Question Number: 36037

Law 11 - Offside 9/28/2025

RE: Rec to Competitive as well as MS and HS Adult

Jason Glazier of North Bend, WA United States asks...

Another ref mentioned something he called “offside reset” which I never heard of or could find in a search, so thought I’d ask a question where it was referenced.

Away team was in the attack and had two players around the opponents 18. One player had the ball (was onside when received) and another player who was in an offside position when ball was received by teammate and also got ahead of the ball. However the 2nd never received the ball nor was involved directly in the play.

Player with the ball then took a shot which went straight to the keeper who played the ball off his feet versus hands (he was in PA). The keeper then attempted a pass which bounced off a receiving home teammate and bounced back to the original away player who was still in that same position and behind the 2nd defender on the home team. He attempted a kick which scored.

AR raised flag for offsides, but center waived off and counted the score referencing that “offside reset”.

The question is, who was correct?

Would the call change if the keepers kick bounced off an opposing player versus his own?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jason
Thanks for the question.
The term reset is not part of Law 11 yet it tries to convey the meaning of phases of play.
In your example the first phase of play has two attacking player both with an opportunity to receive the ball. One is in an offside position while the other I assume is not.
As the ball is played by the attacker in an onside position the position of the other player in an offside position is now mute from the original pass so we have a “reset” for potential offside on that phase of play. If a goal is scored by that onside player the goal is good.

That reset now moves to what happens with the ball from the onside player who takes a shot. If the 2nd attacker is still in an offside position from the shot by the onside player any player in an offside position from that shot would be restricted from participating in play including from a save or a rebound.

Now your scenario outlines that the ball was stopped by the goalkeeper by a save yet then attempts to pass the ball to a team mate which fails. That is yet another phase of play and as the ball was deliberately played by the goalkeeper that is another reset to use that phrase and while the attacker may be in an offside position that is irrelevant as the ball has been deliberately played by an opponent.

The only way it could be offside is that the ball rebounds off a save from the goalkeeper to the attacker in an offside position.
So in summary we have three phases of play.
1 First through ball not offside
2. Second phase of a shot not offside
3. Ball deliberately played by the goalkeeper which was not a save so no offside

So we could say that there was three phases of play or offside resets in all of the three

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Jason.
Once a player has been 100% identified as being a PIOP, (player in an offside position) he is restricted from active play, no matter what he does and where he goes, because NOTHING an 'ORP' (Offside Restricted Player) can do on his own will change anything!
Given there is nothing the player can do, obviously something else must occur to release the player to be able to participate, so we ask the question

WHEN & HOW IS THIS OFFSIDE RESTRICTION LIFTED?

or in effect, when is the criteria for offside "reset"

As you noted a restricted player through simple position. if they have no impact are simply ignored. The question then becomes when can they not be ignored?
I often use the phrase, "I can explain offside for you but I can't understand it for you!"
I have faith you already understand the context of applied criteria.
Your question has several stages of play which my colleagues summarized as 3 points.

The first being the team mate recieving the ball was onside, while the offside positioned player had no effect.

The second being the player who received the ball, fired in a shot, which is a new touch and the offside criteria is again reevaluated or in a sense, reset, even though the offside positioned player had no effect, he once again has been evaluated as being in an offside position and having no effect, is once again ignored.

The Keeper makes a SAVE but the offside player as of yet has not affected play so in effect the new offside restriction that was adjudged at the time of the shot is STILL in effect. However now comes the rub, which many people find it difficult to accept that this seagull player who has always been in a offside position at every touch of the ball including that save gets a crack to score due to a reset of evaluation which is the deliberate actions taken by the opposing keeper AFTER the save!

While it is plausible the AR was of the opinion the save and the attempted pass was more of an instinctive reaction, a continued deflection as it were. an outstretched leg, the ball rebounds and he stabs at it to push it away towards a teamate.

So now we're at point 3.
It would appear the referee saw this as 2 Separate Distinct Actions! The ball hits the foot, save, no offside criteria for the attacker has yet changed but then a controlled pass by the keeper releases all former restrictions on that previously offside player, his position is no longer being evaluated given the oposition now control the ball through a deliberate action and the ball is now last touched by them, then not the attackers. Hence an attacking player that always was hanging out about the goal, gets the freebie, thanks to the mistake by the keeper.

You ask who's correct , the AR provides neutral input, but in the end the referee is correct because he makes the final decision.

In answer to your last question would the call be changed if the keeper's kick bounced off an opposing player?
Like every new Touch of the ball by a teammate.
The position of the player would be evaluated and if he was an offside positioned he would be restricted from play and would NOT be able to score a goal from the deflection off his teammate.


There are only 3 stages of play that could allow an offside restricted player (ORP) to rejoin active play.
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One - a NEW teammate's touch of the ball
(1) Condition one requires the former offside restricted player to no longer be in an offside position when this new touch occurs. Offside reset occurs at ANY teammate touch of the ball deliberate or accidental creating a NEW phase of play with a new freeze frame snap shot of the new positioning of the players on the field
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Two - opposing player deliberately plays the ball while not being challenged or interfered with by an offside player
(2) Condition two must simply occur, offside position is not part of the equation because condition one no longer applies. The former restricted offside player can legally contest ball possession if his opponents have deliberately touched/played the ball, this frees the previously restricted offside position attacker who is no longer, gaining an advantage, to rejoin active play no matter their position on the field

There are 3 exceptions pertaining to gaining an advantage
If the opponent/defender touch of the ball is deemed in the opinion of the officials to be a
(a) - rebound = a ball that bounces back after impacting a hard surface
(b) - deflection = a ball that alters it trajectory or being caused to change direction upon impact
(c) - deliberate save = a ball played with a conscious decision and realization of the consequences of action but is done preventing a goal
These conditions WILL NOT RESET nor change an attacking opponents' restricted offside status! Neither does it alter or change an attacking opponent's ONSIDE status.
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A miss kick or poor header is more often a MISTAKE made when choosing to deliberately play the ball!

We do not award offside for a mistake, if it was a DELIBERATE PLAY!

However, the position or movement of the defender's feet or head apparently trying to react does not necessarily mean the ball was deliberately played!


What determines if a mistake is a deliberate play or was it a deflection or a rebound? We hold that when the ball comes to the player, no player will ever get out of the way and let the ball go by, there will always be a motion by the player as that is an instinctive movement. The question is whether it is an action or a reaction.

#DISTANCE: How far away is the ball?
#FLIGHT PATH: Is the ball's direction, or angle altered on its way towards the player?
#SPEED: How fast is that ball moving?
#SPACE: is there room to react?
#TIME: Is there time to prepare?
#IMPACT: Does the ball strike the player, without the player being aware or time to react?

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An impact is NOT deliberately playing the ball, nor a mistake, it is either

#{a} rebound which is a ball that bounces back after striking a hard surface or

#{b} deflection which is a ball that alters it trajectory or being caused to change direction upon impact
-

Three - the ball goes out of play
(3) Condition three requires a restart of play!
Three restarts are free from any offside criteria by either team (Throw-in, Corner kick, Goal kick) where position is NOT a factor at the moment of the kick
A NEW positional offside evaluation will occur ONLY from the team taking the kick be it INDFK or DFK as there is a new touch of ball by the attacking team/or team mates. The opponents are exempt because condition two now applies!
Cheers
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Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Hi Jason,

You are correct. An offside reset is not mentioned in the NFHS high school rules book or soccer official's manual. As referee McHugh mentions, the reset could refer to your situation when the ball is played by the goalkeeper, and the ball goes to the attacker who is ahead of the last defender other than the goalkeeper.

In this case there is no offside since as indicated in NFHS rule 11.1.5 which states a player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who deliberately plays the ball (except from a deliberate save) is not considered to have gained an advantage.

Also, this offside attacker was not involved with the play in the original save with the feet by the goalkeeper, so the attacker is not considered offside as indicated in NFHS Rule 11.1.4.

It appears the referee used the term reset to indicate the AR needed to adjust to the play by the goalkeeper which as indicated resulted in no offside. Perhaps, this was a term the referee mentioned in the pre-game conference with the officiating team.

I see 1B/2B boys' and girls' soccer are played in the fall with the championships the fourth Saturday in November. I hope you are selected to work the championship games.