Rules & tactics · 1863

The offside rule through time

Real football fact

The facts

The first FA Laws in 1863 had a strict offside rule: when a teammate kicked the ball, any player in front of it was out of play.
From 1866 you were onside if three opponents were between you and their goal line. In 1925 three became two, and Football League goals jumped from 4,700 to 6,373 the next season.
Since 1990 a player level with the second-last opponent is onside.
Today you are offside if, when a teammate plays the ball, you are in the other team’s half, nearer their goal line than the ball and the second-last opponent, and you then join in the play.

1863 · The first FA Laws: Very strict: when a teammate kicked the ball, anyone nearer the opponents’ goal line was out of play. Players mostly dribbled.
1866 · Three opponents: You were onside if at least three opponents were between you and their goal line, so a forward pass became possible.
1907 · Not in your own half: From now on nobody could be offside in their own half.
1925 · Two opponents: Three became two. In the Football League, 4,700 goals were scored in 1924–25 and 6,373 in 1925–26, from the same number of games.
1990 · Level is onside: A player level with the second-last opponent became onside, to help the attacking team.
Today · Law 11: Hands and arms don’t count. You can’t be offside straight from a goal kick, a throw-in or a corner kick.
Today: when a teammate passes, you are offside if you are in the other team’s half and nearer their goal line than the ball AND the second-last opponent (usually the goalkeeper is the last). Level is fine. It only counts if you then join in the play.

Stay level with the last defender and time your run for the moment the pass is played.