Question Number: 23984

Law 11 - Offside 9/21/2010

RE: Under 19

robert of city red, MD us asks...

If you are on a break away, you shoot and hit the post. Can you touch the ball if its on the rebound or is that offside?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Yes. You can play the ball.

Offside position is judged whenever the ball is touched by a teammate. If you are the last person to touch the ball for your team, you are not in an offside position.

Moreover, offside position is based upon when the teammate last touched it. Whenever a player is behind the ball when it is last touched by a teammate. If you were 'behind the ball' when it was played by a teammate, you remain in onside position no matter where you are positioned when you touch the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Robert
Offside must at a minimum involve two players from the same team. In this case the last player to touch the ball is the scoring attacker so in effect he has played the ball to himself off the frame of the goal so that cannot be offside.
If the ball rebounded to a team mate who was in an offside position that would be 'gaining an advantage by being in an offside position' and offside would be called.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Robert, in soccer, you cannot put yourself offside. One of the conditions is that the a teammate has to touch the ball to put you offside.