Question Number: 18632

Law 15 - Throw In 3/28/2008

RE: Rec Adult

William Guynes of Albuquerque, New Mexico USA asks...

A co-worker, and soccer parent, asked me an interesting question about how to properly perform a throw-in. Their question was about having to "have two feet touching the ground." Apparently, another referee was penalizing a player for lifting their foot during a throw. The parent felt that their child had been lifting the foot after the ball was in play. Of course, I took their opinion on exactly when THIS player lifted their foot with a grain of salt.

It got me to thinking about when this threshold is. After some research, I cannot seem to find much in the LotG or Advice to Referees on this issue. Exactly WHEN is it permissiable to lift the foot during a throw-in? As soon as the ball is released? As soon as the ball is "in play" (i.e. break the plane of the touchline)? Must the body come to a complete stop first? Am I missing some documentation that explains this in more detail?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

No, I think you understand what constitutes a fair throw. If the thrower is on the touch line, the ball will be in play almost immediately upon release from the hands. Once the ball is in play, the thrower may lift a foot, 2 feet, dance a jig or whatever. Many young referees wrongly call a throw foul simply because the thrower raised her leg after the ball was in play. Also, keep in mind that the throw in is simply a way to get play restarted. Way too much attention is paid to what almost always are trifling breeches of the Law. At the younger ages, I tell the players to keep both feet on the ground as they need to learn how to perform a fair throw. That said, it has to be obvious that the foot was raised before the ball is in play for me to whistle a foul throw

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Players must have both feet on the ground at the time the ball is released. If they life their foot after the ball is released, then it is a legal throw.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Throw-ins especially at the youth level have a few eccentricities in them but no real need to find fault with most of them. If you understand that on a throw -in the ball is in play as soon as the ball contacts the touchline most often the player will still be holding on to it and we are not concerned with handles the ball deliberately as a reason to stop play. Foot faults are tedious at best but if flagrant as in jumping up or bending down and standing on one leg while throwing they are reasons for a loss of the throw. Once the ball is actually released the feet are free to move. Part of the feet can even be inside the field as long as a portion of each foot is at least in contact with the touchline or into touch.
Cheers