Question Number: 26399

Law 11 - Offside 5/31/2012

RE: AYSO Rec Under 13

Rayne of Palmdale, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 26368

So at what point can the 'Offside Player' play the ball or be involved in play?
For example (1) if GK parries the ball, is it OK for him to play the ball or recieve the parried ball from (a) a teammate? (b) recieve the parried ball miskicked by opponent? (c) deliberate pass of the parried ball towards GK by opponent?
(2) is the 'Offside player' placed Onside position if opponent/s drop/s to help his/their GK?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

A player in an offside position does not have his position reconsidered until a teammate touches the ball again. Also, if the defence controls the ball, then we are no longer concerned about the offside position (unless, say, the attacker has immediately pressured the defender to force a miskick, or something similar).

In your scenarios, 'parried' implies that the goalkeeper has controlled the ball and chosen where to direct it. This satisfies the 'control' aspect, so we would no longer be looking to penalise attacking players for offside.

However, I don't think I've ever actually seen this applied on the field. Normally in a parry, I find that the keeper has only really had some control of the ball, and not enough for me to say that the attacker who was in an offside position is able to play the ball.

So, while a parry, strictly speaking, would enable an offside attacker to play the ball, let's not forget that the difference between a parry and a deflection is largely a subjective call. So let's keep in mind the spirit of Law 11 and apply the fairest position.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Rayne
There are only three way that offside is reset.
These are
1. The ball goes out of play
2. Another phase of play begins with a touch / play by an onside player
3. The opponents gain control of the ball
On a parry the goalkeeper has taken control of the ball. However it would be extremely rare that a goalkeeper who has control of the ball would then spill the ball to an opponent in an offside position. It is much more likely that when that happens it is in fact a rebound / deflection which is not control and therefore does not reset offside.
In the case of defender movements after the ball is touched / played by an attacker to a team mate in an offside position that has no effect on the offside call or offside being reset. The player in an offside position cannot get involved in active play until one of the three situations happens.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

'Parry' is a term that exists in the Laws of the Game primarily for historical reasons. We seldom see true parries anymore, as there is no longer a reason for them. Many years ago goalkeepers were restricted to only 4 steps while holding the ball. Thus they would parry the ball away - deliberately control the direction of the ball - to be able to pick it up in a more beneficial location. Thus the directive in the Laws that a goalkeeper is considered in control of the ball when he parries it.

That's not what most people mean when they say parry. They really are talking about a save, where the ball deflects off the goalkeeper's hands/arms.

Regarding offside, when the ball rebounds or deflects off an opponent, any offside considerations still apply. If it were a true parry, where the goalkeeper could have caught the ball but chose to direct it to another place instead, then offside would apply. We just don't see that, and certainly wouldn't apply that to recreational youth play.

Regarding offside position when players move, remember that offside position is determined each and every time a teammate touches/plays the ball. It's like a snapshot is taken at that moment. Any teammate in an offside position at that time cannot then become involved in play until one of the 3 conditions that my colleagues posted occurs.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

1. By definition, a parry defines control so the offside positioned player may now play the ball.
1a. If a teammate now plays the parried ball, we have to judge if the player is now in an offside position. If not-yes he may play the ball
1b. Absollutely. The ball has last been played by an opponent. Offside does not apply.
1c. Again, ball controlled and played by opponent. No offside.

2. If you mean after the ball has been parried, there can be no offside as ball controlled by opponent