Question Number: 27686

Law 11 - Offside 8/25/2013

RE: Intermediate Under 12

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 27645

I would like some clarification, please. The original question said the cross was to the attacking player (PIOP). If the GK goes to cover that attacker as the attacker attempts to play the ball (but fails), the challenge by the PIOP would not be considered interference, is that right? If this is correct, that means the GK must know at his/her peril whether the attacker is or isn't in an offside position, right? i.e. if the attacker isn't offside, the GK better run toward the attacker to block the shot...if the attacker is offside, the GK should ignore the attacker & go for the ball only.

Thanks again,

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
Moving in anticipation of what might happen is not part of Law 11. If a defender including the goalkeeper makes the wrong choice of moving towards a player in an offside position and the PIOP does not affect the player's line of sight or challenge for the ball then there is no offside.
So if the GK moves to the near post to cover a PIOP say some 3 yards away not in line with the ball and the ball is played to an onside player at the back post then there is no offside.

However if the PIOP was to challenge the GK for the ball or the GK could not see the flight of the ball because of the PIOP and the ball goes past both then that would be offside.

Here is an example of not offside:
http://garcia-aranda.com/offsideifab/eng004video003.html

Before the change to Law 11 this could be considered incorrectly as offside and in fact it is flagged offside by the AR. The amendment to Law 11 takes away the 'distraction' consideration.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Several years ago we had a concept of 'in the zone of active play'. When a player was in this 'zone', which was rather nebulous, she could be considered to have interfered with play even without touching the ball.

That has gone by the wayside. Now a player is involved in play if she touches the ball. Or if she is the only attacker likely to play the ball, offside may be called before the touch in some circumstances - such as preventing a possible collision between players racing for the ball. A swing and a miss at the ball, even though attempting to play it, does not qualify for involvement in play.

The player would be called offside for interfering with an opponent only if she blocked the opponent's vision or access to the ball, or if she was challenging the opponent for the ball.

Even before the wording change in the Laws of the Game, we in the US were reminded by Advice to Referees that mere movement of the attacker toward the ball does not constitute an offside infraction.