Question Number: 16220

Law 11 - Offside 8/5/2007

RE: rec Under 12

joe of scs, usa asks...

Forward on A Team is in the offside position, as the defence on B Team is moving the ball downfield. A player from the A team takes the ball away, kicks it and hits the B team player, in which the ball gets to the player who is in the offside position. Would he still be offside even that the ball was deflected ?

Thank You
Joe

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Taking you at your word that the ball was deflected off opponent B, this would be an offside offense if he plays the ball or otherwise interferes with play. Only control by an opponent can reset offside in this situation. A mere deflection will not do it. I'd also say that what constitutes "control" will differ among referees.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

. Hi Joe,
a DEFLECTION of the ball off a defending opponent will NOT change the offside phase of play that WAS in effect for the attacking team which last touched or played that ball before the deflection.

What is interesting is the deflection is a reset of offside position for that player's teams which just had the deflection of the ball go off of him as it is classified as a last touch or play of the ball albeit uncontrolled.

In point of fact this deflection has rest offside position for his team while leaving the other team offside positions unchanged. What this means is for a brief time both teams could have offside positioned players which cannot participate in active play at the same time!!
Cheers