Question Number: 14976

Law 11 - Offside 3/12/2007

RE: REC/AYSO Under 19

Robert Baldwin of Wichita, KS USA asks...

A pass is made to a player who is in the off-side position, but before the ball reaches the player, a defender attemps to head the ball. He does make contact, but the ball continues on to the area of the off-side player, who then plays the ball. Should you call off-sides now that the defense has made a play on the ball?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

All referees should know the difference between playing and deflecting the ball as it relates to interrupting an offside infraction.

If the defense plays the ball without interference from the opponent, offside is "reset" - there should be no call.

If the ball is merely deflected, offside is not "reset", and if the offside-positioned player becomes involved in play (by playing the ball, for example) then the offside call should be made.

Just like any other decisions, the determination of deflected or played is in the opinion of the referee.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Robert,
that ball contact must be controled to consider the ball in one's posession and the last touch of the ball criteria no longer in effect.
The situation you describe appears like it was deflected as opposed to played but the referee in that match makes that decision.

Note point 3 of decision 2 offside law 11
The definitions of elements of involvement in active play are as follows:
Gaining an advantage by being in that position means playing a ball that rebounds to him off a post or the crossbar having been in an offside position or playing a ball that
((( rebounds to him off an opponent)))
having been in an offside position.
cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Contact by the opponent is meaningless. CONTROL is what's important. You as the referee have to decide if it's a deflection or control. If control, no offside.

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