Offside Trap

The “offside trap” is a defensive tactic where the back line steps forward together just before a pass is played, hoping to catch attackers in an offside position.

Example:

“Arsenal spring the offside trap perfectly!” means the attackers ran too soon, and the assistant referee’s flag goes up.

Why It Matters

It’s high-risk, high-reward. Get the timing right, and you stop a scoring chance cold. Get it wrong, and you’re one through ball away from disaster.

Everyday Comparison (U.S. Sports)

It’s a bit like a defensive line jump in American football or a timed press in basketball — coordination and split-second timing make all the difference.