Question Number: 17022

Law 11 - Offside 10/1/2007

RE: Adult

Jason of Lancaster, USA asks...

Here's the situation....

The ball carrier goes past the last defender. The ball carrier's teammate follows him past the last defender off to his left. The goalie moves toward the ball carrier to cut off his angle. Can the ball carrier kick the ball forward and to the left for his teammate to score (note: at the time the ball carrier kicks the ball, his teammate is still even to or further from the goal than the ball carrier), ie. a forward pass? Would the teammate be called for offside, even though at the time the ball carrier feeds the ball to the teammate, he is further from the goal than the ball and ball carrier?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Here's the answer Jason. There should be no offside given. Remember when in the attacking half and beyond the last but one opponent or the last two opponents the ball is the offside line. If a player is not nearer the goal line than the ball he cannot be in an offside position.

However, some referees are not entirely clear on this...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I heard an instructor explain the offside offense from the historical perspective. "You are in an offside position if you are closer to the goal than the ball is. ... (and then she paused for a good long time) ... EXCEPT - " And then she listed the exceptions.
- Except if you are receiving the ball directly from a throw-in, goal kick or corner kick
- Except if you are in your own half
- Except if there are 2 opponents even with you or closer to the goal.

I hope those newbie referee students remembered from this that the ball was the original offside line. Too many of us focus on the 2nd to last defender, and forget about the ball.