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The following is borrowed from Jim Allen's Web site, but has application locally:
In a (7v7) soccer game for [my league] the referee refused to call an offsides against the opposition. He stated that this is a learning stage for the children and offsides would not be called. My question is when does offsides become offsides? ...
USSF answer (August 21, 2001):
Law 11, which governs offside, is applicable in every outdoor game played under the auspices of the United States Soccer Federation. While other laws may be modified for various reasons (with the permission of the people who make the Laws, the International Football Association Board), Law 11 may not be modified, nor may it be disregarded.
This appears to be not a matter of poor interpretation of the Law, but of misapplication. There are two possible reasons why your referee would not call the offside: Either he does not know the Law and likes to invent his own rules as he goes along -- in other words, does not apply the Law correctly -- or he is following the rules of the competition in which you play. And if your competition has such a rule, then the competition is operating against the rules followed throughout the rest of the known world.
Similar questions have been raised by coaches during this season concerning referees calling or not calling offside in 7v7 play. There is no provision in BAYSA 7v7 rules to ignore offside. The STYSA 2001-2002 Administrative Handbook states that "The offside rule (should) be interpreted liberally; however, no player may play in an obvious offside position ..."
Referees in BAYSA 7v7 play may choose to overlook offside when it is trifling, but must enforce it as they would at any other level when it is obvious. It is the referee's opinion when to make an offside call, and it is not an arguable call.
10/04/01
(If you wish to comment on this article, send a message to basra@basra-refs.org.)
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