Question Number: 21481

Law 15 - Throw In 6/5/2009

RE: Travel Under 16

Anthony Scello of Depew, New York USA asks...

I was an AR on recent U-15 game when a player, on his throw-in, throw the ball off the back of an opposing player, who happened to be running by, and then stepped onto the field and regained possession of the ball. The center ref blow his whistle and explained to the player that this was a form of 'trickery' (against the spirit of the laws) and restarted with a throw-in (he considered it an illegal throw-in) to the opposing team. Was this the correct interpretation? Was this the correct restart if it was? The center ref also explained that this action is considered 'trickery' whether the throw-in is off the back of an opposing player or a teammate. Any thoughts on this? Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

No, no and yes.

No, it is not a form of trickery. If the referee had ever read the Advice to Referees, he would find:

15.8 THROW-IN STRIKES AN OPPONENT
A throw-in taken in such a way that the ball strikes an opponent is not by itself a violation of the Law. The act must be evaluated separately as a form of striking and dealt with appropriately if judged to be unsporting behavior (caution) or violent conduct (send off from the field). In either event, if deemed a violation, the restart is located at the place where the throw-in struck the opponent. If the throw-in is deemed to have been taken incorrectly, the correct restart is a throw-in.

If the thrown ball was not violently thrown, it has the same effect as a player who plays a ball off of an opponent to gain a throw-in or corner kick. There is no restriction on playing the ball off of an opponent, as long as it is not done with excessive force or in a truly unsporting manner. Nothing in the scenario given suggests that either of those apply.

No, the restart is not a throw-in for the other side - unless it was in fact an illegal throw. But an illegal throw involves a violation of one of the requirements for a throw - at the location where it went out, face the field, use both hands, come from behind and over the head, and have both feet on or behind the touchline. The play off the opponent's back does NOT make it an illegal throw.

There was no need to stop play at all. However, having stopped play because of the striking, the choices are either a DFK because it was considered to be a striking offense, with or without a misconduct card or it is an IDFK, because a caution is issued for unsporting behavior.

Yes, I have some thoughts on this. Don't make trouble where there isn't any. Read the players, the reaction of both the thrower and the opponent, and make a decision based on that observation. If you don't need to interfere, don't!! If the throw is too hard, or if the opponent gets torqued out of shape about it, decide what is the least that can be done to make it all right, and do that.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Laws of the Game, p. 125: 'If a player, while correctly taking a throw-in, intentionally throws the ball at an opponent in order to play the ball again but neither in a careless nor a reckless manner nor using excessive force, the referee must allow play to continue.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I would only add that it's also not illegal to throw the ball at a teammate

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

See Question: 21681