The offside rule, explained

What is the offside rule?

Offside is the rule that keeps attackers from lurking by the opponents' goal waiting for a pass. It's judged at the exact moment a teammate plays the ball — not when the attacker receives it.

The offside position

You are in an offside position if all three of these are true when your teammate plays the ball:

• You are in the opponents' half of the pitch.
• You are nearer the goal line than the ball.
• You are nearer the goal line than the second-last defender.

Being level with the second-last defender or the ball is onside — the attacker gets the benefit of the doubt.

When it's actually an offence

An offside position is not automatically a foul. It becomes an offside offence only if the player then gets involved in active play — by playing the ball, interfering with an opponent, or gaining an advantage from that position. The assistant referee flags it, and the other team gets an indirect free kick.

When you can't be offside

• In your own half of the pitch.
• When you receive the ball directly from a throw-in, a corner kick, or a goal kick.
• If you are level with the second-last defender or the ball.

Why the rule exists

Without offside, teams could leave a striker permanently next to the goalkeeper and simply hit long balls forward. Offside forces attackers to time their runs, which is what creates football's constant push-and-pull between attack and defence.

The offside rule in one sentence

If you're ahead of the ball and the second-last defender in the opponents' half when your teammate plays it to you — and you join the play — you're offside.