Question Number: 15738

Law 15 - Throw In 6/10/2007

RE: Varsity High School

Marc Bond of Anchorage, AK USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15688

The player in question uses the right hand as the sole propellant for the ball [15688]. I have a photograph I took from directly behind him showing his left hand on the left side of the ball and his right hand directly behind the ball at the start of the throw. The team has built set plays around this player's ability to "push-throw" the ball a great distance. It is my understanding that this is why the laws were changed in 1882, to which point one-handed throws were permitted until it became evident that talented throwers could change the game by the distance of the throws. I agree that the throw-in is a way to get the ball back into play -- but it is not intended as the equivalent of a corner kick through the use of one hand to propel the ball. We are not talking triflings here, nor are we taking about requiring perfect mechanics. The issue is whether the use of one hand behind the ball is legal.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Agreed. If this is blatant, it's not trifling and a throw-in should be awarded to the opposing team

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

I use the technique you describe to demonstrate an incorrect throw-in to my referee students when instruction Law 15. I say if the thrower is trying to throw 15-20 feet in than manner the throw-in is just ugly and gets play restarted. I ask they tell the thrower he is borderline incorrect and to watch it. If the thrower is trying to gain an unfair advantage by throwing the ball a long way using incorrect technique he has changed the ugly throw-in to an incorrectly thrown ball and looses his restart.

My newest colleague, Ref Jon, mentions a persistent infringement caution for a player, knowingly, violating the Law after the referee advises him of an error. This is well within the referee's prerogative in the world of Football outside America; however we are constrained by the policy, as stated in Advice to Referees, Persistently infringes the Laws of the Game means Law 12. While I do not, necessarily, agree with that policy I am bound by it when I referee as a US Soccer referee.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Jon [With held]

No it's not. A foul throw should be called and the throw in changes direction. If its called every time, soon enough he'll have to change his action. Interesting here is once you have called him once, it is then deliberate to you as he knows your problem with it. persistantly infringes the laws of the game may come into it now??