Question Number: 27428

Law 11 - Offside 5/15/2013

RE: competative Adult

michelle livesey of geraldton, western australia australia asks...

When a free kick has been awarded to the home team in there own area and the attacker is standing on the half way line along side the defender of the away team. When the home team player takes the kick, the moment that the ball leaves that players foot the attacker runs forward into the opposition half and the defender has not moved as of yet, is the attacking player classed as being off side? even though the run was only made the minute the player released the ball?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Any offside position is determined at the time a teammate plays/touches the ball. If the player is not offside at the time of the kick - and he's not if he's not across the center line - then there is no offside position. The player is free to race down the field as soon as the ball is kicked.

Remember that judging the timing of the kick and the offside position is the responsibility of the assistant referee. It's a difficult job, as the AR must often look in two different directions at the same time. Often the ref uses the sound of the kick to make that determination.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Michelle
The moment that offside is determined is when the ball is played, If the attacker is in her own half at the moment the ball is played then that is not offside even if she receives the ball in an offside position.
The skill at beating the offside is timing the run so that the player is in an onside position when the ball is played. Players can and should be coached on this rather than the run that takes off into an offside position before the ball is played.
You will note on TV that one of the most difficult challenges facing an AR is determining position at the moment the ball is played.
here is an online test
http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football.cfm?page=3156