Question Number: 27569

Law 11 - Offside 6/30/2013

RE: Under 14

Mark of Petaluma, Ca Usa asks...

On a free kick, a player,onsides when the ball is struck, gets a rebound off the crossbar and scores . There is no defender between him and goal. When the ball rebounds he is in an offsides position. This is not offsides?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark
You are correct. When the ball was played by a teammate the player was in an onside position and that is the defining moment. The rebound of an opponent or frame of the goal is of no concern. It would only matter if the player was in an offside position when the ball was struck in which case that would be offside when the player in an offside position interferes with play or an opponent

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The assistant referee takes a 'mental snapshot' of offside position when the ball is last touched/played by a teammate. That 'snapshot' stays in effect until the next touch by a teammate.

If the player was not offside in the 'snapshot', the player can move to whatever position desired and get the ball, either directly or off a rebound. There is no offside to call, because the player was not in an offside position at the time of the teammate's last touch.