When is a player in an offside position?

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 defender (usually the last outfield player) at the moment the ball is played to them, unless they are in their own half of the field. However, being in an offside position is not an offense in itself, unless the player becomes involved in active play by interfering with an opponent or gaining an advantage from being in that position.