Question Number: 23246

Law 11 - Offside 5/3/2010

RE: Rec Adult

Kenneth Patricio of Springfield, IL USA asks...

Offside

Free kick about 30 yards out. While the ball is in the air, it is clearly going right to the goalie, and defenders stop. Several offensive players (all onside at the time of the kick) continue rushing the goal, once each to near post, far post, and up the middle. Goalie muffs the catch, and ball goes right to the offensive player in the middle. He controls at the 6 and shoots the ball, scoring. At the time of the shot, each of the other offensive players is standing right at the posts.

Goal was allowed, I believe correctly, since the other offensive players did not impede the view or movement of the goalie.

Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Kenneth
This reads to be as a legitimate goal with no offside. It can only be offside if the attackers in an offside position interfere with an opponent in this case the goalkeeper and this did not happen.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

All attackers were onside at the time of the free kick, so we have no problem there.

Now we have to consider offsidedness at the time the ball was kicked into the goal. Were the other 2 players ahead of the ball? Then they would be in an offside position. But did they get involved in play? Most decidedly not. They didn't touch the ball, so they did not interfere with play. They didn't get a rebound off an opponent or the goal, so they didn't gain an advantage. And there were no opponents nearby, so they clearly didn't interfere with an opponent. Not offside.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

First, the player taking the shot was onside when he took it so the only question is were his teammates in offside position when he took the shot (you say they are at the posts but you don't say whether or not they are in offside position. They are ahead of the ball but we don't know where the rest of the defenders are) and if so, did they become actively involved in play? Clearly they neither interfered with play nor gained an advantage by being in an offside position so the remaining question is did either interfere with an opponent? From your description I would have to say no, and award the goal