Question Number: 28513

Law 11 - Offside 6/16/2014

RE: Rec Under 14

Me of Vancouver, WASHINGTON United States asks...

Greetings:

We are debating a particular aspect of the offside law which comes up occasionally during play.

We all agree that an offside player who runs back on to receive a pass from her teammate is still offside because that's where she was when the ball was passed and it is an offense when she receives it.

Suppose a player is in an offside position for some time. Then she runs back toward an onside position, and is onside when the ball is kicked. She receives the ball.

Some say it is alright because she was onside when the ball was kicked. Others are saying she is still offside and must wait till it is kicked a couple of times to be considered onside again.

Apparently an instructor/mentor has said this.

Would you be kind enough to give us your opinion.

your attention is appreciated.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
When a player is onside when the ball is kicked / touched by a team mate that is all that matters. It makes no difference if the player has been in an offside position prior to that touch. In the Pro game it happens all the time with a player say at a free kick positioning himself in a clear offside position well beyond the 2nd last opponent. Just before the kick the player moves to an onside position. That is not offside. Another example is the player in an offside position remains in that position and a team mate runs with the ball runs beyond his team mate to cross it to him. The receiving player is now behind the ball in an onside position. That again is not offside.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

The laws state 'when the ball is touched or played by a teammate'. This means it's always considered at the last touch.

It's hard enough monitoring the position of the players from the last touch - it's impossible trying to make a decision based on where the players were standing 10 seconds ago. It wouldn't work, it's impossible to referee, and nobody would understand what's happening.

I guarantee that the people you're arguing this is how it's applied have never actually seen it work that way.