Question Number: 26061

Law 11 - Offside 3/12/2012

RE: Rec Under 12

Jim Soholt of Campbell, CA USA asks...

Player A is in an offside position. An opposing player is in full control of the ball, and attempts a pass back toward his own goal line. Player A intercepts the pass. Is Player A guilty of an offside violation?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

An offside infringement needs to come off the back of a touch of the ball by a teammate (this includes when the defence gets a touch on the ball trying to intercept, but fail). Therefore, one cannot be offside from an opponent's pass.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

No. A player in any position is eligible to play the ball after it is under an opponent's possession and control. The attacker is judged whether in offside position each time the ball touches a teammate.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jim
While Player A is in an offside position he has received the ball from an opponent which means he cannot be offside. Only players on the team in possession of the ball can be called offside.
For the player to be called offside the bal must be played or touched by a team mate.