Question Number: 24076

Law 11 - Offside 10/4/2010

RE: Rec Under 15

Tim of Ballwin, MO USA asks...

Offense Player 1 (O1) is in an offside position but does not get involved in the initial part of play so not called offside. Offense Player 2 (O2) dribbles the ball on break-away directly towards goal. O2 (now in front of O1) shoots and ball deflects off Goalie directly to O1. Is O1 offside since the defense never controlled the ball? Or did O1 become 'on-side' since the ball ended up being in front of her?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

As soon as O2 passed O1 and touched the ball again, she reset the offside position for O2. O2 was now in an onside position and could play the ball deflected off the keeper.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Offside position is re-evaluated each and every time a teammate plays or touches the ball. The assistant referee takes a mental snapshot of the scene, and deletes the previous snapshot.

When O2 last touched the ball, O1 was no longer in an offside position (she was behind the ball, so defenders don't matter). Thus there is no offside offense.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tim
There is no offside in the scenario you have described.
The dribbling of the ball by O2 has commenced another 'phase of play' and as O1 is behind the ball when it is last played by O2 (the shot) she is not in an offside position and cannot be called for that offence and she is entitled to play the rebound of the GK.
So you are correct in stating that O1 became 'on-side' since the ball ended up being in front of her.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

When O2 shot the ball, O1 was in an onside position so she is free to participate in play until another member of his team plays or touches the ball. Therefore, she may play the ball. She is onside not because the ball ended up being in front of her. She's onside because at the moment her teammate played the ball, she was in an onside position and offside isn't judged again until a teammate plays or touches the ball