Question Number: 28569

Law 11 - Offside 6/30/2014

RE: Rec Adult

Rob of Salem, Oregon USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 28551

Taking up when the two players on offense now have the ball. Suppose Player 1 with the ball dribbles toward goal. Player two runs ahead and gets himself ahead of the ball, but runs diagonally--toward the corner. Player 1 shoots at goal. Is this offside on Player 2? He was not involved in the play, but was positioned offside.

Second scenario: Same as above, but player 2 again runs in front of player 1, but this time he runs right into the goal, ahead of the ball, at the same time player 1 shoots. Offside?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Rob
The answer in both scenarios depends on whether the player in an offside position interfered with an opponent. Interfering with an opponent 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.
It is not an offence to be in an offside position. The player has to do something more for the offence to be called. In both scenarios the answer could be offside or not offside depending on the line of sight of an opponent at the moment of the shot. If there is no interference then there is no offside.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

It is not an offense to be in an offside position. The player must also do something - by playing the ball or by interfering with the defender's ability to see or play the ball. In the first scenario, the player has done nothing beyond being in an offside position. Not offside.

In the second scenario, running toward the goal is not enough. Being near play is not enough. If player 2 movement, however, hinders the goalkeeper or some other defender's ability to see or play the ball, then there is an offside infringement.

Note, if the shot deflects off the crossbar or off a deliberate save, player 2 still cannot play the ball. That would be offside as well.