Question Number: 28401

Law 11 - Offside 5/7/2014

RE: select Under 18

Pete de Leon of Corona, CA USA asks...

Real game situation. Players are beyond midfield. One defender, two forwards. A= attackers. D= defender. Ball kicked forward by an A player. Both A forwards are ONSIDE when ball is played. D fans on ball and A1 and A2 run toward goal, chasing ball. Ball is dribbled by A1 only. Goalie starts to come out, A1 passes to A2 , who scores goal. AR raises flag (offsides),and center ref disallows goal.

I maintain NO OFF SIDE since both forwards were onside when ball played through.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Pete,

Offside position is considered every single time the attacker touches the ball. As you say, the players were onside when the first ball was played through, then A1 dribbled the ball. Every time A1 touches the ball, we need to consider the position of the other attackers. In this situation, when A1 passes the ball to A2, the moment of that touch we need to determine whether A2 is in an offside position.

If he is closer to the goal line than the ball and 2nd last defender, then he's in an offside position. In short, if he's in front of his teammate (given they've passed the 2nd last defender), then he's in an offside position.

On a break like this, the player running alongside the ball carrier needs to remain level with or behind the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Pete
In this situation the key moment was when A1 played / touched the ball to A2. Was A2 in an offside position at that time. The previous phase of play when A1 received the ball from an A player had passed. In fact A2 could have been in an offside position there on that through pass and it would have made no difference as A1 was onside.
What has happened here is that either A2 has moved either ahead of the ball or he has moved ahead of the 2nd last opponent after A1 took control of the ball placing him in an offside position. When the ball is played by A1 the offside will be called when A2 in an offside position interferes with play or with an opponent.