Question Number: 24673

Law 11 - Offside 3/10/2011

RE: select Under 12

jerry slota of clinton twp, michigan usa asks...

If the defender plays the ball to the opposition while the opposition is offside is he offside? Does this fall under offside is offside?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jerry
The ball must be played/touched by a team mate for a player to be considered offside. The only exception is a deflection/rebound off an opponent which does not reset offside.
A player cannot be called offside when the ball is deliberately kicked to him by an opponent.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Jerry,

Not offside. Any player, regardless of position, IS permitted to play the ball when the ball was last possessed and controlled by an opponent. Offside position is judged at the moment the ball is touched or played by a teammate.

Note: a deflection off the opponent is not enough to make the player eligible to participate in play. But, a controlled play of the ball by the defender is. (What constitutes deflection vs. possession and control of the ball is a judgment call for the referee.)

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Jerry and thanks for the question. Offside is ONLY judged when the ball is touched or played by a teammate. There can be no offside consideration regardless of position if the ball is played by an opponent. Remember the first line of Law 11 Offside is:

It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position.