Question Number: 26813

Law 11 - Offside 9/22/2012

RE: ayso Under 10

paul of kernville, ca usa asks...

player A dribbles all the way down field, he shoots and the goalie deflects it, a player running besides him shoots and makes the goal off the deflection, is he offsides?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Paul
The decision will depend on the location of the scorer on the original shot which was saved. If the scorer was behind the ball when it was originally kicked then it cannot be offside as he was not nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. The key word there is BOTH as a player is in an onside position if he is behind the ball even if he is ahead of the 2nd last opponent.
If he was ahead of the ball and the 2nd last opponent then he is an offside position and he has 'gained an advantage by being in that position' when he plays a ball that rebounds of an opponent or the frame of the goal.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The issue is whether the player who scored was in offside position at the moment the ball was last touched by a teammate. Usually on a breakaway, the position of the second last defender isn't a factor. Still, if when the ball was last touched by a teammate, the scorer was no closer to the opponent's goal line than the ball (i.e., even with or behind the ball), then he is in onside position and is eligible to play the ball.