Question Number: 24338

Law 11 - Offside 11/17/2010

RE: Rec Under 11

DougB of Irvine, Ca USA asks...

Quick question regarding the Laws of the Game. Im pretty comfortable with the rules, but I want to ask about a particular offside scenario.

Youth game, Girls Under 10.

Attacker on the left (my left) shoots the ball along the ground, the goalkeeper on knees tries to grab the ball, but fumbles it. It was probably 75% controlled, but the from the momentum (or slippery gloves, or whatever reason) the ball did not stop. It got away from her, and continued to roll toward the far post (to my right).

Person in offside position in that area saw the ball got loose, and kicked the ball into the goal. AR signals offside.

The player in offside position did not block the goal keeper's view or position.

I disallowed the goal based on the offside signal from my AR.

Looking back, I'm analyzing the call, as I often do, so I can be better prepared in the future.

Offside In three cases. Interfering with play, interfering with an opponent, or gaining an advantage. The only one that would fit here is gaining an advantage by being in the offside position.

The term used in the book is "rebounds" off of the goal posts / goal keeper.

Would my description be considered a rebound, thus resulting in a valid offside call?

Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

At U10, it sounds like a rebound to me. 75% control isn't control. Good offside call, provided the player was in the offside position at the time the shot was taken (last touch by a teammate).

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Doug
Correct call based on the offside concept of ' gaining an advantage by being in that position" means playing a ball that rebounds to him off a goalpost or the crossbar having been in an offside position or playing a ball that rebounds to him off an opponent having been in an offside position.
Clearly the goalkeeper did not have control of the ball and therefore offside was not reset as it was a 'rebound'