Question Number: 15437

Law 11 - Offside 5/9/2007

RE: CalSouth National D coach, AYSO Int. Referee Under 15

Bob Dawson of Camarillo, CA USA asks...

Three v 1 on a breakaway about 30-35 yards from the goal. That last defender (besides the keeper) manages to get a foot on the ball, kicks it hard back up field but it bounces off a trailing player and back toward the goal. In that instant the attackers pass by that last defender and the ball bounces off that trailing player and back in front of those attacking players. The AR throws up the flag for offside and the Referee blows his whistle. Now, this is clearly not offside (the ball was NOT played by the attacking team)and I (the coach) and the sidelines are beside ourselves as we've just been robbed of a goal-scoring opportunity and we're begging the ref for mercy, which never came. But, in retrospect, I'm asking myself: If I'd made that same mistake of blowing the whistle too soon, I could change my call before the restart but, if I did, how would I restart play?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If you decide that you stopped play for an incorrect call, the restart is a dropped ball. Probably there's no way to restore the 3v1 breakaway.

I presume the "trailing player" in your description was a defender? If it was an attacker, then offside would apply. Offside is evaluated every time a teammate PLAYS or IS TOUCHED BY the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Do you often feel beside yourself or out of your own body? If so, you may need to visit you local neurologist's office.

The restart in you question (assuming you are right and there was no offside, which isn't 100% clear to me) would be a dropped ball, which probably happens after all the defenders have time to get back in position.