Help my ignorance (SOCCER)?

[pmedic920]

How does “off sides” work, what constitutes it?

Why does it seem that when a player gets absolutely mugged/ thrown to the ground, or similar he ends up getting the foul.

What is a “tackle” exactly?

Several other?s but let’s start here.
Maybe there are others that want to be educated.

 

[Wsumatt1982]

"Offsides" is when past midfield, an offensive player is closer to the goal when the ball leaves the feet of the passer. If you are even it is not offsides. Must be from the midfield line onwards though. Anything on your side of the field is fair game (the side you defend) if you are on offense. Most teams last defender will sit at midfield and stop. Even if the passer is on their side of the field and the offsides player is past the last defender on the offensive side of the field it is still offsides.

A tackle is a play that it appears you go more for the player than the ball. Or you just are going for the ball and swipe at the ball with your feet but you hit the player instead of the ball.