Question Number: 35702

Law 11 - Offside 9/16/2024

RE: Competitive Under 12

Duke Christoffersen of Overland Park, KS United States asks...

Hello,

Please see scenario and question below.

Scenario:

The central defender, who is the last defender, attempts to clear the ball out of danger. When he does, it deflects off of an attacking player (who is in an onside postion), and goes to another attacking player who is an an offside position.

Should offside be called in this instance?

Thank you in advance for your time and expertise.

Duke

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Duke,

Thanks for your question.

Offside is reconsidered at every single attacking touch.

So, in your scenario, Blue 1 kicks it into Red 1 which then goes to Red 2.

All that matters is whether Red 2 is in an offside position when Red 1 touches the ball.

The fact that Red 1's touch on the ball was accidental or a deflection isn't something that is relevant to the decision.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Duke,
as my colleague Ref Wright has alluded to Offside is a reoccurring condition that must be carefully monitored as players running in opposite directions and ball moving at highspeed changes the on field conditions dramatically at any given moment in time!:

The 1st stage of offside positional evaluation which creates the PIOP(player in an offside position) ONLY requires the ball to physically contact a team mate anywhere on the FOP (field of play) & at that exact moment the PIOP must be inside the opposition half, closer to the opposition goal line than the either the 2nd last opponent OR the ball.

The team mate's touch of the ball, be it accidental, deliberate, rebound, deflection or a mistake, makes no difference, the restriction of an offside position where you can not participate or an onside position where you can participate is set as a 100% YES or NO at that exact moment in time.

Detailed Analytical Breakdown of Offside
1. Understanding Offside Position
Definition: A player is in an offside position if:
   They are in the opponent's half of the field.
   Any part of their head, body, or feet is closer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-to-last opponent.   
   (Arms and hands are not considered in this determination.)

Moment of Definition: The offside position is defined at the exact moment the ball is played or touched by a teammate. This is akin to capturing a "freeze frame" snapshot of all players' positions when the ball is last touched by a teammate.
2. Position vs. Involvement
Position:
Freeze Frame Snapshot: Imagine a snapshot of all players the moment the ball is touched by a teammate. Check if the player is in an offside position at this instant.
Key Questions:
1.   Is the player in the attacking half of the field?
2.   Is any part of the player's body (except arms and hands) closer to the opponent’s goal line than the ball?
3.   Is any part of the player's body (except arms and hands) closer to the opponent’s goal line than the second-to-last opponent?
If any of these questions are answered "NO," the player is not in an offside position, and they can participate in play until the next touch of the ball

Involvement:
Definition: A player becomes involved in active play if they:
(1)Touch the ball.
(2)Interfere with an opponent’s ability to play the ball or challenge for it.
(3)Gain an advantage from their offside position.

3. Handling Offside Situations
When the Position is Clear:
If a player is in an offside position (PIOP), they are restricted from actively participating in play. They must not interfere with play or opponents until their restriction is lifted.

Examples and Clarifications:
Example 1: A player is offside positioned thus restricted from active play but is not interfering when a teammate dribbles the ball closer to the opposing goal and then touches said ball releasing the restriction of the PIOP, who now, upon receiving the pass, being in an onside position at the moment of the pass, can run onto and freely participate to score a valid legal Goal
Example 2: An attacker is initially restricted through positional determination in the opponent's half, but, if that PIOP moves back into their own half, then touches the ball or interferes with an opponent while there , the INDFK restart for that offside infraction would be inside their own half, where the involvement occurred. The restriction must be rescinded by one of the 3 rest possibilities listed below

Lifting the Restriction:
(a) New Touch by Teammate:
The restriction is lifted if a new teammate’s touch of the ball occurs and the PIOP is no longer in an offside position at that moment.
(b) Opponent's Deliberate Play:
The restriction is lifted if the opponent deliberately plays the ball. This includes deliberate touches or passes by the opponent, but does not include situations like saves, deflections, or rebounds.
(c)Ball Out of Play:
The restriction is reset when the ball goes out of play (e.g., throw-in, corner kick, goal kick). A new assessment of offside position is made after the restart

4. Handling Complex Plays
Position vs. Involvement:
If there is any doubt about a player’s offside position, it is best to refrain from raising the flag to avoid unfairly disallowing a goal.
Post-Goal: If a goal is scored and the AR has concerns about the offside decision, they should promptly communicate these concerns to the referee before the kickoff.

5. Practical Considerations for Referees
Speed of Play: Referees must keep up with the speed of play and interpret positions and involvement accurately under pressure.
Mechanics and Communication: Developing sound mechanics and maintaining good communication with other officials are crucial for accurate offside decision-making.
Use of VAR: While VAR can assist at higher levels, referees on the field must rely on their instantaneous decision-making skills.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Duke
Thanks for the question.
Yes it is a clear offside.

Law 11 is clear in that it tells us that and I quote “”a player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or TOUCHED by a team-mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play.””.....
Capitals by me

So in your scenario the ball was cleared by a defender yet the ball was TOUCHED by an onside attacker which then went to a team mate in an offside position. The DEFLECTION is a touch so it does not have to be played for offside to apply.
Had the ball gone directly from the defender to the PIOP it would not have been offside.

The touch by an attacker does not have to be deliberate and it can be accidental and inadvertent as the Law only says *touched*.

Over the years I’ve had a few of these. I recall one where a defender blasted a clearance on the penalty area line which rebounded off an attacker in close proximity to a team mate in an offside position. When I blew for offside the player in an offside position asked how it could be offside yet when I explained who last touched the ball to him the ‘penny drópped’ that it was from his team mate and he knew he was in a clear offside position the way play unfolded.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Duke,
If by, "goes to another attacking player who is an an offside position," you mean that the player was already in an offside position when the ball was touched by a teammate, and that the offside-positioned player then either touches the ball or interferes with an opponent then yes, an offside offence should be called.

As my colleagues have pointed out, it doesn't matter how the touch by a teammate comes about, it only matters that the touch occurred.