Question Number: 25579

Law 11 - Offside 10/10/2011

RE: High School

Peter of Great Falls, Virginia US asks...

Hi,

I have had a couple different state-level referees give me conflicting advice on this, so any clarification would be appreciated . :)

Say that an attacker is in an offside position, has the ball kicked 10-15 feet ahead of him from his teammate, and then is about to run onto it. Does the AR put the flag up immediately for offside (as it's pretty clear the attacker will be the first to the ball), or does he wait until he actually touches it?

Thanks,
Peter

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If the player in the offside position is the only attacker who could possibly get to the ball, then play may be stopped before he touches the ball. But be careful - often times an onside player will make a speedy run, and get there first.

If there might be a collision, then the offside can be called sooner. In that case, it's called for interfering with an opponent rather than for interfering with play.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Peter. There has been a change in view in the US on this. The assistant referee must wait. The only way to know that this attacker will be the one to touch the ball is to see what happens. Very often, the assistant referee who waits will see a player sprinting toward the ball from an onside position as the PIOP holds up.

The flag may go up as soon as a PIOP interferes with a defender's ability to play the ball (when the PIOP gets between the ball or defender or if there is any risk of collision between the PIOP and a defender).

Outside the US, the instruction is that the assistant referee may raise the flag once sure that no one from an onside position will be able to play the ball. In the US, the view is that the only way to be sure is to see who touches it first.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Peter
The safest decision for the AR is to wait until the player actually touches the ball. In some situations it will be 110% clear that the player in the offside position is the only player capable of touching the ball then it will not make much difference whether the flag is raised before the ball is touched or not. You know the situation. Single forward on his own, believes he is on side and he chases the ball which is some 5/10 yards from him. If there is doubt about a collision then the offside should be called before contact.
On the situation where there is any possible doubt then the AR should 'wait and see' what develops before raising the flag for offside.