Question Number: 35907

Law 11 - Offside 4/23/2025

RE: Comp. Under 19

Larry of Danville, CA United States asks...

I’m having a minor debate with a fellow referee and am interested in your insight. Does an attempt to play a ball that should be easily controlled by a defender, but who doesn't actually touch the ball, reset offside? The actual play was as follows: There is a long pass from an attacker towards a player in an offside position. A defender has time and space to intercept the pass but simply takes a swing at it and misses completely. The ball continues to the player in an offside position, who then becomes involved in play.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Larry
Thanks for the question. As described that is not a reset as a swing and a miss is not control and therefore it cannot be a reset

Law 11 tells us and I quote

**If the pass, attempt to gain possession or clearance by the player in control of the ball is inaccurate or unsuccessful, this does not negate the fact that the player ‘deliberately played’ the ball. The following criteria should be used, as appropriate, as indicators that a player was in control of the ball and, as a result, can be considered to have ‘deliberately played’ the ball:
# The ball travelled from distance and the player had a clear view of it
# The ball was not moving quickly
# The direction of the ball was not unexpected
# The player had time to coordinate their body movement, i.e. it was not a case of instinctive stretching or jumping, or a movement that achieved limited contact/control

A ball moving on the ground is easier to play than a ball in the air A ‘save’ is when a player stops, or attempts to stop, a ball which is going into or very close to the goal with any part of the body except the hands/arms (unless the goalkeeper within the penalty area).**

So even limited / minimal contact would not be a reset either which is a judgement call by a referee.
What we can say though is that no play / contact is definitely not a reset.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Larry,

Thanks for the question.

I would have to agree with my colleague ref McHugh here. If there is no contact by the defender, there can be no reset of offside.