Question Number: 35909

Law 11 - Offside 4/28/2025

RE: Rec Adult

Doug Crawford of Folsom, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 35867

Hi there- in his answer to this question about the offside player, Richard Dawson says "Yes the holding occurred, but it was adjudged as -after- the PIOP was identified as being restricted."
The description of the PIOP as “restricted” makes a lot of sense to me:
Step 1 - attacking player in an offside position.
Step 2 - play by a teammate of the attacker, therefore this player is RESTRICTED.
Step 3 - PIOP becomes involved by playing the ball, interfering with a defender, or gains an advantage.
(the restriction lasts until it goes away, such as by another attacking teammate playing the ball, defender deliberately playing the ball, ball out of play)
However, I have never seen this “restricted” adjective for PIOP in LOTG.
I have sometimes used it to explain offside but I have avoided using the “restricted” explanation in my in-person Field Session for the First Time Referee Course that I occasionally instruct, since it is not in LOTG.
Am I understanding the concept correctly? - good reason to avoid this 3 step explanation?
Thanks for your opinion! /Doug

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Doug
Good to hear from you again
Yes your understanding is correct.
There are many terms that we use in our games that are not technically correct or in the Laws of the Game. For instance we use the term foul throw yet it is not a foul just an incorrectly taken throw in. The reason foul throw was frowned on is that advantage cannot be played as it is not a foul. Another one is the words used when there is foul / no foul and a referee decides to play advantage. What is the correct term to use? Some use the correct term of advantage while other may shout play on which may be also used in no foul situations.

So in trying to describe / explain Law 11 the word restricted can be helpful in most cases yet not all. We know that the player in an offside position is restricted from interfering with play or with an opponent otherwise a IDFK will be called yet it does not mean that the player is restricted from every part of play. For example if the PIOP is not close to the ball and makes a move that results in a pull / trip by a defender on the PIOP a direct free kick or penalty can and should be called as per the Law book.
We also know that in the modern game it is not unusual for a player to set up in a clear offside position, make movements away from the action and then get involved in 2nd phase play from what then is an onside position. So one can say that the term restricted on its own does not describe what can and does happen in these attacking situations
Finally thank you for your efforts in instructing.
It is not an easy task as many newbies forget the advice / instructions and indeed my experience is that it can take multiple interactions on a one to one to get the required competences fully taken on board.
In summary restricted in an offside setting is limited to interfering while a PIOP can do many other things at that time which is not restricted.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Doug again good to hear from you again as well
As my colleague suggested when I explain a concept like offside it has several variations for complexity that the average person has difficulty understanding for example. I’ve often said I can explain it, but I can’t understand it for you. Another tidbit is I explain what a defender thinks or chooses to do plays no bearing if offside Involvement criteria are met. Only the actions of the PIOP are of consideration.
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When I use the term ‘restricted ‘on the PIOP it is their actions alone that determine whether we see it as an involvement, which is the second part of offside required to award an indirect free kick. I also tried to reinforce the idea that once you are designated a PIOP there is nothing you can do on your own that will relieve you of that title. There must be a new touch of the ball by a teammate where your position on the field has changed so you are not closer to the opposing goal line and then the second last opponent and or the ball. Or the opposition must gain a fully controlled touch and redirect the ball, that in the opinion of the referee is not a deflection or a rebound. Or play is halted and or the ball goes into touch. Perhaps to use the word restriction of a PIOP is to limit it on their ability to touch the ball or interfere with an opponents’ ability to do the same.
A player can be offside but not guilty of anything
A player can be offside and try to be involved yet fail and still not be guilty of anything because their actions did not affect the outcome of play.
A player can be offside but not aware that he is and even his opponents are not aware that it is. These opponents may try to affect that offside player by running into them, running over him or going to mark him. The key point here is the offside player did not try running into them try running over them or went to mark them, in other words, he did nothing to interfere with them, but they sought to interfere with him. This is why as a tactical exploitation of Offside regulations is to knowingly go into an offside position hoping the defenders are fooled into making bad decisions by trying to mark you, thus drawing them out of position. The fact you are “restricted” from touching the ball or preventing the opposition players from getting to the ball because you are a PIOP. It does not restrict you from moving around the field or standing in a spot or position where you’re not affecting the outcome of play. If you are not blocking the keeper’s line of sight or moving in front of a defender trying to run towards the ball, forcing him to go around you. You were entitled to be In an offside position because you are not involved In the outcome of play.
Cheers