Question Number: 22300

Law 15 - Throw In 10/19/2009

Aaron of Chicago, IL USA asks...

How far must opponents be from a player taking a throw-in? Is it 2 meters or 2 yards?

I understand that originally the laws were written using imperial measurements. Later, when the metric system took dominance, the laws were converted (10 yds to 9.15 m, for example). However, the distance opponents must be from a player taking a throw-in was recently changed, and so I wonder if IFAB then set the number to be the round metric number, rather than the round imperial number like the rest of the laws.

Throughout the laws, the distance is always listed as 2 meters / 2 yards, but which one is it actually?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The difference is negligible, about half a foot, especially since it is always an eyeballed distance. Does it matter which it is, then, really?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

When it first came out, the law stated the distance as two meters, and the USSF interpretation was to treat this as two yards (since that is the measurement the players likely would understand and heed).

As you note, Law 15 now states: 'All opponents must stand no less than 2 m (2 yds) from the point at which the throw-in is taken.' So, the answer is both. Which means, either 2 meters or 2 yards is acceptable to the referee.