Question Number: 21380

Law 11 - Offside 5/19/2009

RE: rec, select Adult

Dan Glass of Vienna, Va USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 21361

Thank you all for your responses. Right on with how I was taught yet a major bone of contention for those who do not know about the change in March 09.

For Mr. Dawson, if a free kick is placed where the infraction occurred, and to be offside is not an offense in itself, then why is the ball not placed where the touch occured and flag raised? Isn't this the point of infraction? Perhaps I misunderstood you. Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

A good question, and one that bedevils all referees at different points in time, dear!

From the LOTG/Interpretations this year:

Infringements
When an offside offense occurs, the referee awards an indirect free
kick to be taken from the position of the offending player when the
ball was last played to him by one of his teammates.

In other words, while he can run around all day in an offside position, if and when he gets involved, we take the ball back to where he was when his teammate last played the ball.

Does this create issues for the AR when he has to run 30 yards back upfield to indicate the proper restart position? Yep. But, FIFA says we'll just have to deal with it. Of course, on the other hand, knowing where it needs to go and insisting on where it needs to go are two entirely different animals...yes?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Yes it is an irritating aspect of offside protocol.
The positon itself is the restart location only AFTER involvement occurs somewhere else has baffled many a referee, pundant, parents player or coach!
I believe it originally contributed to the idea of raising the flag prior to actual contact because it was a great deal to effort to sprint the distance KNOWING the offside restricted player was in all likelihood going to touch /play that ball at some point anyway, then wait until that actually occurs them move back or down up the field to indicate the correct spot. The mechanics here are some what messy and often confusing. I suggest using your voice when you are standing with the flag raised AFTER the whistle (Fellows Back up the field Far/middle /near side) as you side step quickly back to the restart location located a LONG distance away.
There is no doubt given the type of restart and its location as generally a non scoring threat from defending third or near middle third there is a GREAT latitude in the blade of grass specifics where I see even at the pro level massive discrepancies in the actual restart location and the by the book restart location
Cheers