Offsides Made Simple

Learn the offside rule in about three minutes: seven short plays, then you make the call.

  1. Learn
  2. Bonus rules
  3. Quiz
7 short plays · about 3 minutes Ready

The rule in one sentence

When a teammate plays the ball, you are in an offside position only if you are in the opponents’ half and nearer their goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent.

Press Start to see it in action. Each play runs by itself, then waits for you.

View
  • Orange is trying to score in the far goal
  • Navy is defending
  • Navy goalkeeper
  • Assistant referee with the flag

The rule in one sentence

When a teammate plays the ball, you are in an offside position only if you are in the opponents’ half and nearer their goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent.

You are always OK if

  • you are level with the second-last opponent
  • you are level with or behind the ball
  • you are in your own half (including halfway)

Position alone is not an offence. A player must become involved in active play. In these examples, the goalkeeper is the last opponent, so we call the second-last opponent the “last defender”.

For parents and coaches

The examples show the usual setup, with the goalkeeper nearest the goal. Here are the details behind the shortcut.

Why we say "last defender"
The official rule says "second-last opponent". The goalkeeper is usually the last opponent, so the last defender is the second-last. If the keeper runs far out of goal, count two navy players back from the goal line instead.
Standing offside is not a foul by itself
The flag only goes up if that player gets involved: touching the ball, interfering with an opponent, or gaining an advantage from a rebound or deliberate save.
No offside from three restarts
A player cannot be offside when the ball comes straight from a goal kick, a throw-in or a corner kick.
Arms and hands don't count
The referee looks at the head, body and feet. An arm reaching past the defender does not make a player offside.
What the referee gives
An indirect free kick to the defending team from where the offside player became involved.
Younger age groups
In U.S. Soccer’s small-sided standards, offside starts at U-9; U-9/U-10 use the build-out line. Rules vary by country and competition, so check your local league’s rules with your coach.

Read every play

A text version of the seven lessons, available with or without the 3D field.

1. The offside line

Where it is and how it moves.

  1. Orange is attacking the far goal. Navy is defending it.
  2. Find the navy defender who is closest to the goal. Don't count the goalkeeper.
  3. Draw a line across the field through that defender. That is the offside line.
  4. When the defenders move up, the line moves up with them.
  5. The striped part behind the line is the offside zone. Stay out of it until the pass is made.
2. Offside!

Number 9 runs too early.

  1. Orange number 8 has the ball. Number 9 starts running early.
  2. Freeze! The pass is made right now. Number 9 is already past the last defender. That is offside.
  3. Watch the assistant referee on the sideline as the ball reaches number 9.
  4. The flag goes up. Navy gets an indirect free kick.
3. Onside

Same pass. Number 9 waits.

  1. Same play again. This time number 9 waits next to the last defender.
  2. Freeze! The pass is made right now. Number 9 is level with the last defender. Level is onside.
  3. After the pass, number 9 can run anywhere. Only the moment of the pass counts.
  4. No flag. Goal!
4. Behind the ball

Bonus rule: being level with or behind the ball is safe.

  1. New play. The winger, number 7, dribbles all the way to the goal line.
  2. Freeze! Number 9 is past the last defender. But number 9 is behind the ball, so it is onside.
  3. If you are level with or behind the ball when a teammate plays it, you are not in an offside position.
5. Your own half

Bonus rule: no offside in your own half.

  1. Navy has pushed everyone forward. Orange number 9 waits just behind the halfway line.
  2. Freeze! Number 9 is past every defender. But number 9 is still in orange's own half, so it is onside.
  3. You can never be offside in your own half. Number 9 is free to go.
6. You be the referee

Quiz: offside or onside?

  1. Your turn to be the referee. Watch orange number 9.
  2. The pass is being made right now. Is number 9 offside or onside?
  3. Number 9 has not passed the last defender yet. That is onside.
  4. Number 9 gets the ball past the defenders, and that is fine. Only the moment of the pass counts.
7. One more call

Quiz: offside or onside?

  1. One more. Keep your eyes on orange number 9 again.
  2. The pass is being made right now. Is number 9 offside or onside?
  3. Number 9 is already past the last defender when the pass is made. That is offside.
  4. Number 9 left too early. When the ball arrives, the flag will go up.
  5. Flag up. Indirect free kick to navy.

Official rules and sources

Based on IFAB Law 11 (2026/27). U.S. youth guidance follows U.S. Soccer’s small-sided standards. Field markings are to scale; players, ball and goals are enlarged for clarity.

IFAB Law 11 — Offside · U.S. Soccer — Small-sided standards
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