Question Number: 22670

Law 11 - Offside 12/26/2009

RE: competitive Under 16

aser of mississauga, canada asks...

if a player takes a shot and it hits the post or goalkeepr and there is a player in an offside position when the shot is taken, would i have to flag for an offside or is that a legit play?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Did the player in the offside position get involved in play? It doesn't sound like it. So you would not indicate offside.

However in re-reading your question, it seems you may have left out a critical point. What happens to the ball after it rebounds from the goalpost or the goalkeeper? If it goes to this player who was in an offside position at the time of the shot, offside is called. This is the "gains an advantage" reason for offside.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

If that player interfered with an opponent, or gained an advantage by being in that position by touching the ball which rebounded from one of those items... then the team is punished for being offside. If not, score the goal!

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

The offside player was there when the shot occurred thus in law he is offside positioned and thus restricted from involvement!? But remember being offside positioned is NOT an offence in of its self!

Then the decision is did he interfere with the opponent or keeper at that time?
NO? Then play continues! but we remember he is STILL restricted!

Yes? He screened the keeper then offside INDFK out!

If the ball rebounds off the keeper or post or crossbar we again look to see if the offside player now chooses to be involved and seeks to play/touch the ball.
Did he interfere with an opponent or physically touch the ball at this point?
NO? Then play continues but we remember he is STILL restricted!

Yes? He recovers the ball off the rebound and shoots at the goal, then offside INDFK out!

(a)Does a new touch of the ball by an onside team-mate reset our offside restricted player who might no longer be offside positioned at that time?
(b)Does the defending team regain complete uncontested controlled possession of the ball and thus reset offside criteria back to onside status for all attacking opponents?
(c)Does the ball go out of play?
ONLY if any of these there things occur, only then is our offside attacker free from his restriction!

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Aser, first line in Law 11 : It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position. A player may stand or be in offside position the entire game and MUST NOT be penalized for this unless he becomes actively involved in play. In your question, if the player in offside position when the ball was played interfered with the keeper's line of sight or his position prevented the keeper or another opponent from getting to the ball, he would be guilty of an offside offence for interfering with an opponent. If the ball rebounded from the keeper or crossbar to him and he touched the ball he would be punished for gaining an advantage by being in an offside position, if he touched the ball on the way to the keeper/goal post, he would be guilty of interfering with play. If he does none of these things than he cannot have committed an offside offence which involves POSITION + INVOLVEMENT