Question:
Offside and when to blow the whistle to award the indirect free kick. Currently I have had several discussions with coaches and referees concerning a certain kind of offside and when or if to blow the whistle/raise the flag to call it.

Our High School rule as stated in the rule book per this issue: It is not an offense in itself to be in an offside position. A player shall only be penalized for being in an offside position if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by a teammate, the player is involved in active play by: a. Interfering with play or with an opponent; or b. Gaining an advantage by being in that position.

I will try to describe the scenario – The ball has transitioned from one side of the half line (team B offensive side) to the other (team A offensive side), approximately mid-way between the top of the penalty area and the halfway line (on team A offensive side). The team A defensive backfield has come up and formed a line at the halfway line.

One team B forward striker is still 3-5 yards in his offensive half from the halfway line. No team A defenders between him and team A Goalie, who still stands right in front of his goal.

Team B wins control of the ball (on team A’s offensive side) and sends the ball straight at team A goalie, directly over the head (approx 10 ft or more) of the lagging team B forward striker who is in the same position as described (an offside position). The ball lands approximately half way between team B forward striker and team A Goalie and starts bouncing/rolling straight to the team A goalie.

Situation A: Team B player does not make any play on ball (gives up) and it rolls to team A goalie who collects it and then clears the ball.

Ruling: No whistle, play continues.

Situation B: Both players start to run to gain control of ball. Team A Goalie, by several yards (very evident and clearly), collects the ball cleanly and clears it.

Ruling: No whistle, play continues.

Situation B(a): Same as B above, but goalie doesn’t handle it cleanly and it goes into his net.

Ruling: Goal is indicated for team B

Situation C: Both players start to run to gain control of ball. It looks very close as to who will win control, so prior to any touch by any player and/or the ball being closer to any player Ruling: Blow whistle, offside is called

Situation D: Or except for “Situation A” where the team B player clearly gives up on the ball and play – it is automatic.

Ruling: Blow whistle, offside is called

Your thoughts and advice would be helpful – Thanks

USSF answer (August 29, 2011);
We appreciate it when people send in questions, as this allows us to spot problems in referee training. Unfortunately, we CANNOT answer questions regarding games played under the rules of the NFSHSA. This answer addresses the same situations under the Laws of the Game.

Situation A — no offside violation and no whistle

Situation B — offside violation but “wait and see” and allow the play to develop, leading to no whistle and play continues

Situation B(a) — offside violation but “wait and see” and allow play to develop, leading to a whistle, goal canceled, and an indirect free kick for the defense (offside position attacker becomes actively involved in play by interfering with an opponent — acting to distract or deceive)

Situation C — offside violation, whistle, and an IFK for the defense (offside position attacker becomes actively involved in play by interfering with an opponent — acting to distract or deceive and specifically covered in FIFA Circular regarding avoidance of potential collision)

Situation D — we have no idea what ” Or except for “Situation A” where the team B player clearly gives up on the ball and play – it is automatic.” means and cannot comment unless it is clarified.…

Question:
Follow-up to August 23 question about a substitute trying to prevent a goal by entering the pitch without permission. You answered what to do if the goal is made, but . . .
(1) What if the goal is NOT made?
(2) What if it was definitely an OGSO?
(3) What if it was an OGSO and NO foul was committed, but the ball was “fairly” taken/played from the attacker by the substitute (who is an illegal player at this point)?
(4) do any answers change if the scene happens outside the penalty area versus inside the penalty area?

I understand at a minimum a yellow is coming, and a red if denying the goal with a foul.

Mainly, my question is what is the restart to each scenario above?

USSF answer (August 28, 2011):
The original question and answer:

Question: A substitute, warming up behind his own goal, enters the field of play, touches the ball and tries to prevent the ball entering the goal with his foot. The ball, however, enters the goal.

What action does the referee take?

Answer of August 23: The referee should play the advantage and award the goal. The referee should then caution the substitute for unsporting behavior for entering the field of play without the referee’s permission, including all details in the match report. (The referee could also consider a second caution for unsporting behavior for interfering with play and thus send off the substitute for the second caution in a match.) Finally, the referee should prevent substitutes from warming up behind the goals. However, in some stadiums warm-ups are allowed behind the goal (because there is no space along the touchlines).

Answer to current question:

(1) Indirect free kick for the attacking team from the place where the ball was when the referee stopped play for the misconduct.
(2) and (3) A foul or misconduct, regardless of the circumstances, which is not committed against an opponent and which is not handling is not a sending-off offense under Law 12 (at least not under reasons #4 or #5). If it was a tactical foul (which this was not) and was the offender’s second caution, then there would be a send-off, just not under sending-off reasons #4 or #5. Restart as in (1).
(4) No, but it is even less likely to have been an obvious goalscoring opportunity. …

Question:
The goalkeeper is forced to come to the edge of the penalty area on the left side to clear a ball away and in doing so has to slide outside the area to clear the ball into the stands.

An attacking player quickly grabs a new ball from a ballkid and throws it in while the goalkeeper is caught way out of position.

As a referee, I would make the attacking player retake the throw-in, giving the keeper time to get back to his penalty area.

(My rule of common sense) These extra balls certainly speed up the game but are increasingly used to gain advantage.

Especially with home teams.

Is there a memorandum regarding this or is it a referee judgement call?

And what should the ruling be?

USSF answer (August 23, 2011):
The Law does not ask us to compensate for the mistakes of players. Indeed, the Law clearly instructs us NOT to compensate for such errors. However, the referee might be more sympathetic in some cases, based on the age and experience level of the teams. This Q&A from the IFAB’s “Questions and Answers” 2006 (Law 3) provides the information you need:

“20. During a match, the goalkeeper sprints from the goal to stop an opponent. He kicks the ball out of the field of play and a throw-in is awarded to the opposing team. The momentum of the goalkeeper takes him off the field of play and before he can return, the throw-in is taken and a goal is scored. What action, if any, should the referee take?

“A goal is awarded since no offence has been committed.”

As for procedure in replacing a ball that has left the field , the referee should ensure throughout the game that the ball boys and girls provide equal service for both teams.

In addition, there is always the possibility that the referee COULD question the legality of the new ball (“Did I really check this one before the game or is this a different one?”) while, of course, requiring a ceremonial restart..…