Question Number: 14981

Law 11 - Offside 3/12/2007

RE: High School

John Dahl of Englishtown, New Jersey USA asks...

Ball is controlled and kicked by a defender and rebounds off the back of an offensive player to an attacker in an offside position. The question is since the ball was last "played" by the defense but rebounds off an offensive player who did not "play" the ball is this offsides?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Sorry John, but I am compelled to answer your question with a question. Does Law 11 read as follows:

Quote

A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by:

interfering with play or

interfering with an opponent or

gaining an advantage by being in that position.

End Quote.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If the attacker was in an offside position at the moment the ball touched his teammate, then it is offside. Key thing is where was he at the moment the ball touched his teammate.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Go read and re-read Law 11. Offside is judged when the ball is "played or touched" by a teammate.