Offside, Explained Simply

Offside rule explained

Football offside rule explained with an interactive explainer. Drag any player, see the line react instantly.

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Read the rules

Move any player to test
On-side
DDefenderDDefenderDDefenderGKGoalkeeperPPasserRReceiver
Offside line
Passer
Receiver
Defender
Goalkeeper

The rule in three parts

Three things decide every offside call.

01

Active Involvement

A player must be involved in active play by interfering with an opponent or gaining an advantage.

02

Relative Position

Any part of the head, body or feet is in the opponents' half (excluding the halfway line).

03

The Opponents

The player is nearer to the opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-to-last opponent.

Complex Cases

Run the classic offside scenarios.

Offside lineDDefenderDDefenderDDefenderGKGoalkeeperPPasserRReceiver
Receiver is ahead of the last defender when the free kick is played. Flag up.
Offside
Offside lineDDefenderDDefenderDDefenderGKGoalkeeperPPasserRReceiver
Free kickOffside

Receiver is ahead of the last defender when the free kick is played. Flag up.

Free kicks are not like corners or throw-ins. Offside applies normally once the ball is played.