Question Number: 18831

Law 15 - Throw In 4/20/2008

RE: Rec/Select

Mike Dreyfus of Germantown, TN USA asks...

I am a referee and soccer parent. Another parent on my daughter's team is also a coach of a younger boys team. He asked about a situation that recently happened in a tournament where he was coaching his boys. On a throw-in, the ball never entered the field of play; i.e. the ball did not cross into the plane of the touchline. The referee awarded the ensuing throw-in to the opposing team stating that this was a new rule this year. The AR supported his statement. I have not heard of any such rule change and searched my 2007-08 copy to LOTG and could not find any such change. The law as I am familiar with is that if the ball never comes into play, the throw is retaken. Am I wrong or has there been a change?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

There is no such new rule and both the center and AR need to go get recertified if they think there is. In High School where they make up all kinds of different rules, this would be a foul throw. In the rest of the world, the throw never happened as the ball wasn't put into play so we retake the throw.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

A correctly taken throw-in that doesn't enter the field of play is retaken. A throw-in that is incorrectly taken is given to the other side whether or not it enters the field of play. Only in American high school does a correctly taken throw-in that doesn't enter the field of play go over to the other side.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee MrRef

Please refer to 19145 for new information

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 19145