Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not offside; being within the prescribed area of play: In sports governed by an offside rule (primarily association football/soccer, rugby, and hockey), a player is onside when they are in a legal position, having at least two opposing players (usually including the goalkeeper) between them and the opponents' goal line at the moment the ball is played to them by a teammate.

Usage

• The term is used almost exclusively in the context of team sports with an offside rule to describe a player's legal positioning.
• It is commonly used by officials, commentators, and players.
• It can be used predictively (after a linking verb like ) or attributively (before a noun).

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The assistant referee kept his flag down, signaling that the striker was onside.
  • It was a perfectly timed run; she stayed onside by a fraction of a meter.
  • The goal was allowed after a video review confirmed the onside position.

Advanced Usage

• "To play someone onside": A tactical action where a defender moves forward deliberately to place an opposing attacker in an onside position.
  • The defender stepped up too late and played the attacker onside, leading to a goal.
• "Onside kick": (American Football) A specific type of kickoff where the kicking team attempts to recover the ball themselves, governed by different positioning rules.
  • The team attempted an onside kick to try and regain possession late in the game.

Variants and Related Words

• Offside (adj., adv., n.): The opposite state; being in an illegal position ahead of the ball and the required defenders.
• Onsides (adj., adv.): An alternative, less common form used primarily in North American English, especially in the context of American football.

Synonyms

• Legal (position): (In the specific sporting context)
• In a valid position: (In the specific sporting context)

Antonyms

• Offside: In an illegal position.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• "To be (just/well) onside": Emphasizes that a player is clearly in a legal position.
  • The replay showed he was well onside when the pass was made.
• "To bring/keep someone onside": In a broader, metaphorical business or political context, this can mean to gain or maintain someone's agreement or support. (Note: This is a figurative extension, not the primary sports meaning).
  • The manager worked hard to bring the skeptical stakeholders onside with the new plan.

Adjective

1. not offside; being within the prescribed area of play