Offside (American football)

Offside is a minor foul in gridiron football caused when a defender crosses the line of scrimmage ahead of the snap of the ball. The penalty associated with the infraction is the advancing of the ball five yards and a replay of the down.

History

Definition

In gridiron football, offside is a foul in which a player is on the wrong side of the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. This foul occurs simultaneously with the snap. Unlike offensive players, defensive players are not compelled to come to a set position before the snap. If a defender jumps across the line but gets back to his side before the snap, there is no foul. In the case of an offside foul, play is not stopped, and the foul is announced at the conclusion of the play. Media covering the games calls it a "free play" for the offense, as the non-offending team may decline the penalty and take the yardage gained on the play (and when the play works against them, like a turnover to the opposing team, the non-offending team can accept the penalty and retake possession of the ball)—unlike in the case of a false start foul against the offense, whereupon the play is immediately stopped by the officials.

This foul is almost always committed by the defense (any offensive player that moves into the neutral zone after setting would be charged with a false start). However, it is possible for the offense to commit this foul. If an offensive player lines up in the neutral zone, an offside foul will be called against the offense.

Penalty

Prior to 1925, a call of offsides against a defensive unit brought with it an automatic first down in addition to a five-yard advancement of the ball for the offense.^[1] However, a December 1924 meeting of the Football Coaches' Association of America spurred a change of rules for the 1925 season eliminating the provision for an automatic first down, while leaving the five yard penalty intact.^[1]

The penalty for violation remains 5 yards at most levels of professional and amateur play.

Footnotes

1 2 Associated Press, "Forward Pass to Remain Just Same," Corvallis [OR] Gazette-Times, vol. 16, no. 206 (Dec. 30, 1924), pg. 1.

Gridiron football concepts

Codes

Levels of play

Field

Lines	Goal line Line of scrimmage Out of bounds Sidelines Hash marks

Zones	End zone Red zone Neutral zone Field goal range Flat Passing pocket

Equipment

Helmet	History Winged Eyeshield Revolution

Positions

Offense	Backfield: Quarterback Dual-threat triple-threat Game manager System Running backs Halfback Fullback H-back Slotback Receivers Eligible Wide receiver Tight end End Linemen Center Guard Tackle

Defense	Linemen Defensive tackle Defensive end Linebacker Defensive back Cornerback Safety Nickelback Dimeback Halfback

Special teams	Placekicker Punter Kickoff specialist Long snapper Holder Return specialist Gunner Jammer Upback

Other	History Utility player Skill position Platoon system

Maneuvers

Offense	Snap Hand-off Blocking Spiral Routes Pump fake Juke Lateral Stiff arm Scramble Shift Motion Zone blocking

Defense	Tackle Stunt Shooting the gap Double coverage

Play types

Offense

Rush	Keeper Bootleg Sneak Dive Counter Counter trey Off-tackle End run Option Power Sweep Trap Veer Zone run

Pass	Incomplete Checkdown Screen Drop-back Hail Mary Alley Oop

Defense

Special teams

Other

Scoring

Statistics

Practice

Celebrations

Officiating

Miscellaneous

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