Question Number: 18981

Law 11 - Offside 5/4/2008

RE: Travel Competitive Under 13

Glenn Citrin of New York, NY USA asks...

Three forwards are in the opponents goalie box. Two of them are already in the offside position. The one with the ball is onside. The onside player shoots, the goalie blocks the shot but does not cover up. The ball comes back to the onside player who passes to one of the original offside forwards who shots and scores. The linesman rules that the scorer was originally offside and even though the goalie touched the ball and kicked it back out, the offside still should count and the goal should not be allowed. However, the goalie had kicked it back to the onside player. Doesn't that negate the original offside position of the player who was passed to and who scored?
Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Actually, there's all kinds of illogic here. The player that kicked the ball had to be onside when he kicked it so he is free to kick it again when the keeper kicks it to him. The important thing now is, where are the other 2 forwards when the kicker gets the ball back? Offside resets not only when the keeper controlled the ball but when the kicker touched it a second time. You don't tell us the location of the forward that receives the ball when the kicker kicked it the second time. If the forward was still offside, then no goal. If the linesman said none of the 3 forwards could touch the ball he would be wrong if the keeper controlled it which it sounds like he did. Regardless, even if the keeper merely deflected the ball back to the original kicker, that player is free to kick it again.

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Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Glenn,
as I try to follow the twisted logic of this senario. ;o)
If I assume that the player with the ball is in fact NOT restricted and is *onside* as you suggest then the shot is a last touch of the ball by him so where are the two team mates ? You say still in an offside position at the time of this shot?
I think you are unsure about what is effective control and posession by a keeper to REST offside criteria and not being there I can only assume the blocked shot was a bang bang thing not a block the ball stop it, get up, wait then kick it poorly as in a mistake but truly unless one of the offside attackers had interferred at this point it is not a consideration. If the keeper 's save is considered a deflection then our two offside opponents are not relieved of that restriction of being unable to play the ball as they gain an advantage through their positional circumstance. That said, you claim the ball comes off the keeper, back again to that SAME player who took the shot, if he WAS onside at the first shot then NOTHING has occurred which places him in a restriction of offside position and he can freely play the ball. This time instead of shooting he passes the ball to a team mate.
The key here?
Where is that team mate at the time of THAT pass?
A new touch of the ball RESETS offside criteria for evaluation.
Being offside position refers to 2nd last opponent and OR the ball if the ball is out ahead of him the whole time then opponents do not matter. PLUS it is NOT an infringment simply to be in an offside position.

If when the second pass occurs if that recieving team mate was closer to the opposing goal line then the second last opponent and or the ball he is offside positionaly restricted and no goal could be awarded as the indfk out for an offside infringment is correct for the involvement !

The linesmen (AR ) assistant referee should convey to the referee what he saw, it is not wise to spout off for all to hear as the referee must make the final decision and for an AR to spout hearable nonsense will make for needless unpleasent issues .

Cheers




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