Question Number: 27788

Law 11 - Offside 9/20/2013

RE: Rec & competetive Adult

J of San Diego, California United States asks...

Offside question:
Scenario -
The attacking team gains possession of the ball near midfield with opponents cheating way up field. The first attacker with possession of the ball gets by the last defender and is headed toward opponents goal and goal keeper is waiting in goal. Then a second attacker also gets by the last defender. So now the goal keeper is the only one between the two attackers and the goal. Can the first attacker pass the ball to the second attacker to score? If so, when would it be offside and when would it not be offside?

Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

As long as the attacker is behind the ball, he is not in an offside position, no matter what the configuration of the opponents. So yes, the ball could be passed to him with no offside called.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Whether the first attacker can pass the ball to the second attacker depends on where they are in relation to each other.

Offside position depends on where the player is in relation to the defence AND the ball.

So if both attackers are past the defence, then the second attacker needs to remain behind the ball (strictly speaking, level with it also counts as long as no part of his body is in front of the ball at all) to stay onside. If he moves ahead and is in front of the ball, then he's in an offside position.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
The only way the B 2nd attacker without the ball can stay onside is to remain behind the ball. If the B 2nd attacker gets beyond the 1st attacker A with the ball he cannot have two oppoents between himself and the goal line as there is only one, that is the goalkeeper.
Offside applies at all times in the opponents' half except from a throw in or a corner.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

or a goal kick