Question Number: 2985

Law 11 - Offside

RE: MYSL Medium Level Soccer Under 18

Eric Mayer of , asks...

If i pass the ball to my teammate who is in an offside position, and a defender intercepts the ball and kicks it to the sideline, and my teammate who was offsides runs back to get the ball , is this offside?..I have asked this question before, but here is the confusing part.....Can you please explain what you mean by CONTROLLING the ball by the defender. Example: Is a one-timer called controlling the ball? Passing it out to the touchline considered controlling? Does it depend on the age group and level?..Thanks so much, so what i am asking is, can you please explain in depth about controlling the ball by a defender who intercepts a pass from opponent intended for his offside teammate?..Thanks again !!!

Answer provided by Referee Dawson

Hi Eric, .It is a good question but I warn you it is a subjective issue...11.15 BECOMING "ON-SIDE".A player who is in an offside position at the moment the ball is played by a teammate can.become "on-side" in only four ways: I left out the other three At issue here is point .(3) An opponent intentionally plays or gains possession of the ball.The key point is that someone other than the player in the offside position has to play the ball; he cannot put himself "on-side." .While little in this great game is absolute in my opinion if an attacker is in an offside position that player must make no movement towards the defender or ball in any manner until ITOOTR is satisfied that no disadvantage could occur by the added pressure of the offside attackers position and involvement. I.e.: pressure the defender into making a poor decision by closing him down. .IF the defender had no pressure applied that would force him to release the ball quickly. The offside attacker may not challenge that defender until that defender makes a deliberate tactical move to release the ball back into the flow of play in an uninterrupted fashion. Nor could he benefit if an attacking teammate forced the defender to release the ball...If the offside attacker was quite close or running in behind the defender at the time of the pass directed towards him chances are he would be flagged for involvement by his actions and proximity to active play. However if ITOOTR no active involvement was shown and the position of the offside attacker was no where near the defender .IF the defender makes a conscious decision to release the ball once in his possession only then could the offside attacker make a motion to recover the ball. It would depend on the circumstances but there is a little room to believe your scenario could be ok for a previous offside attacker to then lay claim to be unaffected by his offside position. .In considering the skill level I think it would be appropriate not to expect the same criteria of control in youth. To me however, one touch implies deflection and in all such cases it is ITOOTR and that is a bit subjective at times is it not? Cheers

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