Does this make sense?

The match is in the Varsity Cup between the University of Cape Town in the hoops and the University of Johannesburg.

The University of Johannesburg kick high and left wing Lolo Waka (11) chases. He is in front of the kicker and the referee tells him to stop. The kick goes into touch where JJ Gagiano of UCT catches the ball. The referee penalises Waka.

Does this make sense?

Certainly the law says that Waka was offside.

Law 11.1 OFFSIDE IN GENERAL PLAY
(c) Offside and moving forward. When a team-mate of an offside player has kicked ahead, the offside player must not move towards opponents who are waiting to play the ball, or move towards the place where the ball lands, until the player has been put onside.

Waka moved forward.

But why is offside such a heinous crime? It is because it makes it hard for the opponents to play. It reduces their space and their capacity to play.

This year there is emphasis on the player ahead of the kicker. The reason it has been emphasised is to give the receiver's side a better chance to counterattack.

If the ball goes into touch there is no chance to counterattack. The ball is dead and must be thrown in for it to come into life.

Even making allowance for the restricting effect it has on the quick throw, it would seem unwise to penalise for offside at a kick if the ball goes into touch.