Question Number: 24369

Law 11 - Offside 11/22/2010

RE: Rec Under 11

Raman Rajan of Irvine, CA USA asks...

This is a question to clarify definition of 'active play' in an offside situation. Player A, B and C of attacking team charge the opponents goal. Player A kicks the ball to Player B. At the time of kicking the Player C is offside - and charging the goal (same as Player A) and both are actively seeking the ball as Player B dribbles in. Goalkeeper is not being hampered by Player C but has to cover all players - including Player C. Does this constitute 'active play' or the fact that Player C does not get the ball meant he is not in 'active play'? I called the former couple of times based on the fact that Player C by continuing to be actively engaged in the process of trying to score the goal is in play. I got much angst from the AR and the coaches.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Raman
For a player in a offside position to be called offside he has to meet one of the three offside conditions which are interfering with play, interfering with an opponent and gaining an advantage by being in that position. In the scenario you describe the referee can rule out interfering with play and gaining an advantage by being in that position as both require the player in an offside position to touch the ball. That then leaves interfering with an opponent which means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.
From what you describe the goalkeeper was not hampered in playing the ball and I assume his line of vision to the ball was not impacted. The fact that the GK has to 'cover all players' including those in an offside position is not enough in itself to justify an offside call.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The ball went from A to B - thus C could not be considered for 2 of the offside definitions, Interfering with Play and Gaining an Advantage. Both of these require the offside-positioned player to touch/play the ball, or to at least be the only attacker who could get to the ball. The only thing that is left is Interfering with an Opponent, which you said she specifically was not doing. So no offside on the initial kick from A.

Now B is dribbling the ball, and A and C are going toward goal. Their offsided-ness is evaluated each and every time B plays the ball. If B should pass the ball while A or C is in an offside position, we would again look for Interfering with Play, Interfering with an Opponent, or Gaining an Advantage.

The fact that the goalkeeper has to keep track of a player who may have been in an offside position does not constitute an offside offense by that player.