The offside rule in football is designed to prevent players from gaining an unfair advantage by positioning themselves too close to the opponent's goal. A player is considered offside if they are nearer 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 encourages teamwork and strategic play. If a player is deemed offside, the opposing team is awarded an indirect free kick from the spot where the offside occurred. However, a player is not offside if they receive the ball directly from a goal kick, corner kick, or throw-in.