What must a player do to avoid being penalized for offside?

To avoid being penalized for offside, a player must be level with the second-to-last defender when the ball is played to them. This is a key aspect of the offside rule in soccer. The intention behind this rule is to promote fair play and to prevent players from gaining an unfair advantage by positioning themselves too close to the opposing team's goal.

When a player is level with the second-to-last defender (which usually includes the goalkeeper), they are considered to be in an onside position. This means they can legally receive the ball without being judged offside. The definition of "level" implies that they are neither ahead of nor behind the defender, ensuring that they are actively part of the play without taking advantage of their location.

Other options reflect misunderstandings of the offside rule. For example, simply being behind the ball when it is played does not guarantee that a player is not offside, as they could still be ahead of the second-to-last defender. Being in an onside position when the ball crosses the goal line is irrelevant to the offside rule, which applies only at the moment the ball is played. Additionally, staying in one’s own half of the field is a common misconception; a player can be even in their