What determines offsides in soccer and how does it impact the flow of the game?

Answer 1

In soccer, a player is in an offside position if they are closer to the opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second-to-last defender when the ball is played to them. This rule is in place to prevent players from gaining an unfair advantage by being in a position to receive the ball without any defenders between them and the goal. When a player is called offside, the opposing team is awarded a free kick, which can disrupt the flow of the game by stopping play and potentially breaking up an attacking opportunity.