Question Number: 16715

Law 11 - Offside 9/16/2007

RE: Under 13

Vic Hughes of Penmaenmawr, Conwy UK asks...

1. An oponent goal keeper drop kicks / kicks a ball but it ends up by mistake not going very far and going to an attacking player in an off side position in the goal keepers half of the field. can the attacking player shoot / go for goal or is he called offside.

2. The rule say a player cannot be offside from a goal kick , is that from his own goal keeper or any goal kick regardless of which keeper kicked it.

3. At a kick start does the ball have to be touched twice or can it be kicked direct to the opposition goal.

4. Can a ref who plays advantage blow and call back if no advantage was gained by the tem offended against.

regards, Vic

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

1) Offside is determined at the time a teammate last touches the ball. Since the goalkeeper had hand control and then kicked the ball to an opponent, there is no offside.

2) From either keeper. From his opponent because of the reasoning in (1); from his teammate because it is specifically exempted in Law 11.

3) Kickoffs were made direct kicks 10 years ago. A goal may be scored directly.

4) The referee has a short time, usually 2-3 seconds, to determine that the advantage he saw did not materialize. In that case he blows the whistle to stop play, and the restart is determined by the foul.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Vic: offside is only judged when the ball is played or touched by a teammate. It is not an offence to be in offside position. This should cover 1 and 2. 3 a goal may be scored directly from a kick-off. 4. Absolutely, if the advantage doesn't materialize in a few seconds