In football, which part of the body is offside in football? Any part of a player’s head, body, or feet can count; hands and arms do not. But having an offside position is not, by itself, an offense.
The decision also depends on where the player is when a teammate plays the ball and whether the player becomes involved in active play. This guide explains the body-part boundary, the offside line, and common situations that cause confusion.
You’ll also see how defenders, rebounds, and deliberate saves affect a decision. These details make it easier to understand why a player may look offside but play on, or be penalized despite not touching the ball.
which part of the body is offside in football?
The head, body, and feet count; the hands and arms do not. The rule applies to every outfield player and the goalkeeper. A player’s hands and arms are excluded when officials decide whether that player is in an offside position.
The line separating the arm from the body is the bottom of the armpit. The shoulder area below that boundary counts as part of the body, while the arm above or beyond it does not. This can matter when a player leans forward to chase a pass: a forward shoulder or head may place the player beyond the line, even if the feet appear level.
It is important to separate being in an offside position from committing an offside offense. A player can stand beyond the offside line and still avoid a penalty, provided they do not become involved in active play in a way the rule prohibits.
How officials decide whether a player is in an offside position
Under the Laws of the Game, a player is in an offside position if, at the moment a teammate plays or touches the ball, the player is in the opponents’ half and any qualifying part of the head, body, or feet is nearer to the opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent.
Three comparisons are involved: the player’s position, the ball’s position, and the position of the second-last opponent. The relevant body part must be nearer the goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. If the player is level with either one, that comparison does not make the player offside.
The second-last opponent is not automatically the last outfield defender. The goalkeeper is an opponent, just like any other player. If the goalkeeper has moved up the field, another opponent could be the last player or the second-last player for the decision.
Officials assess the players’ positions at the instant a teammate plays or touches the ball—not when the receiver controls it, reaches it, or takes a shot. The ball’s position and the defenders’ positions can change quickly, so a player who appears beyond the defense when receiving a pass may have been level when the pass was made.
The halfway line matters
A player cannot be in an offside position in their own half. The halfway line itself belongs to the player’s own half for this purpose, so a player standing level with that line is not beyond it. The player must have crossed into the opponents’ half before the position can qualify.
Being level is onside
If no qualifying part of the attacker is nearer the goal line than the second-last opponent, the players are level and the attacker is onside. The same applies if the attacker is level with the ball. There is no requirement for an attacker to stay behind a defender; being exactly level is allowed.
Position is not the same as an offside offense
A player in an offside position is penalized only if they become involved in active play. The law describes three main ways that can happen: playing or touching the ball, interfering with an opponent, or gaining an advantage from a rebound or a deliberate save.
Playing or touching the ball
If a teammate plays the ball and a player in an offside position then touches it, the player is involved in active play and the referee awards an indirect free kick to the defending team. The player does not need to score, shoot, or keep possession for the offense to apply.
A player can also be involved by making a clear attempt to play a nearby ball when that action affects an opponent. For example, an attacker may run toward a pass and force a defender to react, even if the attacker never touches the ball. The key question is whether the player’s action affects an opponent’s ability to play or challenge for the ball.
Interfering with an opponent
A player can be penalized without touching the ball if they obstruct an opponent’s line of vision or clearly challenge that opponent for the ball. An offside-positioned player who stands in front of the goalkeeper and blocks the goalkeeper’s view of a shot may be interfering, for instance.
Simply being near an opponent is not automatically an offense. The player’s position must have a meaningful effect, such as blocking vision, challenging for the ball, or making an action that clearly affects an opponent’s ability to play it. A defender who is not affected by the player’s presence does not make that player guilty just because they are close by.
Gaining an advantage from a rebound or save
A player in an offside position can be penalized for playing the ball after it rebounds from an opponent, the goal frame, or an official, if the situation meets the rule’s conditions. The same applies when the ball comes to the player after a deliberate save by an opponent.
A deliberate save is an attempt to stop or deflect a ball that is going into or very close to the goal. It does not reset the offside decision. For example, if an attacker was in an offside position when a teammate shot, and the goalkeeper saves the shot before the attacker scores from the rebound, the attacker can still be penalized.
What happens when a defender plays the ball?
A defender’s deliberate play of the ball can reset the offside phase. If an opponent deliberately plays the ball and it reaches an attacker who had been in an offside position, that attacker is generally judged from the defender’s play instead of the earlier pass.
However, a deflection or an accidental rebound is not the same as a deliberate play. If a defender merely blocks, ricochets, or is struck by the ball without deliberately playing it, the original offside position can still matter. A deliberate save is also treated differently and does not reset the phase.
Officials consider whether the defender had control and a realistic opportunity to play the ball. Factors include whether the ball came from a distance, its speed and direction, whether it was unexpected, and whether the defender could coordinate their movement. A touch alone does not prove that the defender deliberately played the ball.
Practical distinction: a defender who has time and control and then makes a purposeful pass is more likely to have deliberately played the ball. A defender who instinctively sticks out a leg as a shot flies past is more likely to have made a deflection or save. The referee assesses the actual circumstances.
Quick comparison of common offside situations
| Situation | How it is judged | Likely result |
|---|---|---|
| An attacker’s foot is beyond the second-last opponent when a teammate passes | The foot is a qualifying body part. Check the ball, halfway line, and active involvement. | Offside only if the attacker becomes involved in active play. |
| An attacker’s hand is beyond the defender, but the body and feet are level | Hands and arms are not used to determine offside position. | That hand position alone does not make the attacker offside. |
| An attacker is level with the second-last opponent | Level is not nearer the goal line. | Onside, subject to the other parts of the rule. |
| A teammate passes the ball backward to a player who is ahead of the ball | Compare the player with both the ball and the second-last opponent at the moment of the pass. | May be offside if the player is beyond both and becomes involved. |
| A defender deliberately controls and passes the ball to an attacker | A deliberate play by an opponent generally starts a new assessment. | The earlier offside position is usually not punished. |
| A defender blocks a shot, and an offside-positioned attacker plays the rebound | A deflection or deliberate save does not reset the original decision. | The attacker may be penalized for gaining an advantage. |
| An offside-positioned player blocks a goalkeeper’s view of a shot | Consider whether the player interferes with the opponent. | An offense may be given even without a touch. |
Common examples that are easy to misread
A player runs past the defender after the pass
Running beyond a defender after a teammate has played the ball does not create an offside offense by itself. The important snapshot is the moment of the teammate’s touch. If the player was onside at that moment, moving ahead afterward is allowed.
A player receives a pass while standing behind the ball
A player who is behind the ball at the moment a teammate plays it cannot be in an offside position, even if fewer than two opponents are closer to the goal line. The rule requires the player to be beyond both the ball and the second-last opponent.
A player is in an offside position but leaves the ball for a teammate
The player is not automatically penalized for being nearby. If they do not touch the ball, do not make a clear attempt that affects an opponent, and do not interfere with an opponent, play can continue. The teammate may then play the ball legally, depending on the circumstances.
A defender intentionally plays the ball, but it takes an awkward touch
An imperfect pass can still be a deliberate play. A defender does not have to execute the action well for it to count. What matters is whether the defender had a genuine opportunity to control or play the ball, rather than merely deflecting it or making a save.
The goalkeeper is ahead of the other defenders
Do not assume the goalkeeper is always the last opponent. If the goalkeeper has advanced, count all opponents’ positions from the goal line. The second-last opponent may be the goalkeeper, but it may instead be an outfield player.
How the assistant referee and VAR assess close decisions
The assistant referee watches the attacking line and raises a flag when they judge that an offside-positioned player has become involved. The referee makes the final decision. In matches using video assistant referee technology, the video team can review relevant incidents under the competition’s procedures.
For a close position decision, officials identify the moment the teammate plays or touches the ball, then compare the attacker’s eligible body parts with the ball and the second-last opponent. Video systems may use calibrated lines or other approved tools, but the core test remains the same. Technology does not turn an offside position into an offense unless the player also becomes involved as the law defines.
Do not judge a decision from a single broadcast camera angle. Perspective can make players who are level look separated, or make a player appear ahead when they are not. The camera may also fail to show the exact moment the ball was played.
At some levels of play, there is no VAR. The referee and assistant referee apply the same law without video review. A close call can be difficult in real time because the pass and the defensive line move at once.
How attackers can stay onside
- Watch the passer, not only the ball. Start your run as your teammate is preparing to play the ball, but check your position at the moment of contact.
- Keep a part of your head, body, or feet level with the line. You do not need to stay behind the defender. A level position is allowed, but do not rely on your hands or arms to judge the line.
- Account for the ball. You can be beyond the second-last opponent and still be onside if you are level with or behind the ball when it is played.
- Time the run rather than stopping completely. A well-timed run lets you accelerate onto the pass without crossing the line too early.
- Know whether you are involved. If you are in an offside position, avoid touching the ball, challenging for it, or blocking an opponent’s view or movement.
For defenders, moving up together can leave attackers in an offside position, but the move needs coordination. A defender who stays deep may keep an attacker onside. Defenders should also remember that an opponent’s position alone does not guarantee a stoppage: the attacker must become involved in a punishable way.
Common misunderstandings about the offside body line
- “Any part of the body counts.” Not quite. The head, body, and feet count; hands and arms do not.
- “Being offside means the referee stops play.” No. The player must become involved in active play as defined by the law.
- “The last defender sets the line.” The reference is the second-last opponent, not automatically the last defender or goalkeeper.
- “A defender’s touch always resets offside.” No. A deflection or deliberate save does not have the same effect as a deliberate play.
- “The attacker’s position matters when the pass arrives.” The key moment is when the teammate plays or touches the ball.
The arm boundary is a particularly useful detail for close calls. A forward shoulder may count even when the arm does not, so judging only from a player’s hands or feet can give the wrong impression.
The answer to which part of the body is offside in football is the head, body, or feet; hands and arms are excluded. The position is assessed when a teammate plays the ball, and being in that position is not an offense unless the player becomes involved in active play.
For a quick check, compare the player with the ball and the second-last opponent, then consider what the player does next. If you are watching a close call, look for the moment of the pass and whether the player actually affects play—not just where they stand when the ball arrives.