Question Number: 24383

Law 11 - Offside 11/25/2010

RE: Under 13

fred washington of jackson, new jersey united states asks...

if the ball deflects off a defender and the offensive player is in an offside position is it still offside ??

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Fred
Yes it is offside. The deflection by a defensive player does not reset the offside. For offside consideration to be reset the opponents must either gain control of the ball without interference from a PIOP or the ball goes out of play or a new phase of play begins with a player in an onside position playing the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The Laws of the Game defines:
'"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'

Also in the Interpretations and Guidelines section (found in FIFA online version, not printed USSF version), there are several diagrams of offside situations. with commentary.

Number 10: 'The shot by a team-mate (A) rebounds from the goalkeeper to (B) who is penalised for playing the ball having previously been in an offside position.'

Number 12: 'The shot by a team-mate (A) rebounds off an opponent to attacker (B) who is penalised for playing the ball having previously been in an offside position.'