Question Number: 24881

Law 11 - Offside 5/5/2011

RE: Intermediate Under 12

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

Offside question.

Let's say that on a quick strike, A1, an attacker, is offside when her teammate last touched the ball & steps just outside the touchline to avoid being involved in active play . In the meantime, other defenders have rushed to protect the goal & another attacker has the ball.

Can A1 come back on the field without permission? Can she immediately play the ball (assuming she comes back in an onside position)?

I know that a player who is playing the ball (either dribbling or trying to legally get the ball from an attacker) can go just off the field & come right back on without asking permission of the ref, but what are the considerations when they come back on after being offside?

Thanks in advance,

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
There is no need for the player in an offside position to step off the field of play to show that he is not involved in active play. However, if the referee considers that he has left the field of play for tactical
reasons and has gained an unfair advantage by re-entering the field of play, the player must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour. The player needs to ask for the referee's permission to re-enter the field of play.
There is nothing that the player in an offside position after the ball is played can do that can put himself back in an onside position. In the situations where the defending team gains possession of the ball or it has gone out of play or a new phase of play begins with a team mate in an onside position playing the ball the referee could deem that the player stepping off the field of play temporarily was part of a playing movement which means he can re-enter without permission.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

She should stay on the field but since she didn't, now she needs permission to re-enter

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Standing still on the touchline works much better than leaving the field. Her offside position does not change unless a teammate touches the ball again while A1 is now not closer to the goal line than the ball and the 2LD, or unless a defender has controlled and possessed the ball, or the ball leaves the field.

If A1 leaves the field, she should need the permission of the referee to return. I have seen players do this, raise a hand to get the ref's attention, and with a nod they return. I doubt you would see this at U12.