Question Number: 18032

Law 15 - Throw In 11/30/2007

RE: Select Under 16

Mica Saunders of Lancaster, PA USA asks...

Reffing a game, I had a player follow the required techniques on a throw-in. On delivering the throw, the ball slipped out of her hands and bounced into the field. She did not touch the ball until another player touched the ball. I let play continue, but questioning if I should of had it redone, by stating that it never entered the pitch in the air.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

An ugly throw is not necessarily an illegal throw. Since the player didn't immediately grab the ball to try to take it again, it looks like the decision to continue play was correct.

If she had picked up the ball again after it slipped out of her hands, I'd let her go again. This would be assuming that she didn't really take a throw, and it only went a step or two from the line. The times I've seen the ball slip out of a player's hands it's behind her and drops to the ground outside the field. Everyone has a good chuckle and we go on from there.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Mica if the ball bounced before entering the field of play and all procedures listed in Law 15 were correctly followed the throw-in is retaken. If you felt the throw-in was not in accordance with 15 it is taken by a member of the opposite team whether or not the ball entered play.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Mark, if the ball bounced off the field of play before it entered the field of play the throw should have been retaken, You say she followed proper procedure so I don't think it was a foul throw

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Mica,
on a throw in if done in a reasonably correct fashion where a slip had the ball hit the ground outside the field is always a retake.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

You must make an assessment here. Was the ball delivered from behind and over the head. Also, were all the other requierments of the throw in met? If yes, then there is no need to call it.