At the end of the 19th century and early 20th century, hockey was officially an "on-side" game, borrowing this element from which sport?

The concept of the "on-side" rule in hockey has its roots in rugby. During this period, the rules of hockey were being formalized, and the "on-side" principle was adopted to ensure a fair and structured gameplay environment. In rugby, the "on-side" rule determines whether players can participate in play based on their positions relative to the ball and other players. By integrating this concept, hockey was able to establish a clearer rule regarding player positioning and movement, preventing players from gaining an unfair advantage by being too close to the opposing goal before the puck was in play.

The other options do not share the same "on-side" structure that hockey adopted. Cricket, for instance, has different principles governing player positions and does not employ a similar rule regarding player movement with respect to the ball in the same manner as hockey. Soccer has its own offside rule, which is different in application and intent from the on-side principles used in hockey. Football, while it may have certain overlaps, also operates under different rules regarding player positioning that do not align with those of hockey as defined by rugby standards. Thus, the adoption of the "on-side" game aspect in hockey is closely tied to the game of rugby.