What is offside in soccer?
A player is offside if they are in the opponent's half and closer to the goal line than both the ball and the second-last defender when a teammate passes the ball to them.
The goalkeeper usually counts as one of the last two defenders, so in practice an attacker must have at least one outfield defender level with or ahead of them. Being level with the second-last defender is onside. Any part of the head, body or feet that can legally score counts, but arms and hands do not.
Being in an offside position is not an offense by itself. A player is penalized only if they get involved in play, such as receiving the ball, blocking the goalkeeper's view or challenging an opponent. Players cannot be offside directly from a goal kick, throw-in or corner kick, or in their own half.
How it is enforced
Assistant referees on the sidelines watch for offside. In top competitions, video assistant referees, or VAR, check close calls, and semi-automated technology uses cameras and sensors to track players' positions. When offside is called, the other team gets an indirect free kick.
Did You Know?
Early forms of the offside rule were written in 1863, when England's Football Association first set down the laws of the game.