Question Number: 20382

Law 15 - Throw In 10/27/2008

RE: travel Under 10

mark staley of pittsburgh, pa usa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 20369

is an oppposing team legally allowed to throw a throw in as hard as possible directly at the keeper hoping he or she bobbles the ball and have it go into the net..thanks again for your input.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

They could try. The smart keeper will let it go past her, and gain a goal kick for her team.

You probably are considering whether or not this is unsporting behavior. Teams regularly shoot the ball hard at, or at least in the vacinity of, the opposite goalkeeper. What harm would a throw do, from the sideline many yards away?

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Mark, I think your under ten games are played on a micro-mini pitch. That is the only way I could imagine a throw-in injuring a goalie. No matter what size the field, the thrower is allowed to put all his might behind the ball, aiming at the goalie. That's soccer.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

IF the throw in proceedure is followed according to law I can only suspect the field size is so diminished in width that it creates this possibility? Nothing prevents the restart from being directed towards the goal in fact it is considered a tactical advantage to be able to do so as no offside exisits at this restart and the attacking team can flood the goal area with bodies. Cheers