Rule4:大多数规则的存在是有根据的/MOST RULES ARE THERE FOR A REASON
足球规则从它们的引入开始就不断被调整和完善。越位规则也不例外。今天，越位的定义很简单：在传球的那一刻，进攻球员在对方的半场必须在球的后面或与球齐平（回传或横传），否则必须有两个防守球员在进攻者和球门之间（向前传球的情况）。
这是一个非常平衡的规则，似乎对进攻方和防守方都很公平。不过，情况并非一直如此。事实上，虽然近一个世纪以来几乎没有触及过（untouched），但越位规则已经经历了多次修订。
在最初的英足总规则手册中，如果一名球员在球被踢出时在球的前面，那么他就是越位。没有“如果”、“但是”或“也许”,这个球员是否得到传球甚至都不重要。这并没有真正促进更多传球或者进球的发生。这样做的目的是为了防止进攻方在对方球门附近徘徊，但结果却造成了一场低进球、沉闷的场面。
因此，在1866年，第一次修订足球规则时提出当球被踢出时如果进攻球员在球的后面，或者在球员和球员进攻的球门之间有三名对手球员，那么进攻球员就不会被判越位。这三名球员包括了守门员，但这仍然鼓励非常谨慎的足球。
1903年，“干扰比赛”（interfering with play）的概念被引入，这中创造了一个灰色地带，直到今天仍然存在。这意味着如果一名球员没有参与或影响比赛，那么就不会越位。
1925年，为了追求更具进攻性的比赛，进攻球员和球门之间需要的后卫人数从3人减少到2人。从那之后，越位规则就没有太大的改变了。
不过，也做了一些微调。例如，1990年世界杯之后，规定进攻球员可以与防守者保持平等，并仍然不处于越位位置。这是另一个有利于进攻方的措施。
然后，在21世纪初，又规定了只有当一名球员的身体可以进球的有效部位越过越位线时，才会被判越位。
自那以后，与越位有关的创新就是如何裁决以及引入视频助理裁判(VAR)，它的引入是为了对裁判判罚提供技术监督。也许这将激发未来的调整?越来越多的技术使得官员们能够更加精确，越位判罚就变得越来越迂腐（the more technology has allowed officials to be precise,the more pndanitic offside desisions have become）——也许这与比赛的精神背道而驰了?
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延伸：IFAB（THE INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION BOARD）关于越位的规定
1. Offside position
It is not an offence to be in an offside position.
A player is in an offside position if:
any part of the is in the (excluding the halfway line) and
any part of is to the opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent
The hands and arms of all players, including the goalkeepers, are not considered. For the purposes of determining offside, the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit.
A player is not in an offside position if level with the:
second-last opponent or
last two opponents
2. Offside offence
A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched* by a team-mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play by:
interfering with play by playing or touching a passed or touched by a team-mate or
interfering with an by:
preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of or
challenging an opponent for the ball or
to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent or
making which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball
or
gaining an advantage by playing the ball or interfering with an opponent when it has:
rebounded or been deflected off the goalpost, crossbar or an opponent
been deliberately saved by any opponent
A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who deliberately plays the ball, including by deliberate handball, is not considered to have gained an advantage, unless it was a deliberate save by any opponent.
A ‘save’ is when a player stops, or attempts to stop, a ball which is going into or very close to the goal with any part of the body except the hands/arms (unless the goalkeeper within the penalty area).
In situations where:
a player moving from, or standing in, an offside position is in the way of an opponent and interferes with the movement of the opponent towards the ball this is an offside offence if it impacts on the ability of the opponent to play or challenge for the ball; if the player moves into the way of an opponent and impedes the opponent's progress (e.g blocks the opponent) the offence should be penalised under Law 12
a player in an offside position is moving towards the ball with the intention of playing the ball and is fouled before playing or attempting to play the ball, or challenging an opponent for the ball, the foul is penalised as it has occurred before the offside offence
an offence is committed against a player in an offside position who is already playing or attempting to play the ball, or challenging an opponent for the ball, the offside offence is penalised as it has occurred before the foul challenge
*The first point of contact of the 'play' or 'touch' of the ball should be used
3. No offence
There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from:
a goal kick
a throw-in
a corner kick
4. Offences and sanctions
If an offside offence occurs, the referee awards an indirect free kick where the offence occurred, including if it is in the player’s own half of the field of play.
A defending player who leaves the field of play without the referee’s permission shall be considered to be on the goal line or touchline for the purposes of offside until the next stoppage in play or until the defending team has played the ball towards the halfway line and it is outside its penalty area. If the player left the field of play deliberately, the player must be cautioned when the ball is next out of play.
An attacking player may step or stay off the field of play not to be involved in active play. If the player re-enters from the goal line and becomes involved in play before the next stoppage in play, or the defending team has played the ball towards the halfway line and it is outside its penalty area, the player shall be considered to be positioned on the goal line for the purposes of offside. A player who deliberately leaves the field of play and re-enters without the referee’s permission and is not penalised for offside and gains an advantage, must be cautioned.
If an attacking player remains stationary between the goalposts and inside the goal as the ball enters the goal, a goal must be awarded unless the player commits an offside offence or Law 12 offence in which case play is restarted with an indirect or direct free kick.
