Question Number: 15351

Law 11 - Offside 5/1/2007

RE: competitive High School

josh of West Valley City, Utah USA asks...

im on a breakaway past all defenders and i make a pass forward to my teammate is that off sides??

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Who knows? You don't say where your team mate is in relation to the ball, do you? That is the most important thing because position in relation to the ball determines offside position.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

If your teammate is closer to the goal line you are attacking than both you and the ball (assuming by breakaway you imply that you are both beyond the 2nd to last opponent), and he is in the opponent's half of the field; then, he would be punished for offside so long as he became involved in active play.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Josh
a forward pass on a breakaway is not illegal for an onside player to run on or into. Our question, because you do not include this information is,
"Where is the recieving teammate when you make the final touch sending the ball forward?"
If there is not a second last opponent your team mate is now restricted by the ball's position on the field when you last touched it!
If the ball was closer to the opposing goal line at that moment then your team mate who ran onto the ball by following it and catching up to it there is no offside.
If the team mate drifted a bit too far ahead of the ball and he was closer to the opposing goal line when you last touched it then offside.
Cheers