Question Number: 21525

Law 15 - Throw In 6/11/2009

RE: Competitive Under 11

Andrew Bekken of Birmingham, AL USA asks...

How long does a player have to make a throw in?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

There is no time specified in the Laws. Rather, the referee should use the standard measure of not wasting time. I tend to think that as the goalkeeper is alloted 6 seconds to release a ball into play after handling it, it should also usually be possible to execute goal kicks and throw-ins in a similar timeframe.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

A reasonable amount of time. At this age you might give the player a little extra time to execute the throw-in than older kids.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Once we signal for them to do the throw in by whistle or verbal or hand gesture as indicated by Ref Voshol we tend to see this as aprox 6 second thing similar to the keeper getting rid of the ball as a reasonable amount of time to make the throw in.

It is usually in the retrieval time where we wait. Especially on hot days with only a single game ball. Once the ball and thrower are on the touchline, unless a substitution was underway forcing them to wait for a whistle to resume play we expect the ball in within a few seconds as a reasonable assumption.

Tossing the ball to another player to take the throw in after indicating you were going to take the throw COULD be viewed as USB misconduct and delaying the restart but again a verbal, 'LETS GO PEOPLE!' is likely to take the need to caution and show a card for only the extreme delays and goofy antics.

A correctly taken throw in requires the thrower to be at the point (+ or -) a yard or so from were the ball left the field. Those who try to extend that distance do at times try our patience and make it likely we do the throw in as a retake for the opposition.

Cheers