The Offside Rule Explained Simply (With Examples)
Offside is the rule that causes more arguments than any other, yet the core idea is short: an attacker cannot gain an advantage by waiting behind the defence for the ball. This guide breaks Law 11 of the Laws of the Game into three simple questions.
Question 1: Is the player in an offside position?
A player is in an offside position if, at the moment a team-mate plays or touches the ball, any part of their head, body or feet is:
- in the opponents' half of the pitch, and
- nearer to the opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent.
The "second-last opponent" is usually the last outfield defender, because the goalkeeper is normally the last opponent. If the goalkeeper has come out, two outfield players can be the last two.
The arms and hands are ignored, for attackers and defenders alike. The upper boundary of the arm is the bottom of the armpit. That is why you sometimes see VAR lines drawn to a player's shoulder or knee.
Level is onside. A player who is exactly level with the second-last opponent, or level with the ball, is not in an offside position.
Question 2: Is being in that position an offence?
Simply standing in an offside position is not an offence. The player is only penalised if they become involved in active play by:
- Interfering with play: playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team-mate.
- Interfering with an opponent: for example blocking the goalkeeper's line of sight, challenging an opponent for the ball, or making an obvious action that affects an opponent's ability to play it.
- Gaining an advantage: playing the ball after it rebounds off the post, the crossbar, the referee or an opponent, or after a deliberate save by an opponent.
So an attacker standing offside on the far side of the pitch while a team-mate scores is usually fine, because they did nothing to affect the play.
Question 3: Does an exception apply?
There is no offside offence if the player receives the ball directly from:
- a goal kick,
- a throw-in, or
- a corner kick.
There is also no offence if the ball was last deliberately played by an opponent (other than a deliberate save). A defender who tries to pass and miscontrols it can therefore play an attacker onside. A deflection or a reflex block does not count as deliberate play.
Three everyday examples
Example 1: the through ball
A midfielder passes forward. At the moment of the pass the striker's shoulder is ahead of the last defender. The striker runs on and scores. This is offside: the striker was in an offside position and played the ball.
Example 2: the run from behind
The striker is level with the last defender when the pass is played, then sprints past and scores. This is onside, because position is judged at the moment the ball is played, not when it is received.
Example 3: the blocked keeper
A long-range shot flies in while an attacker in an offside position stands directly in front of the goalkeeper. Even though the attacker did not touch the ball, the goal is disallowed because they blocked the keeper's view.
How offside is punished
When an offside offence happens, the referee awards an indirect free kick to the defending team from the place where the offence occurred, even if that is in the offending player's own half.
How VAR and technology check offside
Assistant referees are told to keep their flag down in tight situations and let play continue, so that VAR can review the moment if a goal is scored. VAR operators freeze the video at the frame the ball is played and draw lines from the relevant body parts. Several major competitions now use semi-automated offside technology, which tracks players' limbs with special cameras and creates a 3D image, making the decision faster and more consistent. Read more in our VAR guide.
Why the rule exists
Without offside, teams could leave a striker permanently next to the opposing goalkeeper and play long balls all match. The rule keeps teams compact, rewards well-timed runs and makes defending as a unit possible. Tactics such as the high defensive line and the "offside trap" are built entirely around it.
Summary
- Check position when the ball is played: ahead of the ball and the second-last opponent, in the opponents' half.
- Check involvement: did the player play the ball, affect an opponent or gain an advantage?
- Check exceptions: goal kick, throw-in, corner or a deliberate play by an opponent.