Question Number: 23633

Law 11 - Offside 7/7/2010

RE: Rec/Select Adult

EugeneOubre of Texarkana, Texas USA asks...

Offside question:

Situation: Player is in an offside position when the ball is played. The ball is passed forward, deflects off the leg of a defender, and goes to the player in the offside position, who plays the ball.
Is the ball previously played by his teammate now considered to be played by a defender, or does the player get penalized for offside by having gained an advantage by being in an offside position when the ball was played by being in the right spot when the ball was deflected to him?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Long ago (not so long ago if you are old enough) a deflection off the defender was enough.
But, memories die hard.

A deflection off the defense does not reset offside position. Indeed, playing the ball after it deflects off the opponent has its own category for improper involvement in play - - 'gains an advantage.' Offside position can be reset, however, when the ball is possessed and controlled by the defense.

For attacking players, a key moment is when the ball is touched by a teammate.
For defending players, it is when the ball is possessed and controlled.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Eugene
Very simple really. A deflection or a rebound does not reset offside so in the situation you describe it gaining an advantage by being in an offside position. For the offside to be reset the opponents have to gain control of the ball. It is the referee's opinion what is control of the ball and to me it is touching the ball to prepare it for a subsequent touch or pass by that player or a team mate.

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