offsides
Over the line
Offsides is a violation in sports where a player is positioned illegally ahead of the ball or a designated line.
In American football, offsides occurs when a player crosses the line of scrimmage before the snap.
In soccer and hockey, it involves being too far forward when the ball or puck is played.
Figuratively, to be offsides is to act prematurely or violate an unwritten rule: The senator went offsides by announcing before the committee met.
The standard form is offside, but offsides dominates in American speech.
Field sport with goals
Offensive or illegal
- infractionMinor rule breach
- infringementViolation of rights
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
- flagCloth symbol or signal
whistle · call · ruling · breach · transgression · stoppage · turnover · nullified
Sideline sports official
- refereeSports rule enforcer
- VARRemote match officiating
- reviewCritical written assessment
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
signal · call · indication · sightline · positioning · decision · ruling · monitor
Continuous mark or queue
- boundaryLine marking a limit
- goalkeeperNet-defending player
- scrimmagePractice match with contact
- formationCreation or arrangement
timing · onside · beyond · ahead · past · forward · premature
Device for catching animals
- through-ballPass splitting the defense
- breakawaySudden separation from group
- counterFlat service surface
- pressingRequiring immediate attention
bait · step-up · squeeze · anticipation · synchronized
soccer
Field sport with goals
match · game · league · FIFA · NHL · NFL · pitch · rink · gridiron · goal
foul
Offensive or illegal
- infractionMinor rule breach
- infringementViolation of rights
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
flag · whistle · call · ruling · breach · transgression · stoppage · turnover · nullified · disallowed
linesman
Sideline sports official
judgment · signal · call · indication · sightline · positioning · decision · ruling · monitor · replay
line
Continuous mark or queue
- boundaryLine marking a limit
- goalkeeperNet-defending player
- scrimmagePractice match with contact
formation · timing · onside · beyond · ahead · past · forward · premature
trap
Device for catching animals
- through-ballPass splitting the defense
- breakawaySudden separation from group
- counterFlat service surface
pressing · bait · step-up · squeeze · anticipation · synchronized
- hockeypuck, hockey, ice hockey, pucks, field hockey
- sports termssoccer, football, basketball, tennis, golf
- sports infractionsfoul, violation, red card, ejection, disqualification
- youth soccerjunior football, soccer camp, dribbling, passing, shooting
- football rulesdowns, first down, first downs, touchdowns, field goals
- Lacrosselacrosse stick, lacrosse ball, goal, goalie, attack
offsidesonside
Legally placed for play
onsides · in position · set · lined up · in formation
- offside ruleFootball positioning law
- offside callRuling on illegal placement
- offside trapTactical defensive maneuver
- offside positionAttacking player past defenders