Question Number: 15227

Law 11 - Offside 4/20/2007

RE: Rec, Select Under 13

Mark of Huntington Beach, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15212

This question is for Richard Dawson in particular and anybody else who can explain.

In question #15212 Mr. Dawson stated the following in his reply (2nd paragraph):

"It is possible for BOTH teams to be possibly quilty of an offside infraction at the same time!"

I recognize that my experience is nowhere near yours, but I don't see how this can ever be possible. By definition isn't one team precluded from being offside no matter what in their own half?

Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

I think Ref Dawson wrote that it is possible that both teams can have players in offside positions and, due to circumstances, be unable to get involved in play because they were in offside positions at the moment on of their own side last touched the ball. This is a true statement, based on the situation given...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Thanks Mark
I agree, infraction was a poor word choice, position is the better term as one infraction will occur ahead of the other if the offside positioned people are the ones actually INVOLVED in active play!

It will not be so impossible that both teams could be offside more so is the offside players from both teams participating together.

A deflection does NOT reset offside for the team that kicks the ball and offside criteria is considered upon ANY contact with the ball off the deflected player.

Some might consider it a black hole event!

A red player has attempted to pass the ball to a red teammate who is offside positioned. Imagine now the ball is deflected off a blue opponent's knee directly back into the red half of the field by some twenty yards or so and that offside red positioned player was to run after that ball back into his own side of the pitch.

Now when that deflection off the blue defender's knee occurred there was a lazy blue striker in an offside position within the red half who also ran to that deflected ball.

Now the offside positioned blue player and the offside positioned red player are on a collision course for the ball as the only two players. If they arrive at the ball at the same time and both stand over that ball what if anything as a referee are you required to do?
Cheers