The offside rule is a regulation in soccer that prevents players from gaining an unfair advantage by being too close to the opponent's goal when the ball is played to them. 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 at the moment the ball is passed. If a player is deemed offside, the opposing team is awarded an indirect free kick from the spot where the offside occurred. This rule encourages teamwork and strategy, ensuring that players cannot simply wait near the goal for an easy scoring opportunity.