Question Number: 17724

Law 11 - Offside 11/6/2007

RE: Select Under 11

Michael Arkin of New Hyde Park, NY 11040 asks...

If an attacking player received the ball in an onside position gets behind the last defender and turns so that their back is to the goal line and they are behind the ball. She then loses the ball to the defending team, and then gets the ball back from behind the defender is this an offside violation? (Ball was never touched by anyone else on her own team). I did not believe this was an offside voilation, but the referee called it offside and another parent said that the ball was "played by one of his team" (her) while she was in an offside position (her back to the goal line).

Is this the right call?

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

No it is not an offside violation. Please refer to the paper on offside on our www.asktheref.com homepage to learn why and to find out more about offside.

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Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Heavens no! Sometimes referees are so focused on whether an attacking player is closer to the goal than the ball or second to last defender they forget the ball has to be last touched or played by a teammate of the attacker. Big oops.

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Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

No! There is no offside offence if ball is received from an opponent that controlled the ball regardless of position.

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