Question Number: 21801

Law 15 - Throw In 8/18/2009

RE: Adult

dave of Auckland, New Zealand asks...

It's a wet day.
A player takes a throw in.
The ball slips from his hands as he is taking the throw and the ball goes into play.
A player opposing the thrower is first to the ball.
Is there any rule that says the throw is to be taken again by the same player because it accidentally slipped out of his hands?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Was it a legal throw, despite being ugly? If so, then the ball is in play; it's no different than if a player shanked a free kick. His mistake, he has to live with it.

If the slip caused the throw to be illegal, we could be kind and allow a retake. It would have to be obvious that the thrower didn't intend to throw the ball that way or at that exact second. Most likely such a 'throw' is met by embarrassment on the part of the thrower, along with possible calls of derision from his teammates.

In any event of a throw being retaken, it does not have to be taken by the same player. However, teams can't use intentionally bad throws to waste time. The player with slippery hands is likely to still be the player closest to the ball, and should be the one putting it into play in a reasonably short timeframe.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Dave, the way you put the question the answer must be that there is no real law regarding balls accidentally slipping out of players hands in a throw-ins. The only thing we can talk about is compassionate reffing, sometimes called common sense. I am sure you can figure out what I mean.
In soccer it is either a legal or illegal throw-in. If the slip made it illegal the other team gets to throw in the ball, unless there is a bleeding heart ref running the show.
Interestingly in tennis, if you throw the ball in the air for a serve but it goes astray, you can try again without penalty. In table tennis if you throw the ball up and through an 'accident' you miss hitting it (it must be hit on its downward motion) you lose a point.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

You are a referee you make a decision!

Fair Play: Accident. Show compassion, note players' acceptance,realize match needs = rethrow!

Correct proceedure: Even if UGLY play COULD continue!

Incorrect proceedure: Award throw -in to the other team!

Not Fair PLAY: Time wasting and pretending to have difficulty caution show yellow card.

See, lots of options.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

It doesn't sound as if the throw was properly taken (behind the head, facing the field etc.). If it was, play continues. If it's obviously an accident, I wouldn't make a big deal over it and just take the throw again.