Question Number: 16160

Law 11 - Offside 7/29/2007

RE: Ussf 8 Under 17

Jim Tram of Oswego, Illinois USA asks...

A ball is played over the top, to a player in an offsides position. A defender attempts to play the ball, with his head, to his goalkeeper. The ball does not get to the keeper, but goes to the player who is in an offside position.

My question is: does playing the ball with his head, albeit unsuccessfully, consitute defender posession, and negate the offensive player being in an offside position ?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If the defender had control of the ball, then there is no offside. If the defender did not establish control, then there can be offside. Here the defender was NOT able to control the ball in the appropriate direction and thus I would say OFFSIDE.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Jim you have to ask yourself: Did the player control the ball or just deflect it?

Control means not offside. Deflection means offside. Simple as that, and only the referee on that match at that time is able to judge the action properly.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

I would venture to say that if the attacker had the time to get a full header on the ball then they probably had time to control it. That said only the referee on the field can actually determine if the ball was 'controlled' or if it was merely deflected. As it has been said above - control = no whistle, deflection = offside.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The referee has to decide if the ball was controlled by the defender. To me, this sounds like control but just a poorly played ball and I would not award offside. Of course, one would have to be there to answer for sure.