Question Number: 27540

Law 11 - Offside 6/20/2013

RE: Competive Other

Nicholas of Dorval, Quebec Canada asks...

Offside rule simple but then...

Position of offence and assistant referee's position.

I find too often the assistant freezes with second last defender as the ball goes over and towards an attacking player the assistant waits and signals an offside offence when the attacking player play's the ball or anything else that allows the player to be called on the offside offence. Question is too often the player is called for offside and ball is returned to position of second last player instead of where the ball was played or was going to be played when the play is whistled down.

What are the proper method's to have the assistant mark the true location of the offence or do I not understand the offside rules properly.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Nicholas
The offence happens at the location of the player in an offside position when the ball was played by a team mate not where the player in an offside position interferes with play by touching the ball.
In many instances the offside offence happens close to the 2nd last opponent with an early touch so there is little need to move.
If there is an appreciable offside distance the player in an offside position is probably aware of his clear offside position and may decline to get involved. If he does play the ball the assistant referee should move to the position of the player when the ball was played.
The other situation where the AR must move is when he is unsure as to whether an onside or an offside positioned player will get involved in active play. If the offside positioned player touches the ball then the AR moves to the original offside position of that player not where he touched the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Nicholas and thank you for the question.
The restart is where the offside positioned player was when the ball was touched or played by a team member not where he plays the ball