Question Number: 28256

Law 11 - Offside 3/15/2014

RE: Select Under 12

Mark of South Bay, CA USA asks...

I know that an AR can signal for Offside before a PIOP actually touches the ball, for example if this player is the only player able to play the ball and you see them running toward it and want to avoid a collision with the keeper.

My question gets to the definition of interferes with play by 'playing' the ball.

Here is the specific situation.

An attacker about 7 yards from the goal line and even with the left post kicks a slow looping shot that goes over the keeper's hands and bounces in the Goal Area towards the right post. A PIOP runs behind the keeper towards the ball, comes within a few feet of it, and clearly tries to make contact with the ball with head or chest, but is not skillful enough and misses the ball. The ball bounces in to the net from the original kick.

The PIOP clearly attempted to touch the ball, but did not. Is this sufficient to be considered interfering with play by 'playing' the ball or should the AR have waited for clear contact before signaling, and in the absence of contact, signal for a valid goal?

Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark
As the player in an offside position has not touched the ball then it cannot be interfering with play.
Also unless the player has interfered with an opponent such as challenging for the ball then that element does not apply either.
So it cannot be offside as described.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Touching the ball is required for an offside infringement for "interfering with play." (You note the exception, but the AR needs to wait and see if anyone else will be able to get to the ball from an onside position.)

But, touching the ball is not required for an offside infringement for "interfering with a defender." That is action by the player in offside position (PIOP) that is a challenge for the ball or that interferes with the defender's ability to see or to play the ball. The closer the PIOP is to play, the more likely that she has interfered with the opponent's ability to play the ball.

In the situation you list, it is not clear whether the PIOP has interfered with the keeper's ability to either see or to play the ball. Merely running toward the ball is not enough. However, if the PIOP has gotten between the keeper and the ball or has made a challenge for the ball, that is enough. Not for interfering with play, but for interfering with an opponent.