Question Number: 23182

Law 11 - Offside 4/26/2010

RE: Competitive Under 15

Jim Cappellucci of Plymouth, MA USA asks...

A keeper has made a save and punts the ball. The closest person to the keeper is the attacker who took the shot. Attacker is well enough away from the keeper and is also outside of the penalty area. The ball is punted and flies past the attacker about 10 yards toward midfield. The ball strikes a defender in the back. The ball bounces back toward the keeper, where the attacker makes a play from the rebound. Is the attacker offside?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

He cannot be guilty of an offside infringement as the ball has been controlled and played by a defender.

In order to be considered for an offside infringement, the ball must be touched by a teammate. As this has not occurred, there is no problem here.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Cappellucci
While the attacker is in an offside position he has to receive the ball from a team mate for the offside infringement to be considered. As the ball was played by both the goalkeeper and a defender then it cannot be offside.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

A player's offside position is noted when her teammate last touches the ball. If the player becomes involved in play after that touch, offside is called.

Since the ball was played by the goalkeeper and then deflected off a defender, the attacker is not offside.