Question Number: 25994

Law 11 - Offside 2/23/2012

RE: Competitive Adult

Amy Lloyd of Portland, Oregon USofA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 25971

Most of the assistant referees know and understand and rule offside infraction when a PIOP receives a ball from a team-mate in the attacking half.

However, this PIOP is legally permitted to receive the ball in his own half. Right?

We (the officiating crew) recently had a situation when an attacker (centre forward) was put in an offside position by the defender (full-back) at the moment the ball was punted by the attacker's GK (not a goal-kick). Both, the full-back and centre forward were absolutely square and '2 yards from the halfway line when the forward's GK had the ball and was ready to punt upfield. The forward [probably blinked and missed the full-back's move, so he] ran into his own half and sprinted around the full-back into attacking half to receive the ball that had now dropped just beyond the centre circle.

Will the AR be correct in ruling this play as an offside infraction?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

All that's important is where the receiving attacker is at the moment the ball is last touched by a teammate.

If he is in the opposing half at that moment, then runs back into his own half to collect the ball, then he's committed an offence.

There is no way an attacker can put himself back onside. If he gets caught out by the defender's trap then he's stuck.

By your description an offside infringement had been called.

A simple response of 'it's where he was when it was kicked' should be enough to quell any protests.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The only position that is important is the position of the attacking players when the ball is played or touched by a teammate. If at that moment any attacking player is in an offside position, he may not play the ball regardless where he plays it. If he's in an offside position when the ball is played and runs back into his own half of the field and plays the ball he will be penalized for an offside offense

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Amy
A player in an offside position is not legally permitted to recieve the ball in her own half. There is nothing a PIOP can do to put herself in an onside position.
In this case the offside infraction happened two yards in the opponents' half and that is where the IDFK is taken from. The PIOP only 'completed' the offside infraction by interfering with play when she touched the ball which just so happened to occur in her own half.
It is no different from a PIOP who starts off behind a defender and then touches the ball in front of the opponent say in the penalty area. That is still offside as at the moment the ball was played / touched by a team mate the player was in an offside position.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I was an assistant referee at a younger rec girls game. One player came from a long way offside to play the ball back in her own end of the field. I watched her go, thinking, 'Oh, they're going to LOVE this ...' Sure enough, she was the first one to the ball, and despite her now being on the defensive end of the field and surrounded by a small herd of opponents, up went my flag.

An unofficial signal like the basketball "over-and-back" can be used to clarify things if the center referee doesn't seem to know what the AR is calling.