Question Number: 26978

Law 11 - Offside 11/5/2012

RE: Select Under 14

Paul of Livonia, Mi US asks...

This happened at the conclusion of a game this past weekend. An attacking player was closer to the goal then the 2nd to last defender. The defense had control of the ball and went to clear the ball. When clearing the ball it hit a teammate and was misdirected to the attacking player who was still closer to the goal then the 2nd to last defender.

The AR threw the flag up and the player was called Offside. Was that the right call? Does it matter who the ball deflects off?

For instance what if the defender cleared the ball and it hit an offensive player and the attacker received the ball? What if the ball hit the center ref and the attacker received the ball?

Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Yes. The response differs when the ball deflects off a defender or another attacker.

A deflection off another attacker is a new 'touch' that requires offside position to again be determined based on the relative position of all teammates at the time of that touch. A deflection off a defender (or a referee) does not. Offside position remains the same as the last time the ball touched a teammate.

When a defender has possession and control of the ball, every opponent is eligible to play the ball regardless of position. When the ball is next touched by a teammate (even from a deflection), offside position will again be determined.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Paul
It makes a huge difference as to who last touched the ball in determining offside. If the ball was being played by a defender and it is kicked off a defending team mate to a player in an offside position there is no offside offence here. So in your scenario there was no offside offence as the ball was last played by the defending team
However if the ball was to deflect off an attacker from the same defender's kick to the attacker's team mate in an offside position then offside would be called.
As regards the ball deflecting off the referee that is ignored for the purposes of determining offside. The referee is just part of play.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Should also add that being closer to the goal than the next to last opponent does not necessarily mean the attacker was in an offside position. The attacker must also be closer to the opponent's goal line than the ball. You don't tell us where the attacker is in relation to the ball. All this may be moot unless he was also nearer the opposing goal line than the ball.