Soccer Referee Resources
Home
Ask a Question
Articles
Recent Questions
Search

You-Call-It
Previous You-Call-It's

VAR (Video Assistant Referee)

Q&A Quick Search
The Field of Play
The Ball
The Players
The Players Equipment
The Referee
The Other Match Officials
The Duration of the Match
The Start and Restart of Play
The Ball In and Out of Play
Determining the Outcome of a Match
Offside
Fouls and Misconduct
Free Kicks
Penalty kick
Throw In
Goal Kick
Corner Kick


Common Sense
Kicks - Penalty Mark
The Technical Area
The Fourth Official
Pre-Game
Fitness
Mechanics
Attitude and Control
League Specific
High School


Common Acronyms
Meet The Ref
Advertise
Contact AskTheRef
Help Wanted
About AskTheRef


Panel Login

Question Number: 15432

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/9/2007

RE: competitive Under 17

Mark of Saint Paul, MN USA asks...

Assume an attacker is in an offside position and a teammate sends the ball past them. In this case, an AR will often immediately signal an offside violation, even if the ball is 10 or 20 yards past the offside attacker, and so one could argue that the attacker is not yet actively involved in the play. However, at what point should you flag an offide violation in this kind of case? As soon as the attacker takes a step in the direction of the ball? Not until the attacker actually touches the ball? What if a defender races past the attacker to get the ball, and the attacker follows very closely so he or she might be able to steal the ball immediately after the defender touches it?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Mark, in 1994 US Soccer published a paper about offside. In that paper were a few things that might have helped should the instructor, teaching offside to the assistants you ask about, have done his job.

Never signal until you are sure: an offside player is going to be involved in a collision with the keeper; an offside player has no intention of giving up his play for the ball; when an offside player and one not offside are making a play for the ball wait for a touch before flagging.

As an assistant you must tell the referee when to sanction a player for an offside infraction. You know it is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position so you know jerking the flag up as soon as the ball is hit is premature.

Luckily the referee of today has been advised what an offside offence is:

Interfering with play means playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team-mate.

Interfering with an opponent means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent?s line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.

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.

These are the words of Dr. Robert Evans, former Director of Instruction for US Soccer, regarding the reason why assistant referees still get it wrong:

1. ARs are not taught early enough, that hesitation before making the decision is essential.

2. ARs are too eager to please by showing their efficiency. They forget that efficiency isn?t speed, but accuracy.

Regards,



Read other questions answered by Referee Chuck Fleischer

View Referee Chuck Fleischer profile

Ask a Follow Up Question to Q# 15432
Read other Q & A regarding Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct

Soccer Referee Extras

Did you Ask the Ref? Find your answer here.


Enter Question Number

If you received a response regarding a submitted question enter your question number above to find the answer




Offside Question?

Offside Explained by Chuck Fleischer & Richard Dawson, Former & Current Editor of AskTheRef


This web site and the answers to these questions are not sanctioned by or affiliated with any governing body of soccer. The free opinions expressed on this site should not be considered official interpretations of the Laws of the Game and are merely opinions of AskTheRef and our panel members. If you need an official ruling you should contact your state or local representative through your club or league. On AskTheRef your questions are answered by a panel of licensed referees. See Meet The Ref for details about our panel members. While there is no charge for asking the questions, donation to maintain the site ar

e welcomed! <>