Rule Change

[Z.I.P.]

I went to my first (women's) college game of the year last night -- Pacific 1 Hawaii 0. Three different times after the Hawaii goal keeper cleared the ball and it was captured by Pacific 30-40 yards from the goal, the Pacific kick back into the penalty area found several Pacific players in an offsides position. However, the assistant referee declined to raise his flag, allowing play to continue. The people around me said that as long as the offensive (Pacific) players were moving away from the goal area the ref would alllow continuous play. Now on the first two plays, Pacific lost possession of the ball and Hawaii began a counter attack. However, the third time, a Pacific player who was in an off-side position (and running first away from goal) managed to trap the ball, and Pacific began an attack which after about another minute resulted in the game's only goal.

Can anyone explain how this new rule is being interpreted? How was the off-sides rule judged by the refs at Akron last night? I can understand the interest in maintaining continuous play -- that's basically the advantage call. But when the team that's off-side manages to get possession, I would expect the ref or AR to stop play and make the off-side spot restart. THAT not only eliminates the off-sides trap, but allows them to take advantage of being in an off-side position.

BTW -- kudos to the great start by the Wahine Zips!

[ZachTheZip]

I was wondering about several no-calls yesterday when the other team was obviously offsides. I guess this explains it.

[RootforRoo44]

If it allows more scoring it sounds good to me.

[mes102]

If it allows more scoring it sounds good to me.

As long as it doesn't hurt our defense/ GK...it sounds good to me..

[RootforRoo44]

If it allows more scoring it sounds good to me.

As long as it doesn't hurt our defense/ GK...it sounds good to me..

our high athleticism and talent is well balanced, in the end it will even out no matter what it causes.

[Z.I.P.]

If it allows more scoring it sounds good to me.

As long as it doesn't hurt our defense/ GK...it sounds good to me..

our high athleticism and talent is well balanced, in the end it will even out no matter what it causes.

Guys -- let me know if the refs call the men's games this way also! Will be interesting to see. I spoke yesterday with the center referee who called the game on Friday, and he tried to explain it to my simple mind -- it s a complicated call. But, apparently, if ANY "offsides" players -- who are in a position to control possession -- are not moving away from goal, then its supposed to be called offsides. At least that's what I think he said. It does make it a lot more difficult for the oinesmen and CR, as they now have to watch which direction every player is running -- not just where they are on a line across the field. Overall. I don't like it.

[Official]

Guys -- let me know if the refs call the men's games this way also! Will be interesting to see. I spoke yesterday with the center referee who called the game on Friday, and he tried to explain it to my simple mind -- it s a complicated call. But, apparently, if ANY "offsides" players -- who are in a position to control possession -- are not moving away from goal, then its supposed to be called offsides. At least that's what I think he said. It does make it a lot more difficult for the oinesmen and CR, as they now have to watch which direction every player is running -- not just where they are on a line across the field. Overall. I don't like it.

Found this on another forum:

Surely this isn't a new rule change, it's just the wrong interpretation of the rules. Fifa rules regarding offsides and the way it works in the EPL are as follows (My interpretation): A player isn't offside unless he is active in the play. For instance if a player is offside and not interfering in play he is not active and therefore not offside, which can allow the ball to go to a player making a run from a onside position. The moment the player in an offside position makes a movement to the ball or becomes involved in play (during the first phase) he is called offside.

From the quote below, they seem to think that if a player is moving away from the goal they are attacking but in an offside position and the ball gets played to them, they are not offside as they are moving away from the goal.

What ever direction you are going in, if you are in an offside position, and gain an advantage by being in that position and become active in play you are and should be offside. I don't know what rules these guys are playing by.