Question Number: 24083

Other 10/5/2010

RE: competitive very Adult

Michael of point pleasant, nj usa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24074

No question, just a comment regarding your responses.

There was no misunderstanding of what the referee stated. Our questions were specific, the answer was specific, deflection causes the player to be offside. Both myself and another certified referee stated flatly that this referee's interpretation was wrong which prompted the 'I will have it included in the certification training in the future since you obviously don't understand this and it is so simple!' comment.

We had this discussion well after the incident in an attempt at 'referee to referee' communication. Yes, we were both players on the over 40 team, I have never been assigned by this individual, but the other referee involved was assigned often by the individual in question.

If Ref Keith would care to provide Jim Allen's website address I would be glad to bring this to his attention.

Thanks
Mike

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mike
Let's be clear. Deflections of an opponent do not reset offside and if a player is onside when the ball is last touched by a team mate he cannot be offside from a deflection off an opponent whereas a player that is offside when the ball is played by a team mate cannot be made 'onside' from a delection/rebound off an opponent.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Michael. I would reiterate for clarity: a player that is offside when the ball is played by a teammate is NOT put onside by a deflection off an opponent and a player onside when the ball is played by a teammate remains onside by a deflection off an opponent as the play by an opponent doesn't mean anything as offside is judged when the ball is played or touched by a teammate.

Also, if the ball had deflected off a teammate, offside would have reset. Is it possible that's what this referee was thinking? Mr. Allen's site is

http://www.askasoccerreferee.com/

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Perhaps you should also take this issue up with your State Director of Instruction (hopefully, they are not one and the same person), or your State Referee Administrator. They are most likely the ones with the appropriate stroke to explain it to the referee/assignor or at least clear up any misunderstandings on his part.