Premier Vocabulary is a mini-podcast for you to learn football English one word at a time. We have three different levels for you: easy, medium and hard.

This episode is easy so we’re looking at common football words and phrases. Things you use and need to know to play the game.

Summary

Learn more football vocabulary with Premier Skills English. Each lesson in our Premier Vocabulary section looks at one football word or phrase. This lesson looks at the word offside. Do you understand the offside rule?

You can find more lessons on the side of this page.

Transcript

Rich: Hello my name’s Rich and welcome to Premier Skills English - Premier Vocabulary.

Jack: Hi there! I’m Jack. We’re here to help you with your football English. Premier Vocabulary is a mini-podcast for you to learn football English one word at a time.

Rich: We have three different levels for you: easy, medium and hard.

Jack: This episode is easy so we’re looking at common football words and phrases. Things you use and need to know to play the game.

Rich: The word we are looking at in this episode is offside.

Jack: Offside is the most complex rule in football. I’m not sure we should be doing this word in an easy level podcast.

Rich: Nah - it’s not difficult to understand. Offside is an adjective that describes players when they are in their opponents half of the pitch.

Jack: That’s easy. If players are in the other team’s half, then they are offside. Right?

Rich: Yes, but that’s not all. You see, they have to be in the other team’s half and closer to the goal line than the other team’s second to last player.

Jack: The goal line is the line that marks the end of the pitch.

Rich: Yes. And a player is offside if they are closer to their opponents’ goal line than the other team’s second to last player.

Jack: OK - that’s not easy. The second to last player on the other team. Erm... so the last opponent is the goalkeeper?

Rich: That’s right. Normally, yes.

Jack: So the second to last player is any other player?

Rich: That’s right. If a player is closer to the opponents’ goal line than any of the other team’s players ...

Jack: apart from the goalkeeper.

Rich: Yes. Apart from the goalkeeper ... normally.

Jack: in the other team’s half.

Rich: Yes... in the other team’s half, then they are offside.

Jack: And that’s a foul?

Rich: No. That’s offside.

Jack: OK ... So offside is used to describe a player that’s in the other team’s half closer to the goal line than any player apart from the goalkeeper.

Rich: That’s right.

Jack: But that’s not a foul.

Rich: No ... but it’s bad.

Jack: Why is that bad?

Rich: Well, because it’s a foul if a player tries to pass the ball to a player who is offside, then it’s a foul.

Jack: It’s a foul to pass the ball to a player in an offside position?

Rich: Not quite. It’s a foul if a player receives the ball in an offside position. If a player receives the ball from a pass or a rebound, then it’s a foul.

Jack: What if the player is behind the ball when a teammate passes the ball?

Rich: Not offside. A player is only offside when he is in front of the ball when a pass is played.

Jack: OK. I think I get it now. What about a corner?

Rich: No. It’s not an offside foul or offence if a player receives the ball in an offside position from a corner.

Jack: Or a throw-in?

Rich: No. It’s not an offence to receive the ball in an offside position from a throw-in.

Jack: What about a goal kick?

Rich: No. It’s not an offence to receive the ball in an offside position from a goal kick but a player will be offside when the keeper kicks it out of his hands as the ball is then in play.

Jack: Right. I don’t know why people say that offside is complicated. I mean it’s just an offence to receive the ball in an offside position which means on the pitch in the opposing team’s half, when you are closer to the goal than the player who’s passing to you, closer to the goal line than any of the opponent’s team other than their goalkeeper, except if it’s a corner, throw-in or goal kick.

Rich: Yeah - I don’t know what all the fuss is about.

Final whistle

Rich: There is the final whistle!

Jack: We’ll be back soon with more Premier Vocabulary from Premier Skills English.

Rich: Bye for now and enjoy your football.

Discuss

Do you agree with the offside rule?

Should assistant referees or VAR decide offside?