The offside rule in football means an attacking player is in an offside position if, when a teammate plays the ball, they are nearer to the opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent, excluding hands and arms. It only becomes an offence if they then become involved in active play.

Simple version

  • You can’t be punished just for standing in an offside position.
  • The key moment is when the ball is passed , not when it is received.
  • Usually, the player is offside only if they get involved by touching the ball, affecting an opponent, or gaining an advantage from a rebound or save.

Common exceptions

  • No offside from a throw-in, corner kick, or goal kick.
  • No offside if the player is in their own half when the ball is played.
  • No offside if the attacker is level with the second-last defender.

Quick example

If a striker is standing behind the defenders when a teammate passes the ball, and then runs onto it and plays it, that is usually offside. If the striker was level with the second-last defender, or the pass came from a throw-in, it is not offside.

What happens next

If offside is called, the defending team gets an indirect free kick from where the offence happened.

Would you like a really short “kids’ version” or a diagram-style explanation?