Question Number: 15245

Law 11 - Offside 4/23/2007

RE: Select Under 14

Cameron S. of Buffalo Grove, IL USA asks...

I was A/R for a U13 game yesterday. I signaled Offside during a throw-in play that was within 20 feet of me. Attacking player-1 threw-in the ball to a Attacking player-2 who chest-passed the ball to Attacking player-3's foot. Attacking player-3 was in an offside position when Attacking player-2 touched the ball.

The center referee (whom I respect) blew the whistle, then under pressure from the attacking coach decided that there was no offense, and proceeded with a dropped-ball restart.

After the game the Center explained to me that the ball "must be played by the foot" for the offside rule to be "turned back on". I believe that this is a bad interpretation of Law 11.

I have reviewed your page http://asktheref.com/Soccer/Referee/Articles/6/ and http://www.fifa.com/en/laws/Laws11_01.htm

For me to be an effective A/R, I need a definitive rule of when the Offside Rule is "turned back on" after a throw-in or corner-kick or goal-kick.

Many Thanks.
Cameron

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Your referee was wrong! No offside directly from a throw, but once the ball touches the second teammate, offside is not reset regardless of what part of the body the ball touched.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Law 11 mentions touched by a teammate, not touched by any particular part of a teammate. Please inform your mistaken colleague, and if he persists in his opinion get someone in the State Instruction office to dissuade him.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Cameron, once the ball touches or is touched by the throwing team offside becomes a consideration. Right you are!!

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

You were correct. Pass it on to your colleague. All the best,