Question Number: 15405

Law 11 - Offside 5/6/2007

RE: rec, competitive High School

Jan Hillsberg of New York, New York USA asks...

On a throw-in, parallel to the penalty area, a smart player ran near the goal, ahead of the defending players except for the goalie. I know there is not offside on a throw-in, but as the offensive player threw the ball in to her, a defensive player started running toward the offensive player (who placed herself near the goal for an easy goal scoring opportunity). When the offensive player threw the ball in, in nicked the defensive player on her head and went to the offensive player. Offside or not?

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

NOT.

The only way the player could be punished for offside is if the ball touched an offensive player after it was thrown in. However if it touches a defensive player, there is no violation.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

How could this possibly be offside? You are a referee. You KNOW that you ONLY judge offside at the moment the ball is played or touched by a TEAMMATE. How could a deflection off an OPPONENT result in an offside call on a throw-in? As a referee you also know that even if the ball was kicked by a teammate, the offside decision is NEVER changed by a deflection off an opponent as offside does not reset unless an opponent controls the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

No! Ball must touch a new teammate for offside to reset. Ball nicking off a defender changes nothing.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Referee, you MUST know offside is never a factor when the ball is received directly from a goal kick, corner kick or throw-in. You do indicate this is true. Further, you must know offside is judged at the moment the ball touches or is played by a member of the offside player's own team. In your question you indicate the ball has not touched a member of the offside player's own team, save the thrower. It is, therefore, impossible for an offside offense to have taken place.

Regards,