Date:         Thu, 12 Oct 2000 11:16:55 -0400
Reply-To:     Discussion of Topics for Soccer Referees <[log in to unmask]>
Sender:       Discussion of Topics for Soccer Referees <[log in to unmask]>
From:         Jim Mantle <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: Offside - Advantage - Handling
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Guy" <[log in to unmask]>

> Tom Stagliano wrote:
>
> >
> > moment that ball is last touched or played by a team mate)  but we call
the
> > infraction when a player "in an offside position at the moment...."
> > interferes with play or an opponent or gains an advantage.
>
> > Therefore, if a shot is taken on goal, and a player is in an offside
>
> > position, we allow play to continue if the player is not interfering.
> > However, if the ball rebounds from the goal post or cross bar out to
this
> > player (who was in an offside position when ......) we then call the
> > infraction, and we typically have the IFK at the position of the player
when
> > he became Involved.....
> >
>
> Stag, I disagree with this statement.  The offside infraction occurred at
the
> moment the ball is played by a team-mate

No it didn't. "Offside position" was established at the moment that the
team-mate played the ball. Nothing more. And offside position is, in itself,
not an infraction. We must wait for the "offside position" to be converted
into "offside" - and that never happened.

Sometimes the infraction doesn't happen because a defender blocks the ball
from ever coming through. Sometimes it's because of a whistle (or flag) due
to an intervening foul - the ball physically may have made it through, but
it is unplayable (pending a restart) due to the whistle. Sometimes the ball
comes through but there is no active involvement.

The confusion, I think, is due to placement if "offside position" is
converted to "offside" - the ball is placed at the position of the offside
player at the moment that it was established that he was in an offside
position. This is the placement if it is later found to be an infraction,
but it is not the time of the infraction itself - indeed, there may never be
an infraction.

Jim