Soccer Rules Practice Exam

A player can be ruled offside when they are beyond the last defender at the moment the ball is played to them. This rule is in place to ensure fair play and to prevent players from gaining an unfair advantage by positioning themselves too close to the opponent's goal. The concept of being "beyond the last defender" means that if a player is nearer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-to-last opponent at the time the ball is played, they may be in an offside position.

An important aspect of this rule is that merely being in an offside position is not enough for a player to be penalized; they must also be actively involved in the play, such as receiving the ball or interfering with an opponent. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the specific circumstance under which offside can be called, focusing on the position relative to the last defender at the moment the ball is played.