Question Number: 16978

Law 11 - Offside 9/29/2007

RE: competitive Under 14

Ed of Denver, Co usa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 16169

So, if the attacking player #11 finds himself in and offside position while attacking player #8 is dribbling down field, #11 can get himself back onside as long as he is back behind the second to last defender (or last 2 defenders) before #8 makes his pass touch to #11. In other words, when the rule states "the offside positioned player must be in an onside position before ANOTHER teammate plays the ball", it doens't have to be another teammate OTHER than #8. Being back in an onside position before the last teammate, regardless of whether the player that plays the ball is the same teammate that possessed the ball when #11 was originally in the offside position will make #8 legally eligible to play the ball ?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Yes. What matters is the location of player #11 at the moment the ball is last touched by a teammate. If he is in an offside position when it is touched by his teammate and he gets involved, he is offside. If he is not in an offside position when the ball is lasted touched by a teammate, then he is good to go.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

You got it Ed. As a player dribbles the ball he is constantly retouching it . With evey touch of the ball the offside resets as the new snap shot camera in the AR's mindseye fixes the position of the players at the precise moment each touch has occurred! A new touch of the ball by another teammate or a new touch of the ball by the same team mate . It is the same thing in determining POSITIONAL restrictions as per LAW 11! Players move as the ball moves so when the ball is next played or touched changes could have occurred whereby those formerly restricted are not and those who were not, are!!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Right. Player #11 can be offside or onside while #8 is dribbling the ball. It only matters where he is when the ball is actually played to him when considering offside.