Question Number: 20652

Law 15 - Throw In 12/9/2008

RE: Amature Adult

Phil Smith of Birmingham, West Midlands England asks...

Law 15 - I am aware of the part of this law that states that
'The ball should be delivered from behind and over the head'

Does this mean that the ball must be released before the arms of the player pass the virticle posstion? On short throws I am always getting pulled up for a foul.
I can not find any FIFA ruling that relates to this, and the majority of long and powerfull throws at every level of the game, are released when the hands and ball are in front of the head (past the verticle).

Great site, great answers, keep up the good work.

Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If Law 15 required you to release the ball before it passed vertical, you may end up throwing the ball straight up in the air. Short answer to your question is no. Traditionally, you are not allowed to throw the ball straight down to the ground. This is known as a spike. I can't imagine why your local referees are calling you for foul throws. If it's any semblance of a 'throw' they should allow it.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Sigh. More inventive referees. Law 15 is pretty clear - if the five requirements are met, the throw is good. It doesn't matter where you release the ball, as long as it comes from behind and over your head using both hands, from the spot where it left the field, while both of your feet are on or behind the touchline.

If you release it over your head, so what?

Even the so called 'spike' throw is not always a foul throw - it depends on what the player did with it. In other words, it can't be spiked at the ground so hard it might injure someone.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

No, but you cannot spike the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

As a group here we tend consider the faulty technique of the mechanics of a throw in as trifling when it comes to restarting play. MANY newer referees or older ones far too set in their ways have this concept of gotcha because they are looking for a way to establish control over the match and this provides an excuse that says, 'Look I am in charge and paying attention.'
The problem is paying attention to what? Respect is an earned quality. Ones reputation is often maligned unfairly by those watching who know even less about the laws than the inexperianced referee, unfairly criticizing his non calls with greater severity than making any call at all.

The most BASIC flaw of throw-ins is from allowing the ball to renter from incorrect locations sometimes yards away from where it exited. As to technique, if the player performing the throw in is not jumping into the air or one arm lobbing it keeper style while it might not look pretty it is a SIMPLE restart of play so let play continue if at all possible.

Younger ages 'wee ones' generally get a do over to reinforce good habits and a calm reminder 'Feet on the ground hands over the head' certainly should not challenge a coaches authority we are tactically affecting the game .

While I do understand if we are too lax, sloppy attitudes and behaviour become too common and bad habits form around these conditions. It is a game for the players; we should not seek to interfere where we are not needed. Those watching require learning the ability to agree to disagree and move forward rather than dwell in the past.
Cheers

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

See Question: 20665

See Question: 20679