Being beyond a defender does not automatically stop play. Here is the distinction that makes soccer’s most debated rule easier to follow.
Freeze the play at the right moment
For a normal pass, judge position when the teammate plays or touches the ball, not when the receiver collects it. An attacker can be in an offside position in the opponents’ half when a playable part of the body is nearer the goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. Hands and arms do not count.
Position is not automatically an offence
The player must then become involved in active play, such as playing the ball or interfering with an opponent. Picture a forward beyond the defensive line who stays away while an onside teammate receives the pass: the position alone does not settle the decision. Compare that with the same forward collecting the pass.
Three exceptions worth remembering
A player cannot commit an offside offence by receiving the ball directly from a goal kick, throw-in, or corner kick. Being level with the second-last opponent also matters: level is onside. These basics explain many calls without needing to guess from the camera angle.
Try this viewing habit
Watch the passer first, then the receiver’s position at contact, then the receiver’s involvement. Treat those as separate questions. This is an introduction to association football under IFAB Law 11, checked in October 2026; deflections, deliberate play, and interference can require more detail. Youth competitions may use modified formats, so check their rules separately.