Question Number: 25631

Law 11 - Offside 10/18/2011

RE: Rec Under 16

Jackie of Glendale, Ca USA asks...

If an offensive player kicks the ball directly at the goal while one of her teammates is lined up off sides (bit she is not part of the play). Then the ball bounces off the goalie to the player who was originally offsides can she now kick the ball into the goal? Or is it offsides?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

In the vast majority of cases this will be offside, yes. Under the laws of the game it's known as 'gaining an advantage from being in an offside position' - and while it may have a confusing title, it's just an odd way of saying that if the player touches the ball after it's rebounded from the goalposts, crossbar or opponent (including the goalkeeper), then they should be penalised.

However, if the keeper had made a controlled pass of the ball out onto the field and it wound up going straight to the player who was offside then this shouldn't be penalised. Don't get too hung up on that though - it's pretty unusual for that to happen and the referee is generally going to err on the side of caution and penalise the attack.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jackie
If the player in an offside position was still in that position when the ball was last kicked by a team mate and the ball rebounds to that player off the frame of the goal or the goalkeeper then that player in an offside position will be called offside when she touches the ball under the term'gaining an advantage by being in that position'.
Offside is only reset when the ball goes out of play, when the opponents gains control of the ball or when another phase of play begins with a player in an onside position playing the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If at the moment the ball is kicked by her teammate a player is in an offside position, she may not participate in play until offside resets. Offside does NOT reset if the ball merely bounces off the opposing keeper (or any opponent for that matter). the ball must be controlled by the opponents to reset offside (or the ball must be touched by a teammate or go out of play) so in your example the correct answer is: no, the offside positioned player may not kick the ball. If she does, she will be penalized for an offside offense.