- Admin
- #1
Some interesting interpretations of the offside rule will be shown for the first time during the WYC 2005.
Here are a few tidbits:
Man, this is going to be tough for Refs to call properly in some situations, especially in our local leagues... Smart strikers are going to chase down balls from an offside position in hopes of freezing defenders (who are thinking the play is going to be blown dead)... the striker will then stop on the ball but not touch it and wait for a teammate to come rushing in to take control.
The hard part for refs now I think is trying to keep track of the players that do rush in - was the player in an onside position when the ball was kicked? I mean, there could be quite the delay before anyone touches the ball...
This is going to effectively kill the use of the offside trap I think - will it mean more widespread use of formations utilizing a sweeper system?
Here are a few tidbits:
If the attacking player in an offside position is running towards the ball and touches it, only when contact with the ball has been made should the assistant raise his flag. If contact is not made, then play should continue.
However, if a player's position interferes with an opponent, preventing him from reaching or playing the ball, or results in impaired vision for a goalkeeper or defender, the referee need not wait until said player touches the ball before sanctioning the offence
The doubt has also been removed as to the question of whether or not a player is gaining an advantage from an offside position when a team-mate's shot rebounds off an opponent and falls to a player in an offside position. In such instances, play must be stopped.
Man, this is going to be tough for Refs to call properly in some situations, especially in our local leagues... Smart strikers are going to chase down balls from an offside position in hopes of freezing defenders (who are thinking the play is going to be blown dead)... the striker will then stop on the ball but not touch it and wait for a teammate to come rushing in to take control.
The hard part for refs now I think is trying to keep track of the players that do rush in - was the player in an onside position when the ball was kicked? I mean, there could be quite the delay before anyone touches the ball...
This is going to effectively kill the use of the offside trap I think - will it mean more widespread use of formations utilizing a sweeper system?