Question Number: 20720

Law 15 - Throw In 1/7/2009

RE: USSF 8 Adult

David Ogrin of New Braunfels, Texas USA asks...

I had one in a high school scrimmage match that was interesting. On a throw in the thrower had the distance to put the ball on frame from about 50 yards. On one throw in he did so. The keeper came off the goal line about three steps and completely missed the ball. A defender standing on the goal line then caught the ball. It was a 'What the heck' moment.

I blew the whistle and awarded a PK for a handling the ball in the penalty area. Because it was a scrimmage I did not send the defender off and show the red card for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity.

Then I got to be thinking. If the defender just ducks and does not touch the throw in it is a goal kick. So if a throw is heading directly into the goal it is not a goal scoring opportunity until somebody else had touched it first, say a glance off the keeper's hand.

In a real match now my thinking is thus; a PK for the handling and a caution for unsporting behavior and or for once yelling at a player, 'You're kidding me'!

What say you and a gold star to Michelle Maloney.

David

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

You are correct in your post-game thinking. If a goal cannot be legally scored, then no action taken by a player can be denying a goal. No red card; a caution for USB might be in order in some circumstances or might be going overboard in others. Certainly you would want to talk to the player.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

You would not want to send off the defender as there was not an obvious goal scoring opportunity, nor a goal denied from this action. You logic is correct.

Restart with a PK and probably a caution/yellow card.

In HS, the clock would be stopped and if there was serious confusion about why no red card was coming out, then that would be an excellent teaching opportunity, but best to be explained AFTER the game, or possibly when you report the caution and the reason to the team benches as is required in HS, if you choose to caution.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You could NOT have sent off the defender for DOGSO as a goal may not be scored directly from a throw-in. Your thinking is correct. USB is always a valid consideration

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

I agree with my esteemed colleagues with one exception. I would not book this player. I might laugh my butt off and ask him 'what is THAT all about?' but in a competitive match I believe that booking the player will only buy you trouble. Those little yellow and red cards can be our best friend or our worst enemy. Proper use helps us keep the game where we need it but misuse can send the match over the top. We want to book clear and deliberate acts of misconduct from which players knowingly and by cheating are trying to gain an advantage. In this particular case I would classify the player's behavior as 'stupid' becauase he obviously has not a clue what the heck he/she is doing and I would deal with it accordingly. In my opinion the PK is more than adequate punishment. If, however, the handling occurred during regular dynamic play with the player knowingly and willfully trying to deny a goal OR trying to score a goal from a handling infraction then by all means - book their sorry backside. Food for thought. All the best,

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

It was a good thing you did not send this poor player off and show him the red card. There was no goal scoring opportunity (obvious or any other). So your thought process is a-okay there. I would not caution and show this hapless player the yellow card under the circumstances you have provided for our consideration. He's feeling stupid enough. No need to add salt to that open wound.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

What has been said just about covers what should happen on the field, but you know as well as I do one coach is not going to understand what he just saw...

He'll demonstrate his misunderstanding by yelling at you. Give him one chance by saying something like 'Throw-in coach, not a goal scoring opportunity'. If he doesn't shut up he's begging you to make him go away, oblige him!

Regards,