The term that describes when a soccer player is out of bounds for the ball is known as offside. This rule indicates that an attacking player is positioned beyond the second-to-last defender when the ball is played to them, thus gaining an unfair advantage. Being in an offside position does not automatically result in an infraction; the player must actively participate in the play for the call to be made. The offside rule is crucial for maintaining fairness and strategic competition in soccer.