Question Number: 9880

Law 11 - Offside

RE: competitive Under 9

Jeff Weitkamp of Wentzville, MO USA asks...

In a game this weekend, Our team had the ball and took a shot from about the top of the box. The goaltender made the save and the ball bounced to one of our girls that was behind the defense. The linesman called her offsides. Was she?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

You don't give enough information to come up with a definitive answer. This may help you answer: ..When judgment of offside position is necessary, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his OWN team ask these questions: ..1. Is the player in the attacking half of the field?.2. Is the player nearer the goal line than the ball?.3. Is the player nearer the goal line than the last but one opponent or the last two opponents?..If all are answered yes GOTO next paragraph ELSE IF any question is answered no, the player is not in an offside position and can participate in play until the next touch by a member of his team. At that point GOTO question 1. ..The player is in an offside position, ask two more questions: ..a. Is the player interfering with play or an opponent?.b. Is the player gaining an advantage?..If either of these is true or becomes true before the next touch by one of his OWN side then the assistant flags for offside and the referee blows for the infraction and awards an indirect free kick, to be taken from where the attacker was at the moment the ball was touched or played by a member of his own team...Remember that it is not contrary to the Law to be in an offside position. After the ball is played a footballer may run into an offside position and play it without penalty. When a player is in an offside position and the ball is touched or played by a colleague that player may not get involved, without penalty, even if the ball bounces off an opponent or an opponent misplays it. ..Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Victor Matheson

The short answer is: if the goal scorer was in an offside position when the shot was taken, then she was offside. Good call by the assistant referee. If she was not in an offside position when the shot was taken but then moved behind the defense after the shot was taken and bounced off the keeper then the assistant referee made a bad call.