Question Number: 17406

Law 11 - Offside 10/20/2007

RE: rec Under 13

B Manning of Glen Allen, VA USA asks...

Just want verification that a player can be offsides on a goalie punt. The coach of the team I was reffing for was adament (to the point that I would have cautioned him had I been center ref) that there is no such thing as offsides on a goalie punt. I said on a goal kick, yes, but a goalie punt is just a pass like any other pass and if the offensive player is cherry picking by being 10 yards past the last defender hoping for a long kick, he is offsides if he is pass the last defender when the kick leaves the goalie's foot.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

You are correct - a player can definitely be offside receiving a ball from a punt. A GK punt is not a goal kick, and it is not a restart. It is simply a continuation of active play, during which the GK is the only one who can hold the ball until the punt is released. The coach was totally out of line. And the word is "offside", dear. No "s". Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI B, you are 100% correct or 99.9 % you lose .1 % because you added an (s) onto offside .
A punt is a live ball in play after 6 seconds that punt is a last touch of the ball by that keeper and resets offside criteria into initial assessment of positional evaluation for offside for all his team mates! The coach as most coaches who expond theory loudly at a match need to recall the responsibility thing which is their only stated objective within the laws on how to act. Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Take a pocket full of candy next time you draw this team. When the coach starts talking give him a piece. As you walk away ask him not to talk with his mouth full -- and, oh yeah; "coach please let me know when that piece is gone so I can give you another"...

Silence is golden, and the coach won't be uttering drivel and spouting forth nonsense like that.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Yet another great example of those that know the least protest the most. A simple "you're wrong coach and that's enough" should have silenced this coach and had he continued his rant he should have been asked to leave.