Question Number: 24055

Law 11 - Offside 10/1/2010

RE: Select Adult

Paul Davidson of ALBUQUERQUE, nm USA asks...

Determining offside and what constitutes a play on the ball:

Assume Player A2 is in a clear offside position.

I am curious how the committee defines what constitutes a play on the ball by the defense in the following three cases:

1. Shot on goal by player A1, saved by keeper, balls goes to A2 who shoots and scores. Offside is decided by whether or not the keeper played the ball or the ball deflected to A2.

How do you decide when the keeper has made a play vs. a deflection? What separates a Parry vs. a deflection ? Being a unique position, does any touch by the keeper constitute a play on the ball? (I can't buy that one but have heard it espoused.)

2. Pass by A1, defender B1 jumps up to head the ball which ends up going to A2. How do you decide when B1 has played the ball ? A play denotes a certain level of control, does it not ?

2B. How about the case where the long pass is over B1's head, who jumps and the ball skips off the back of the defenders head.

Tricky situations to gauge. Do these fall under Justice Stewart's premise of 'I know it when I see it...' ? Or are there more rigorous methods we can apply to make these determinations ?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Paul
1. A save is a rebound so the PIOP is gaining an advantage by being in that position so offside is called when the PIOP touches the ball. A parry is control and the ball usually falls to the feet of the GK for a subsequent touch
2. In my opinion unless it is a high level of skills game a header is not control of the ball and offside is no reset
2B. Most definitely not control at any level and offside is not reset
So in general unless there is clear control of the ball offside is not reset. Control is where the player prepares it for a subsequent touch with any rebound, deflection is not control

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Paul, we don't have a committee that decides anything. We are not an official site of USSF, and while we endeavor to make our answers as correct in the Law and practice as possible, they are not binding or official.

A save is not a parry, and is not considered control, thus a ball saved by the keeper which then goes to an opponent in an offside position will result in an offside call. If the keeper has the time and skill to direct the ball with his hands in the same way that we would decide he had controlled the ball had he used his feet, then there is no offside.

Touched or played does not denote control, only that the player has touched or played the ball. The referee will have to observe the circumstances and decide if the ball was controlled and the defender simply goofed in sending it the way of the opponent, or if the defender just misplayed/miss-hit/deflected the ball, in which case offside applies.

Your 2B situation is a clear deflection and offside results.

You only know it if you see it if you know what you are looking at - and that takes practice and experience.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 24088