Question Number: 23969

Law 11 - Offside 9/19/2010

RE: Rec Under 11

DougB of Irvine, Ca USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 23910

I understand what the law says, and it makes sense, I believe. In my scenario described,

Player A at the 30, Player B at the 15 when Player A sends the ball.

Player B is involved with the play right by the corner. The IFK is at the 15, where B was.

As an AR, we are told to stay even with the ball or second to last defender. In this case, if the second to last defender is around the 30 (or wherever), then the AR will basically follow the ball up when A kicks toward the corner.

The AR will raise his flag when player B becomes involved, and the AR will be near the corner flag at that time (even with the ball.)

So the confusion is due to the fact that the infringement was midway across, at the 15, and the AR is at the 2 or 3, by the corner with his flag raised.

What is the proper procedure for the AR? Should he do as I described, and follow the ball toward the corner flag? Should he stop at the point where the infringement was, at player B's position at time of pass?

Thanks again.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The AR must continue to follow play, in case the offside offense is never completed.

Should the offside positioned player become involved in play, the AR will raise the flag and give the offside signal. The AR will then retreat to the position of the restart. This requires the AR to remember where the restart should be.

In most cases the AR's position and the restart position will only be a few yards apart, and there is little need to find the exact placement. But in cases like this where a player runs a long way after the ball, or in cases where a player runs from a very much offside position, the restart position can be considerably different from where the involvment happens.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi DougB
The AR must follow play until the offside offence is actually 'completed' by the player in an offside position touching the ball. The flag is then raised and the AR returns to the point of the offside infraction and makes the relevent signal - far, middle, near.
In Europe this does not happen so often unless there are two team mates running for the ball with one in an onside position. If a player in an offside positon is running towards the ball and is the only attacker capable of playing the ball and more than likely will play the ball the flag is raised after the 'wait and see'. IMO that makes life a lot easier for ARs