Question Number: 26393

Law 11 - Offside 5/27/2012

RE: rec Adult

saul of chicago, IL USA asks...

Blue player is offside just past his half. The ball is passed by his team mate but falls short and into his half. The blue player in offside runs into his side of the field and wins the ball before anyone else touches it. Is this an offside? Usually a player coming back from offside to play a ball is called offside, but since he stepped back into his half, is it still an offside or not?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

That is offside. He was in an offside position at the time the ball was last touched by a teammate, and then he became involved in play by touching the ball himself.

People won't like it and won't understand it, but your referee will. If not, give an unofficial signal similar to the basketball 'over and back' signal.

Incidentally, the restart is in the player's attacking half, where he was at the time the ball was played by his teammate. It's not where he received the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

If a player is in an offside position when the ball is last touched or played by a teammate, then there's nothing he can do to put himself back 'onside' - not until the ball is touched by a teammate again, or the defence gains control.

The player here has committed an offence and should be penalised. Naturally you can expect the complaints that he can't be offside in his own half, but a simple 'it's where he was when the ball was kicked' is all you generally need to say if you wish to address any dissenting players.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Saul
It is offside. The player in an offside position is penalised when he interferes with play or interferes with an opponent. It makes no difference where the player touches the ball to interfere with play, just his position when the play was last played touched / played by his team mate.
In this case the offence happened in the attacking half and that is where the IDFK will be taken from. It just so happened that the player met the final offside condition of interfering with play in his own half.
In these situations the wait and see flag is important. Where an onside team mate to play the ball the player in an offside position would not be called offside.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Saul, as a referee, this is something you have to know. A player can never put himself onside. This player was in an offside position when a teammate played the ball. He may not participate in play until offside resets. Period.

It does not matter where the player is when he receives the ball. It only matters where he was when the ball was played by his teammate