Offside? or Not Offisde.
 

This year I have been able to watch my all of my son's HSV games while keeping up with my officiating schedule. Every game I hear the same comment from the home town parents in a situation like this. A10 passes to A28 who is making a run but is in an offside position. The ball deflects off of B 6. Parents scream, "That can't be offside. It deflected off of the defender." I think I remember the exact wording on this from the book "Teaching Offside" but in the move I can't locate it right now. Is the player offside or not because of the deflection? Chime in on this one. I want to hear what the responses from you are.:D

Comments on "deflections":

http://www.nfhs.org/cgi-bin/ultimate...00468;go=older

On a deflection, uncontrolled kick, or header by the defense WITHOUT clear possession, the attacker is still declared offside if he becomes involved in the play. His position was determined at the moment when his teammate last played or touched the ball.

If a defender gains definite control the offside is reset and the attacker can no longer be penalized.

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Exactly. But I sit with the parents and hear them over and over. I just smile because they know they are right and I just don't want to argue with them. So many fans just don't get this one nor do they get it that it is not offiside when a defender has clear possession and screws up and passes it to an attacker who is behind him/her in the play.

That's because they have never been told. Sports is one of those activities in which everyone thinks that he/she is an expert without ever studying the game.

I once sat next to a guy in the stands who was hollering about every call. I asked him what he did for a living. I don't even remember what he said, but I asked him how he would like it if one of the referees came to his office tomorrow and yelled at him all day that he was doing his job wrong even though this person had no experience in his profession. He was pretty quiet for the rest of the game.

Most of these howler monkeys are either lawyers or business owners.