Quote: TheOtherOne "But the explanation they gave isn't in the rule book, it doesn't say anything about planted feet and ball position.
What it actually says is that if you're in front of a team mate and he has the ball in his hands then you are offside. You can get put back onside if he gets in front of you or you give the opposing side 10 metres.
Cummins has come out with a load of waffle to cover Bentham's shocking error of judgement. Most folk will take that waffle as gospel.'"
Yes, but that rule is not about attacking kicks in play is it, that is about off-side for the defending side gathering an attacking kick!
You are right that there is no definitive rule that covers an attacking player being on-side for a kick in open play however, most other references in the rule book in relation to kicks and players being on-side do state that players have to be behind the ball NOT behind the player!
The most notable of these is Section 13, Rule 3 which covers penalty kicks and clearly states that the players are on side if they are behind the ball. It would be very inconsistent of the rules to therefore have any different rule for a kick in open play and any other type of kick!
As a student of the rules, I have always understood that off-side/on-side for ALL kicks in based on the player being behind the ball and for all other off-side/on-side requirements that a player have (well now anyway) both feet behind or level with the reference be it player/line/ref/linesman mark.
Anyone? I need this translating from Goon!!
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