to be desired.