Which of the following elements contributes to a player being offside?

A player being in the opponent's half of the field is indeed an important factor in the context of offside, but it alone does not determine whether a player is in an offside position.

The offside rule states that a player is in an offside position if they are nearer to the opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second-to-last opponent (typically the last outfield player) when the ball is played to them. Therefore, while being in the opponent's half of the field means the player can potentially be involved in an attacking play, it does not automatically lead to an offside situation without considering their positioning relative to the ball and the opposing players.

The key aspects that lead to a player being ruled offside involve their position relative to the ball and their proximity to defenders at the moment the ball is played, not merely the player's location on the field. This understanding is critical for assessing offside situations accurately during a game.