Question Number: 17553

Law 11 - Offside 10/28/2007

RE: Hackney & Leyton League Adult

Ashley Mills of London, London England asks...

Is it possible to be offside if you are behind the ball? (e.g. a winger crosses the ball to a striker who is goal side of all of the defence but is behind the ball)

There is some debate in our club that needs settling.

Thanks very much

Ash

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Please read Law 11, and the first of the criteria that put you in an offside position: "nearer to his opponents? goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent".

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Ashley,
Depends upon which direction you are facing and which side of the field you are on. Balls can be played back AWAY from the opposing goal towards the mid line and players within an opponent's half at this time, could in theory still be determined as offside restricted if they have to travel farther back to chase that ball themselves, even if they reenter their own half to do so.
The ball direction is not the trigger; it is the player position when that ball is played!
lol ;o)

In your situation the 2nd last opponent is not a factor then the location of only the ball becomes an issue. When that ball is struck by the winger, which is the exact moment of evaluation of the offside position of your striker. If the striker was even with or behind the ball, with the ball being thus closer to the opposing goal line then the offside evaluation comes up zero, play continues.

Remember it is the PLAYABLE body parts versus a round object in lining them up across the field. An AR requires to be lined up with the ball itself as the 2nd last opponent is no longer a consideration. It is easier to see static position then determine accurately a fast moving series of events. FOCUS and POSITIONING are the tools to apply to understanding the ins and outs of law 11 our only reliable weapons in an officials arsenal to get these calls right.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

No. There should be no debate about this. Law 11 is very short. Any player even with or behind the ball cannot be offside as they are not in offside postion

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

We have a small paper, available through a link on the front page. Print that out and take it to your club meeting -- it settles all arguments about offside!

Regards,