Question Number: 17465

Law 11 - Offside 10/22/2007

RE: pro Adult

brad stewart of taylor, mi usa asks...

if the opposing goalie is at half field and a player is in the opposing half with a defender in between him and the goal, is he offsides if a player passes him the ball?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Brad do not think of a keeper as anything other than one of 11 opponents. . The keeper has no special effect on offside other than most often the keeper is usually last opponent by nature of his position but if he is not, any of his team mates could be.

In deciefering your question I will assume this player who passes the ball is in fact a team mate of the player in an offside position. As there is but one opponent between him and the opposing goal line as he is inside the opposing half at the time of this pass he would be evaluated as offside positioned and thus restricted from involvment. The keeper is just a another opponent standing on the midline plays no part in the decision.
Easy Offside decision , no (s) required
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Actually no, in the broad sense. He is in an offside position but that in itself is not an offence. The player must participate is some way after he is judged in an offside position. What he may not do whilst in an offside position is play the ball, cause an opponent to do something he wouldn't normally do or gain some advantage after the ball deflects off the posts, crossbar or an opponent [usually the goalkeeper but any opponent will do].

Offside position is nearer the opponent's goal line than the ball and the last two opponents while in their half.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You don't say if there was only ONE defender. If there was only one defender and the attacker is nearer the opponent's goal than the ball then he is in offside position. If the ball is played towards him he still must interfere with play before an offside offence occurs. He may run away from the ball realising he's in offside position. If he plays it, then it is an offside offence