Question Number: 32914

Law 11 - Offside 12/11/2018

RE: High school Adult

Mark Fuchs of Land O Lakes, FLORIDA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 32874

If a player makes a pass to his teammate that is in an offside position, but a defender tries to intercept the pass before it reaches the receiving teammate, but the defender completely misses the ball, (makes no contact with the ball at all), but is clearly attempting to play it, does this attempt still negate the offside by rule, or is it necessary for the defender to actually play the ball, (make contact with it), to negate the offside by rule. I have heard different answers to this question. What is the correct answer??

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark
The defender must deliberately play the ball for offside to be reset. A rebound, deflection and of course a complete miss of the ball does not reset offside.
Any opinions to the contrary are incorrect.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Mark,
the defender must make deliberate contact with the ball to reset an opposing PIOP status thus freeing him to play the ball ! A deflection, rebound or a deliberate save will NOT reset, and if there is NO touch at all then, nothing has changed the PIOP restricted status from the last team mates' touch thus NOT freeing him to play the ball.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Mark,
Not only must the defender actually touch the ball in order to negate the possibility of an offside offence, they must deliberately play the ball (except for a deliberate save). If the ball is either missed completely or merely deflects or rebounds from the opponent, it does not affect the consideration of offside.

Anybody who tells you that an attempt to play the ball, where the defender completely fails to touch the ball, can reset offside, is wrong.