The offside rule explained in depth, with examples
August 22, 2026 · 7 min
Offside is probably the rule that causes the most arguments in any pub or group of friends. It seems complicated, but it becomes clear with just a few examples. Here at Golazo Scores we explain it step by step so you never hesitate again when the assistant raises the flag.
The rule in one sentence
A player is in an offside position if, at the moment a teammate passes them the ball, they are closer to the opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-to-last defender (usually the last outfield defender, since the goalkeeper tends to be the very last).
Watch out for one key detail: being in an offside position is not an offence in itself. It is only penalised when that player is actively involved in play, that is, when they receive the ball, interfere with an opponent or gain an advantage from that position.
The moment of the pass is everything
The key to judging offside is the exact instant the teammate plays the ball, not when the attacker receives it. If at that moment they were level with or behind the second-to-last defender, it is onside, even if they then run on and collect the ball well beyond the defence.
That is why a move sometimes looks offside to the naked eye and is not: the striker sets off from a legal position and gets in behind the defence with their run. It all depends on where they were when the pass was played.
Situations where there is never offside
There are situations in which the rule does not apply. There is no offside when the ball comes directly from a throw-in, a corner kick or a goal kick. In those cases, the attacker can be wherever they like.
Nor is there offside if the player is in their own half at the moment of the pass. And receiving the ball from an opponent (for example, a rebound or a deliberate clearance by a defender) also cancels out the offside position.
A simple example
Picture a striker waiting near the box. Their teammate is about to pass them the ball. If, at the moment of the pass, there are at least two opponents (including the goalkeeper) between them and the goal line, they are onside. If only the goalkeeper is left in front of them, they are offside.
With that mental picture, and remembering that what counts is the moment of the pass, you will understand the vast majority of situations. The rest comes down to centimetres that technology now reviews, but the underlying logic is always the same.
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