In what situation can a player be considered offside when the ball is played?

A player is considered offside when they are in front of the last opponent at the moment the ball is played to them by a teammate. The offside rule is designed to prevent attacking players from gaining an unfair advantage by positioning themselves closer to the opponent's goal than the second-last defender (usually the last outfield player) when the ball is passed to them. This means that if a player is beyond the last defender when the ball is played, they could potentially gain an advantage and thus be called offside.

It is important to note that simply being in the penalty area, being behind the ball, or being closest to the goal does not determine offside status. A player in the penalty area may not necessarily be offside if they meet the other criteria, and being behind the ball means they are not in an offside position at all. Proximity to the goal does not alone constitute an offside position; the player's position relative to the defenders and the ball at the time of the pass is what establishes the offside rule.