The Offside Rule Explained Simply

A player is offside if, at the moment the ball is played by a teammate, they are in the opponent’s half and nearer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. The goalkeeper usually counts as one of those opponents. Offside is only penalised if the player is involved in active play - by touching the ball or interfering with an opponent. You cannot be offside from a goal kick, throw-in, or corner. The law exists to prevent goal-hanging and reward coordinated attacking movement. The assistant referee raises the flag when an offside occurs, though VAR now reviews tight calls. Understanding offside helps fans read the game and helps players time their runs.