Question Number: 17130

Law 15 - Throw In 10/6/2007

RE: Competetive Under 8

Gary Stevens of Avon, CT USA asks...

Throw in question. I get the basic gist of both feet being on the ground and both hands over the head. But when I played in high school, you were not allowed to put a huge "side spin" on the ball or it would be called back. Here in Connecticut it seems to be allowed. Am I missing something?

Thanks very much.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

The spin is a result of unequal force and nothing in law says we must use one arm as hard as the other. As long as the ball is not a side ways aberation where the ball does not come over the head spin is fine! Just a restart to get the game underway. No need to sweat it.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

No you don't miss anything, it is the referee who is laying his thoughts onto the throw-in procedure. Spin is a myth. The ball may spin or not spin depending on many things. I like to show prospective referees spinning balls and those that don't spin while demonstrating throw-ins. I can throw with one hand, either one, and have the ball not spin and use two hands and spin the ball. Invariably the students pick the one hand throw as correct and the two hand throw as bad. That's where the learning starts, I show them how I an cheating by using just the one hand. Their eyes get big... Myth is no longer true.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Side spin does not automatically mean illegal. If all of the elements are correct, then it is a legal throw regardless of the spin on the ba..