Question Number: 25945

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 2/1/2012

RE: AYSO, competitive Under 15

Rajan of Van Nuys, California USA asks...

According to Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game, a player who receives the ball directly from a dropped ball cannot be declared offside. Are we talking about the player/players that take the drop kick, first touch by a player not involved in the drop kick or something else? Please clarify.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Receives directly means not touched by another player. The ATR intends that the referee ignore the relative position of the players participating in the dropped ball. Once the ball is in play (i.e., the ball touches the ground) , however, the offside law will apply to anyone in an offside position when a team mate then touches the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Think about it. Who put the ball into play? Or rather who and then what? Yep, it was the ref and the ground that made the ball playable. Since the ball has not been played by a teammate, the position of the player who first touches or plays the ball is irrelevant for purposes of making an OS decision. Offside position becomes relevant again only after the ball is in play and the ball has touched a player - now we calculate OSP.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Offside is judged when the ball is touched or played by a teammate. In the unique example of a dropped ball, the ball is put into play last touched by the referee. The ball is in play when it hits the ground. So, the first player to play the ball after it has been dropped may never be offside as the ball was last touched or played by the referee not a teammate. After the first player contacts the ball, offside may become a factor.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Rajan
Once the ball touches the ground it is in play. A player who touches the ball cannot be offside. However should that player kick the ball to a team mate in an offside position then offside consideration will apply.