The Ref Stop

Playing advantage from offside

zarathustra

zarathustra

RefChat Addict
Bit of a random one.

It's not something that has ever cropped up in one of my games, but I was out watching Gillingham embarrass themselves against Wimbledon this evening and the ref played advantage from an offside (it went to the keeper).

I've only ever seen this once before (at another Gills match) is this something that's common?
 
The Ref Stop
I've done it a number of times.

Usually when a defender picks up the ball (dribbles) and starts a run or It runs through to the keeper who is better at kicking from his hands than his feet... If you don't need to stop play and you are almost certain that there is an advantage to be had, there's no problem.

That said, during an observation last season, my observer didn't like it, despite the fact that it worked out well (keeper couldn't kick from floor).
 
Be sure to distinguish between "advantage from offside" and "offside positioned attacker doesn't actually interfere". If the attacker doesn't get a touch, you can often justify it as him not interfering and so therefore, giving the advantage would have been wrong in law (observers tend to prefer this explanation where possible!). Of course, if you give a big "advantage!" shout, that's tricky to argue after the match!!

I definitely agree with DB in that observers don't see to like playing advantage from offside. Try it and you'll get told about "Red, yellow and green" zones for advantage. While I also agree that at lower levels, there is often a big difference between ground kicking and fly kicking, you would assume that this tends to be less of a factor further up the pyramid. And therefore it's probably not a habit that will serve the ambitious referee well once they progress and do it further up.
 
Common sense really. At senior levels teams would generally rather have possession than a free kick, so if an offside offence occurs and the ball runs through to the keeper, or even a defender with no one near him, it makes sense to play on and give the advantage.

Far riskier at lower levels as they would often rather have the free kick.
 
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RustyRef said:
Common sense really. At senior levels teams would generally rather have possession than a free kick, so if an offside offence occurs and the ball runs through to the keeper, or even a defender with no one near him, it makes sense to play on and give the advantage.

Far riskier at lower levels as they would often rather have the free kick.
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THIS
 
Treat it like any other foul. If it was around the PA and the keeper has it in his hands, just go with the advantage.
Otherwise, just make your judgement. You want a pretty big and clear advantage though - eg a lot of space in front of the player.
Do you get taught to actually signal advantage over there?
 
es1 said:
Paging @lincs22

;)
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As @es1 requested:

There are two points why you should not apply advantage (technically, you don't play advantage) from an offside.
1. As the offence occurred?
2. How can it be an advantage, when the keeper has the ball in his hands and the potential offence was 20 yards up the FOP?

The best outcome is that the goalkeeper has procession, which is not advantage, it is just "play on".

If the keeper kicked the ball directly into touch, would you call play back and award the free-kick? Technically, you should as they have not benefited from the advantage, so you should award the original offence!!!!

If the keeper has the ball after an offside, please shout "seen it, keeper lets keep going" - not offside. As an observer at Supply League level, I would see this as you not understanding the advantage principle and its creates a development point in your report - all all the implications that brings under the new scheme. @Brian Hamilton Agree?
 
Thanks guys, that clears things up a lot.

I've seen it before where the ball goes through to the keeper and the ref let's them keep going rather than give the free kick.

These two instances threw me as both times the ref had his arms out signalling advantage, I assume they shouted as well but obviously difficult to hear over the noise of the crowd.
 
Agree with what the others say...generally I play it when the offence happens close to the penalty area as most keepers can kick the ball further from their hands...generally get asked the question 'was he?' from the defenders...wee nod and wink indicates he was everyone happy! Don't always shout play on...advantage as it would confuse most people...but maybe that is my mistake? :oops:
 
A Freethinker said:
Agree with what the others say...generally I play it when the offence happens close to the penalty area as most keepers can kick the ball further from their hands...generally get asked the question 'was he?' from the defenders...wee nod and wink indicates he was everyone happy! Don't always shout play on...advantage as it would confuse most people...but maybe that is my mistake?
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That seems like a good summary of the situation, generally the defending team are happy in this scenario.
 
A Freethinker said:
Agree with what the others say...generally I play it when the offence happens close to the penalty area as most keepers can kick the ball further from their hands...generally get asked the question 'was he?' from the defenders...wee nod and wink indicates he was everyone happy! Don't always shout play on...advantage as it would confuse most people...but maybe that is my mistake? :oops:
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I find advantage looks and feels weird.....and is sort of impractical. If there's an appeal, a shout of 'you've got the ball keeper, keep playing!' generally works. Each to their own, when in rome, etc etc.
 
I played one recently, but after the game I was in 2 minds about whether I was right or not. Ball intercepted by defender. Attacker comes back from offside position to challenge. It was a dead easy one, I'd of got it on my own. I was awaiting the flag which I duly got as the attacker attempts a tackle. Defender shields the ball well from the tackle, flag goes up (correctly imo) but defender plays it out to what turned into an attacking situation that broke down in the attacking third. I shouted play on advantage, thumb up to my assistant but should I have done this?The attacker did interfere with his opponent by "attempting to challenge for the ball" - should I play advantage from here. No1 complained but I didnt have an observer.
 
I am glad this came up, ok what do we do in this situation? (this happened to me last season):

NAR in a U21 game. Ball breaks long and attacker in an offside position, ball runs straight into the keeper arms. My assistant has his flag up for offside. Big shout of thank you Mr AR and play on with it goalkeeper. My AR does not move, keeper kicks the ball long, my AR does not move. Another big shout of Thanks Mr AR were playing on, my AR does not move, he is now 30 yards behind play still with his flag in the air.

*Edit - My pre-match clearly told him what to do in this situation.
 
Just don't play advantage if an attacker is hurtling towards the keeper, even if the keeper looks like he'll win the ball.

A big peeeeeeeeeeeep could be the difference between safe play and a horrible collision.
 
Cheshire Ref said:
I am glad this came up, ok what do we do in this situation? (this happened to me last season):

NAR in a U21 game. Ball breaks long and attacker in an offside position, ball runs straight into the keeper arms. My assistant has his flag up for offside. Big shout of thank you Mr AR and play on with it goalkeeper. My AR does not move, keeper kicks the ball long, my AR does not move. Another big shout of Thanks Mr AR were playing on, my AR does not move, he is now 30 yards behind play still with his flag in the air.

*Edit - My pre-match clearly told him what to do in this situation.
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Was it 1st or second half. If its first he is getting a right royal bollocking at half time thats for sure
Are you sure he heard you? Did u make eye contact? Get any acknowledgement drom him/her?
Absolutely positive it was for offside? And he hadnt spotted another offence.
How was the situation resolved?
 
DB said:
Just don't play advantage if an attacker is hurtling towards the keeper, even if the keeper looks like he'll win the ball.

A big peeeeeeeeeeeep could be the difference between safe play and a horrible collision.
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At what point did i say the striker was hurtling towards the keeper?
 
James Long said:
Was it 1st or second half. If its first he is getting a right royal bollocking at half time thats for sure
Are you sure he heard you? Did u make eye contact? Get any acknowledgement drom him/her?
Absolutely positive it was for offside? And he hadnt spotted another offence.
How was the situation resolved?
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Oh he heard me, i shouted clear as day twice with a thumbs up above my head.

I resolved it the only i saw i could, i blew and gave the offside, even though it was 30/40 seconds late. I didn't want too but this guy was not putting his flag down until he got his own way. I would be interested to know how others wold have handled this.

I now incorporate into my pre-match, if the ball is running through and we crack on yadda yadda, please dont be offended if i ask you to drop the flag and if you feel i am wrong then feel free to tell me at half time of after the game.

This was in the first half and we had major words at half time bearing in mind he had also given me 4 foul throws because the players foot was on the line :wall:

Now on a side note, it was a cup semi final and i was a replacement ref as the original had got an injury the day before and he was seriously pi$$ed that he had not been given the middle and that i had been brought in. He even asked if i wanted to swap with him and he would do the middle.
 
James Long said:
I played one recently, but after the game I was in 2 minds about whether I was right or not. Ball intercepted by defender. Attacker comes back from offside position to challenge. It was a dead easy one, I'd of got it on my own. I was awaiting the flag which I duly got as the attacker attempts a tackle. Defender shields the ball well from the tackle, flag goes up (correctly imo) but defender plays it out to what turned into an attacking situation that broke down in the attacking third. I shouted play on advantage, thumb up to my assistant but should I have done this?The attacker did interfere with his opponent by "attempting to challenge for the ball" - should I play advantage from here. No1 complained but I didnt have an observer.
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To me, that does sound like an "Advantage!" rather than a "Not interfering" situation. I think you did the right thing there - there are exceptional circumstances where it is suitable to play a genuine advantage, they're just far rarer than allowing play to go on because no offence has happened.
 
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