Question Number: 28246

Law 11 - Offside 3/10/2014

RE: Competive Other

Lattu G. of Long Beach, CA USA asks...

10 Girls Match:
DFK about 15yds outside the penalty area.
Prior to the kick a player for the attacking team (A1) positions herself 2yrds beyond the wall(second-last opponent)in a clear offside position. Just before the kick player A1 charges toward the GK. The ball skips the ground twice before arriving to the GK, at this point player A1 is still charging the GK and within 2yds of the GK. The GKs view is not obstructed by A1, but the GK is clearly panicked by the charging A1 player. GK mishandles the ball and the balls falls out and travels 3yds into the goal.

#1
What is the call?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
Law 11 was amended this year and the new wording of 'interfering with an opponent '' reads
'' means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or challenging an opponent for the ball''.
Now you state that the GK's view of the ball is not obstructed by AI the player in an offside position so that rules out that part.
The next question is whether there was a challenge for the ball. From the description that is difficult to determine. So it is left to the opinion of the referee in the game whether AI's action constituted a challenge or not. If there is a challenge then it is offside. If the GK spilled the ball back out to A1 it is also offside for 'gaining an advantage by being in that position'. If there is no challenge and it is a GK error then it is a goal. My sense is that this could go either way but more likely to be offside at Under 10s
Now at Under 10s offside is a very difficult concept and events happen that generally don't in the regular game. Many Under 10 Leagues do not use have offside so these type of calls don't need to be made.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Offside. The player in offside offside position has interfered with the keeper's ability to play the ball. The closer the player is to the opponent, the more likely there is interference.

The referee may also consider that this was a play designed to interfere with the keeper. Why else would the attacker start in position between the kicker and the keeper and then run at the keeper?