Question Number: 19830

Law 15 - Throw In 8/27/2008

RE: Rec Under 13

Mark Young of Cedar Rapids, Ia. USA asks...

Playing in an adult game that follows FIFA rules I took a throw in from about 5-6feet away from the touch line. I didn't advance up the field to take the throw but was called for being to far back from the touch line. I cannot find any rule in the FIFA laws that says you have to be a certain distance from the touch line. Is there such a rule that states how close you need to be near the touch line to take a throw in?

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The laws state that you must take the throw at the point where it left the field of play. The ball left the field at the touchline and not 6 feet away from it.

Most referees will reasonably allow 1 yard from the location it left the field.Many refs will not punish for being farther back from the line as long as it is in line with the correct spot on the field, this is technically incorrect though.

If I were the referee I would probably permit this distance from the line as it seems a bit trifiling to be worrying about an extra yard or so, but I wouldn't allow much more.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Sounds like you might have been 5 or 6 yards, not feet. As Ref Montanino notes, mostly referees will consider a reasonable distance (up to 3 feet) from the proper spot on the touchline trifling, unless they decide the thrower is trying to take unfair advantage of the opportunity for a throw, which in essence is what a throw taken from the incorrect spot is.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

While most of us would consider what you did to be trifling, the Laws of the Game do require you to take the throw from the spot the ball went into touch.