Question Number: 17189

Law 11 - Offside 10/8/2007

RE: Competetive Under 16

Lisa Meanic of Bath , Me usa asks...

The ball is played to Player A. Player B is in an offside position just over the midfield line when the ball is played.

Player A dribbles to the top of the penalty box, then passes to player B who is now even with him at the top of the penalty box.

Ref blows the whistle for offside because Player B has become involved in the play.

Where is the ball placed for the kick? Does it go where player B was originally in an offside position near midfield, or where Player B was when the ball was played to him?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Before we determine the location of any restart, we first have to decide if there was an offense. Player A dribbled the ball past player B's original offside position near midfield. Each time A touches the ball, we have to look at B to see if he is or is not in an offside position. You said A passed the ball to B when B was even with him. Was B ahead of the ball? If not, there was no offside position so no offside offense.

If B was in an offside position at the time his teammate last touches the ball - ahead of both the ball and the 2nd to last defender, and in the attacking half - and then participates in play, the offside call should be made. The restart location is where B was when A last touched the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Can't add much to the excellent reply by Ref Voshol, but if that is the scenario, please report this to the referee assignor, as the referee needs some coaching.