Question Number: 27684

Law 11 - Offside 8/23/2013

RE: Competative Under 12

Person Attournament of Longview, WA USA asks...

The forwards were playing the ball just in front of their opponents' goal with only the keeper between them and the goal line. Then they passed it back upfield past the second-last defender to their teammates there, then immediately forward again to where it was. Is this an offside offense?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Offside position is determined each time the ball is touched by a teammate.

As long as the forwards were even with or behind the ball on the initial pass, neither was in offside position. So far, so good.

Then they passed it to a teammate. When the teammate touched the ball, the forwards were in an offside position because they were closer to the opponent's goal than the second last defender or the ball. They are both ineligible to play the ball, and will infringe the offside law if they do play the ball (either directly from the pass or after a deflection), or if they interfere with a defender's ability to see or play the ball.

If instead of passing the ball, the teammates shoots the ball into the goal, the issue for the referee would be whether the forwards did something that interfered with the keeper's ability to see or play the ball. It is not an offense to be in an offside position.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
The question the referee has to ask is whether the player who receives / touches the ball is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. Key word is BOTH
When there is a one on one with the goalkeeper only, the only way a player can then stay in an onside position is to be level with or behind the ball. The 2nd last opponent is not an option.
There has been a myth that the absence of the 2nd last opponent negates offside. Absolutely incorrect. Offside applies at all times excluding a throw in, goal kick or corner kick and in the players' own half.
So in this scenario offside is determined on each pass / touch of the ball. When the final pass to the player did he have two opponents between himself and the goal line as he is ahead of the ball? It reads to me that he only had the goalkeeper so as he is ahead of the ball he is in an offside position. When he interferes with play or an opponent then offside is called.