Football / soccer
One of the most-searched Laws of the Game. This page has 50 important questions and answers.
A player is in an offside position if any part of the head, body, or feet is closer to the opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent — arms do not count for offside position. Being in that position is not an offence until they become involved in active play.
VAR offside lines are a technology layer on top of Law 11. “Level” is onside.
50 important questions. Quick 10 is a random set; Full set plays every question.
Original explainers for English readers — not copied match reports or official papers. Tap a question to see the answer.
Answer: the moment the ball is played by a teammate
You can run back onside after that moment in some plays — the freeze is on the pass.
Answer: do not count for offside position
Shoulders can still count as body.
Answer: onside
The attacker can be level.
Answer: they become involved in active play
Interfering with play or an opponent, or gaining an advantage.
Answer: a throw-in, in the basic Law (and some other listed restarts)
Throw-in, corner, and goal kick are the classic “no offside” restarts.
Answer: calibrated lines on the video
Semi-automated offside has been trialled at FIFA events.
Answer: one of the last opponents if they are on the line
Second-last opponent is the key phrase.
Answer: handball
Handball is a different law.
Answer: not be fouling until they interfere
Position is not the offence by itself.
Answer: you cannot be offside in your own half
Both feet (and body) need to be in the opponents' half.
Answer: be an offence if they gain an advantage as Law 11 defines
Advantage language is in the Law.
Answer: reset offside for attackers in some cases
IFAB has tweaked the wording — use the current Law.
Answer: can be penalised if they distract a defender
Interfering with an opponent is the test.
Answer: an indirect free kick in the usual case
The kick is where the offence occurred.
Answer: not offside from that restart
Corners are a listed exception.
Answer: another restart that does not create offside
The next open-play pass can still be offside.
Answer: speed up factual line decisions
Humans still apply involvement.
Answer: a defender or the keeper
Count bodies, not shirt numbers.
Answer: is judged at the moment of the pass
Running back later does not rewrite that freeze.
Answer: change the Law's body-part rules
Arms still do not count for position.
Answer: is not in an offside position
Nearer to the goal line than the ball is the other test.
Answer: touching the ball or interfering with an opponent
The Law lists the ways.
Answer: be involved in the offside judgement in some cases
IFAB notes cover players who step off.
Answer: football Law, not cricket DRS
Different sport, similar three-letter trap.
Answer: a pass for offside timing
The freeze is that touch.
Answer: an offside trap, a legal tactic
The line must be timed with the pass.
Answer: offside can still apply depending on deliberate play wording
Use the current IFAB text.
Answer: a signal, with VAR able to check in many competitions
Delayed flags exist so play can finish.
Answer: offside if the tests are met
Location does not delete Law 11.
Answer: in open-play style if it is not a listed exception
Throw-in, corner, and goal kick are the usual exceptions.
Answer: where offside position can exist
Own half is safe for position.
Answer: was onside at the pass if they were level or behind
Judge the freeze, not the later sprint.
Answer: decide handball
Different laws, different tools.
Answer: playing or touching the ball
The Law's wording is the exam line.
Answer: disallowed if the offence is given
The restart is usually an indirect free kick.
Answer: the last outfield defender if the keeper is high
Second-last is the phrase to memorise.
Answer: may still be onside if only the arm is beyond
Arms do not count for position.
Answer: the offside law
IFAB numbers the Laws.
Answer: not an automatic offence
Position plus involvement.
Answer: can be offside even if the corner itself was not
Exceptions apply to the restart, not the whole attack.
Answer: any part of the head, body, or feet is nearer the goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent when the ball is played
Hands/arms do not count for the line.
Answer: cannot be offside
The halfway line is a safe zone.
Answer: touching the ball or challenging an opponent, not just existing in camera shot
FIFA’s wording is picky.
Answer: an indirect free kick
Unless something else happened too.
Answer: a defender — the keeper is usually last
Count bodies.
Answer: is not automatically penalised
The “interfering” test matters.
Answer: handball
Different laws.
Answer: onside
Level is OK.
Answer: a throw-in, corner, or goal kick at the moment they are taken
Rebounds can still become offside situations after.
Answer: calibrated camera lines, not a guess from the sofa
Semi-automated offside is the new kit.
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