Question Number: 16918

Law 11 - Offside 9/26/2007

RE: Amateur Adult

T. Howard Firth of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire England asks...

If a player A is in an offside position when an opponent plays the ball back and A runs on to the ball and scores, is A offside i.e. the ball is deliberately played back, not deflected

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The referee's assistant must establish that a player is in an offside position when the ball is last touched or played by a team mate. At that point in time the offside player may not participate in play until:

The ball is again touched or played by one of his side AND he has taken up a position on the field that is no longer offside.

The defence has controlled the ball.

The ball is no longer in play.

You'll note Law 11 makes no mention of the direction the ball is played only that it is touched or played. Readers of the Law assume the ball must be played forward. Then they assume it being played backward makes things OK. Not so, the offside player still can't get involved in play.

As penance fo making this assumption you are prohibited form yelling "REFEREE, that's not offside" in your next two matches.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The question, if I understand, is if player A, in an offside position can legally play a ball last controlled and played by a defender of the other team (opponent). Yes, they can. A player in an offside position can only be found to be offside if they are closer to the goal that the ball and the second to last defender when a teammate last touches the ball and the player then gets involved by interfering with the ball or an opponent or gains an advantage from his offside position. This definition doesn't fit a ball received from a defender's play.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Offside is judged when a teammate plays the ball. What you have described is an opponent clearly playing the ball. No offside.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

I have been reminded by a gent from New Jersey that what has happened here is something we should allow. I read opponents as the wrong side, kicking the ball in the other direction [away from goals] and a colleague running from his offside position to play the ball. I will assume one match of your penance and not think badly of a coach on my next match.

Regards,

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 16957