Now, I attended a boys soccer match on Tuesday... There was an offside call that affected the outcome of the game, and I just wanted to see if I interpreted the rules correctly.

A through ball was played by Team A to one of its players in an offside position; however, the ball was out in front of this player (Player 1). A second player (Player 2) ran onto the ball and was able to obtain the ball (he came from an onside position). Player 1 was about five yards away from the ball, and besides running towards the ball, he didn't really play it. I would be under the assumption that since Player 1 did not play the ball and Player 2 was onside and was the player to reach the ball, that this would be called onside. However, the center ref called the play off, as the line judge raised his flag to indicate that Player 1 was off....

Was it the right decision?

NilesPacMan;879504 wrote:Now, I attended a boys soccer match on Tuesday... There was an offside call that affected the outcome of the game, and I just wanted to see if I interpreted the rules correctly.

A through ball was played by Team A to one of its players in an offside position; however, the ball was out in front of this player (Player 1). A second player (Player 2) ran onto the ball and was able to obtain the ball (he came from an onside position). Player 1 was about five yards away from the ball, and besides running towards the ball, he didn't really play it. I would be under the assumption that since Player 1 did not play the ball and Player 2 was onside and was the player to reach the ball, that this would be called onside. However, the center ref called the play off, as the line judge raised his flag to indicate that Player 1 was off....

Was it the right decision?

Sounds like the right call was made.

Regaqrdless of if Player 1 played the ball or not, in the referee's judgement he was 'in the play'. Had he been 30 yards to the side of the play AND been in an off side position, the referee has the discretion to deem him 'out of the play' and not call the player off side.

In order to determine if it was the correct call or not, the defenders and goalkeeper need to be taken into consideration.

From what you said, the call was incorrect. Player 1 has to play the ball, or make a play towards the ball. You cannot punish a player that came from an onside position because someone else was in an offside position. If Player 1 affected the play and the positioning of the defenders/goalkeeper, then yes, the correct call was made -- that said, it is wise to tell the defenders/goalkeeper not to play the defenders who are in an offside position BUT be aware of those players (those in an offside position). It is sometimes the defenders/goalkeeper's fault for playing an offside player instead of being aware that other onside players can be in the play.