Question Number: 26001

Law 11 - Offside 2/24/2012

RE: Intermediate Under 12

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

I have an offside question. Can the referee apply advantage & disregard an offside infringement?

2 scenarios: In both cases, blue PIOP runs back to his/her half of the field to play the ball, but red team immediately retakes possession.

1) AR properly raises flag & referee doesn't notice. However, red team scores immediately.

2) AR properly raises flag, referee notices, but decides to apply advantage because red team has ball & is in good scoring position. i.e. can the referee apply advantage?

Thanks again for all the information.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
The referee can deem the offside infraction to be 'trifling' and wave down the flag. This allows play to continue
In 1 the astute AR will drop the flag as play has continued with benefit to the Red team. The instruction would be discussed in the pre match meeting.
In 2 the referee would simply wave down the offside flag and allow play to continue. It would not be advantage in the true sense as advantage would not be signalled by the referee.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

USSF has said that advantage only applies to Law 12 violations.

1. If the referee misses an AR's signal, the AR should lower the flag 'when it doesn't matter any more'. Usually that is when the other team has regained possession of the ball has at least as good of field position as they would have from the free kick for offside. This should be covered in the pregame between the ref and AR's.

2. While a USSF ref can't call advantage, she could decide that the offside offense was trifling and doesn't need to be called.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

No. Advantage, at least in the US, only applies to Law 12.

1. AR should lower flag as it no longer matters

2. I'm not sure how this could happen but if the red team has the ball was there really any offside offense?