Question Number: 15050

Law 11 - Offside 3/26/2007

RE: Junior Varsity Under 15

Brent Aldridge of Hardy, VA U.S. asks...

Today in my soccer game the opposing team had a break-away. The leading attacker was tackled by our sweeper just infront of the goal. He fell into an offside position. The ball rolled back to a trailing attacker who then shot it. Our kepper blocked the shot but it came out to the other attacker who had fallen into the offside position. He the proceeded to get up and kick the ball into the goal. The center ref called it a goal and we argued to the AR that he was offside, but he told us that since it had come off of the keeper he was not offside. Was the attacker offside or did he really score a goal?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If the attcker that scored was in an offside position at the moment his teammate shot the ball, then he should have been penalized for being offside.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

We first have to assume that the tackle which caused the attacker to fall down was a legal challenge, not a foul. Given that, the player is now in an offside position when his teammate plays the ball. He becomes involved in play because he gained an advantage by being in that position. "Gaining advantage" has a very narrow definition, which this player met. Decision 2 of Law 11 says, "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."

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The AR is incorrect. If the ball was saved but not controlled by the keeper, than the player in offside position was NOT allowed to participate in play. Unfortunately, far too many referees believe that an opponent merely has to come into contact with the ball to reset offside.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Brent ,
certainly do not like that explanation, a ball rebounding off a keeper is not a controlled possession ! If there was an offside attacker at the time of that shot and he played that deflection he is quilty of gaining an advantage INDFK out.
Law 11 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

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