Question Number: 35144

Law 11 - Offside 10/5/2023

RE: AYSO Under 13

Fred Wild of Chesterfield , MI United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 35140

Thank you! But Also, This brings up a similar scenario: So, by this logic, if striker B has the ball and striker A is in offside position past the 2nd to last defender but then striker B now dribbles the ball past striker A and past the D (making the ball now the new offside marker) and they pass to a now trailing striker A this would not be offsides? (Striker B has had possession the whole time until the pass in this scenario)

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Fred
Yup you are correct. NO Offside is possible
I suggest you read the offside explanation on our web site, located mid right as it kind of takes you though the details of offside and the reset of restrictions.

WHERE was receiving player A at that last touch of the ball MOMENT by Player B?
Player A was farther away than the ball from the opposing goal line, the 2nd last opponent is not even a consideration.

Do not think possession, think PHYSICAL contact of ball & Player B.
Every single time it occurs, a NEW freeze frame snapshot occurs, for the REST of the teammates as well as Player A as to their relative position to the opposing goal line, compared to the ball itself or 2nd last opponent ,which ever factor is at play.

To be guilty of INVOLVEMENT, the 2nd part of offside deliberations, confirming an INDFK decision, the restricted PIOP must do one of two things!
(1) interfere with an opponent in some nefarious way or
(2) physically touch the ball

Keep in mind a few things
Restricted PIOPs can still INTERFERE with opponents without ever touching the ball.
Example: When Player A is trying to get into an onside position, before the next team mate touch of the ball occurs, he could inadvertently or deliberately interfere with an opponent by getting in the way of an opponent perhaps trying to challenge Player B for ball possession!

Restricted PIOPs trying to play the ball is -NOT- the same as actually touching it, deliberate OR accidental, a touch is a touch!
Example" Player A is indeed offside, standing just INSIDE the netted Goal line area under the crossbar, he is trying to show no involvement & is not hindering any opponent or the keeper as a teammate shoots. Now he sees the incoming ball and desperately tries to move out of the way but when the ball barely hits him in the side and goes into the goal that ball had not YET completely crossed under the crossbar and between the posts . The fact it hit him accidentally changes nothing, it renders the goal useless, as an INDFK out is now set in stone for offside.
NOW the reverse of that is: Player A jumps up to try and head or extends a leg to kick the ball, it just misses his head or goes over his outstretched leg and guess what? Yup the goal will count because he NEVER touched the ball as long as no opponent was hindered . The fact he deliberately tried to, is not an issue, in this case! In fact if he was deeper into the goal itself, he could physically catch the ball and provided the ball had already COMPLETELY crossed the goal line under the crossbar and between the posts it would remain a good goal.

Now if you really want me to confuse you ask how both teams could have offside PIOPS at the same time!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Fred
Opening line of Law 11 is that it is not an offence to be in an offside position.

In your example it is not offside as the ball has been played by Attacker B to Attacker A who was in an onside position at the moment of that play. Prior position does not matter in offside. It is the moment the ball is played by a team mate that counts so it cannot be offside.

Also Attacker A has to do something more to be called offside while in an offside position which is to interfere with play or with an opponent.
I have seen situations where Attacker B has played the ball forward to Attacker A who realising that offside might be called has ignored the ball for Attacker B to retrieve the through ball. That is not offside either.

As an extreme example Attacker A could stand for the duration of the game inside the opponents penalty area and only get involved in active play when a team mate with the ball goes past the PIOPs position of A which puts A in an onside position or for A to wait for opportunities when a second opponent puts the player in an onside before the ball is played to get involved in active play.
A common tactic at free kicks now is for an attacker to stand in a clear unmarked offside position to wait for a 2nd phase of play to begin by an onside player playing the ball to the player who was in an original offside position yet now is in an onside position due to either being behind the ball on the 2nd phase touch by an onside player or having two opponents between the player and the goal line at that 2nd phase touch yet perhaps not as tightly marked