Which of the following is NOT a requirement for a player to be offside?

A player is considered offside if they are nearer to the opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second to last opponent at the moment the ball is played to them. This rule focuses on the player's position in relation to the opponents and the ball.

Interfering with play is another critical criterion for being called offside. A player can only be penalized for offside if they are actively involved in the play, such as receiving the ball, interfering with an opponent, or gaining an advantage from their position.

Being in the opponent’s half is a requirement because a player must be in the attacking half to be considered for an offside decision. However, simply being in the goal area does not inherently affect whether or not a player is offside. Players can occupy the goal area without automatically being deemed offside, as the offside rule is primarily concerned with their positioning relative to the ball and opponents at the moment the ball is played. Thus, being in the goal area does not fulfill any of the essential criteria for offside, making it the correct answer to the question.