Question Number: 26356

Law 11 - Offside 5/19/2012

RE: AYSO Under 15

Cameron of Lancaster, CA USA asks...

My child is OFFSIDE but is told that she can play the ball if ball kicked by opponent back towards opponents goal.
But if (a)opponent (b) teammate: kicks ball back (negative space tactic) and it deflects off another player(opponent or teammate) to my child, can she play the ball?
If her teammate takes a long shot and opponent dropping back puts my child ONSIDE after ball is kicked and ball (i) deflects off goal (ii) deflects off GK (iii) GK parries ball, can my child play the ball?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Offside is considered each and every time a teammate touches the ball. If in an offside position at that instant, the player cannot become involved in play until something else happens:
-- another touch by a teammate
-- a controlled play by an opponent
-- the ball goes out of play

If the ball deflects/rebounds off an opponent without control, or rebounds off the goal, there is no change in offside considerations. This is the third reason for an offside call, 'Gaining an Advantage'. (The other two are interfering with play and interfering with an opponent.)

You've got too many variables to consider all the possibilities of your questions. Keep the criteria I've spelled out above in mind, and you should be able to work out your scenarios.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Cameron
It is always good coaching advice to ensure forwards read the game as to what is likely to happen and then get back to an onside position again so as to be able to participate in active play should the opportunity arise.
As regards being in an offside position that is not an offence. It is only an offence when the player in an offside position, when the ball is touched / played by a team mate, the player subsequently interferes with play by touching the ball or interferes with an opponent. If the ball is deflected or rebounds off an opponent or the frame of the goal the player in an offside position is still penalised as the moment of offside is determined by the original touch / play by his team mate and the deflection / rebound by an opponent does not reset the original offside. A subsequent touch/ deflection by a team mate sets up another offside consideration at the moment of the touch..
If the ball is under the control of the opponents and the ball is mis-passed or intercepted by a player in an offside position there is no offence as the ball was last played by an opponent not a team mate.
On your final question offside would be called in (i) , (ii) and at underage probably (iii) as the parry will not be seen as control whereas at higher levels it will be as the GK has exerted control of the ball but then chose to release it back into play. Onside off a parry is extremely rare as if there is control most GK will not drop the ball to an opponent unless of course he has not seen the player.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

A player who is in offside position is ineligible to participate in play until (a) the defense gains clear possession and control of the ball; or (b) she is in an onside position the next time a teammate touches the ball. Note: the required contact to reset offside position is very different for an opponent than for a teammate. Moreover, offside position never changes when the ball only touches the cross-bar or goalpost.

If the ball merely touches or deflects off an opponent, it does not reset offside position. (That is not clear possession and control). A controlled pass by the opponent would indicate clear possession and control, and the player is again eligible to play the ball.

If the ball merely touches or deflect off a teammate, however, offside position is again evaluated. If the player is no longer in an offside position at the moment the ball touches the teammate, the player MAY participate in play. Players can switch from 'on' to 'off' side every time a teammate touches the ball.