Question Number: 35670

Law 11 - Offside 8/27/2024

RE: Competitive Other

Steve of Berlin, Ct Usa asks...

If I’m on attack ahead of the second to last defender and my teammate sprints ahead of me, if I pass it forward is it offsides even if the only defender left is the goalie?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Steve,

A player is in an offside position if, when it's last touched by a teammate, he is BOTH:
- closer to the goal line than the 2nd last defender, and
- in front of the ball

Any part of the body except the arms counts.

So, if you have the ball and you only have the GK to beat, your teammate needs to stay behind the ball. As long as he's not in front of the ball when you pass it, it's legal.

(technically level with the ball is enough, but that gets very difficult to judge and easy to have a toe offside at the wrong moment, so have him stay behind the ball)

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Steve,
if an onside team mate is dribbling the ball towards the oppositions goal and there are no 2nd last opponent with only the keeper is in his way.
If you are a trailing team mate you best be BEHIND the ball, FARTHER away from the opposition goal line than that ball.

Now that does not prohibit you from running along across from him and if at the time the ball carrier knocks/kicks/ heads/ rebounds/ aka last touches the ball out over into an area you can run on to it, out ahead of where he is, you just need to be BEHIND the ball at that crucial moment you start your run . You can wind up in behind the keeper and score legally as long as you timed your run into that free space correctly.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Steve,
I'm a little confused by your reference to the goalkeeper being the last opponent. What is important is the position of the potentially offside player in relation to the second last opponent, not the last opponent.

In any event, if you have the ball in the opposition's half and are beyond the second last opponent then any teammate who is ahead of you is in an offside position. If you then pass the ball to that teammate and they either touch the ball or interfere with an opponent, they will be guilty of an offside offence.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Steve
The only way that a player can be onside is to be behind the ball or have two opponent between the player’s position and the goal line at the moment the ball is touch or played by a team mate.

In your example the player is ahead of the ball and with only one opponent between the player’s position and the goal line that is the goalkeeper the player is in an offside position and the player cannot participate in active play.

It is also only offside if the player in an offside position interferes with play or an opponent in this case the goalkeeper.