Tony P (The villages, Fl) asks...
I throw the ball down the line towards my goal.
My team mates draws the defense up.
Then pass a high ball down my line within a few seconds.
At that moment I step back into play and (usually) pass back to a team mate outside the box to shoot.
I tell the linesman what I'm going to do.
But, usually, they and the ref seem very unsure if 2 seconds off the filed after I throw in the ball is permitted. Or if its relevant to an offside call.
My team mates draws the defense up.
Then pass a high ball down my line within a few seconds.
At that moment I step back into play and (usually) pass back to a team mate outside the box to shoot.
I tell the linesman what I'm going to do.
But, usually, they and the ref seem very unsure if 2 seconds off the filed after I throw in the ball is permitted. Or if its relevant to an offside call.
Referee Joe McHugh
Answered on
Hi Tony
Thanks for the question.
The Law allows for players to leave the field of play to take a restart such as a throw in, corner kick, goal kick.
It does not specify what should happen after the restart. Normal play would expect the player to return immediately to participate in subsequent play.
Now staying off the field of play after a throw in is an outlier and it happens rarely simply because there is no benefit in doing do so.
From an offside perspective the players position OFF the field of play will be used for offside purposes. A player cannot escape offside consideration by being off the field of play as part of participation.
If staying off was done for unsporting reasons it would be a caution and an indirect free kick from that location.
This is what Law 11 states and I quote
** An attacking player may step or stay off the field of play not to be involved in active play. If the player re-enters from the goal line and becomes involved in play before the next stoppage in play or the defending team has played the ball towards the halfway line and it is outside its penalty area, the player will be considered to be positioned on the goal line for the purposes of offside. A player who deliberately leaves the field of play and re-enters without the referee’s permission and is not penalised for offside and gains an advantage must be cautioned.**
Staying off for a couple of seconds at a throw in with no benefit in doing so would be ignored.
However in an example where a thrower stays off for a few seconds, the defence pushes up and the thrower is now in an offside position off the field of play at the moment the ball is played and receives the ball on the field of play that is offside and an IDFK awarded.
Most referees would simply give the free kick only as in a very short window it would be difficult to determine if there was unsporting behaviour involved in the players action.
Thanks for the question.
The Law allows for players to leave the field of play to take a restart such as a throw in, corner kick, goal kick.
It does not specify what should happen after the restart. Normal play would expect the player to return immediately to participate in subsequent play.
Now staying off the field of play after a throw in is an outlier and it happens rarely simply because there is no benefit in doing do so.
From an offside perspective the players position OFF the field of play will be used for offside purposes. A player cannot escape offside consideration by being off the field of play as part of participation.
If staying off was done for unsporting reasons it would be a caution and an indirect free kick from that location.
This is what Law 11 states and I quote
** An attacking player may step or stay off the field of play not to be involved in active play. If the player re-enters from the goal line and becomes involved in play before the next stoppage in play or the defending team has played the ball towards the halfway line and it is outside its penalty area, the player will be considered to be positioned on the goal line for the purposes of offside. A player who deliberately leaves the field of play and re-enters without the referee’s permission and is not penalised for offside and gains an advantage must be cautioned.**
Staying off for a couple of seconds at a throw in with no benefit in doing so would be ignored.
However in an example where a thrower stays off for a few seconds, the defence pushes up and the thrower is now in an offside position off the field of play at the moment the ball is played and receives the ball on the field of play that is offside and an IDFK awarded.
Most referees would simply give the free kick only as in a very short window it would be difficult to determine if there was unsporting behaviour involved in the players action.
Referee Joe Manjone
Answered on
Hi Tony,
I agree with Referee McHugh. Although this is something I have not seen happen on purpose as what you are doing, I do believe you are in an offside position as you wait just off the field of play. As soon as you contact the ball, you would be considered offsides.
Also, staying off the field of play for a period of time could result in a caution.
Thank you for this very unique question. I do hope your team has a successful season.
I agree with Referee McHugh. Although this is something I have not seen happen on purpose as what you are doing, I do believe you are in an offside position as you wait just off the field of play. As soon as you contact the ball, you would be considered offsides.
Also, staying off the field of play for a period of time could result in a caution.
Thank you for this very unique question. I do hope your team has a successful season.