Question Number: 23101

Law 11 - Offside 4/12/2010

RE: Travel Under 13

Brad of Ashburn, VA USA asks...

When does a player become onside again from an offside position? player A is in an offside position and player B is dribbling the ball down the field ahead of the defenders but behind player A. Player B dribbles past player A. Once Player A is behind the ball is he now considered onside? Also the same question with the second to last defender. I know if the ball is played to A from B and he comes from an offside position to receive the ball he is offside but if he is offside and the second to last defender runs by him is he now onside and can receive a the ball? Just curious if onside is instant once the ball or second to last defender is on goal side of player A. I assume they are but just wanted to be sure. Thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Brad:

Offside position is re-evaluated every time a teammate touches the ball. So, you are correct, when player 'B' dribbles (touches) the ball past Player 'A' - player A becomes onside when he is even with or behind with the ball (or the second last defender) when the ball was last touched by a teammate.

As a referee, one often is saying (to yourself) 'On, On, Off, On, Off' as the play develops and each time the ball is touched.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

It is both the position of the attacker without the ball, and each touch of his teammate with the ball that determines whether the attacker without the ball is either in offside or onside position.

The player without the ball cannot change his status by himself. If he was in an offside position, either his teammate has to touch the ball again once the offside positioned player has changed his position to be further away from the goal line than the ball or the second to last defender, or a defender must control and possess the ball for the offside to reset. Obviously it also resets if the ball leaves the field.

Each time the ball is touched, the AR is taking a snapshot in his brain about where the offside positioned player is located. Is he on, is he off, is he on? And so it goes...