Question Number: 22380

Law 15 - Throw In 10/27/2009

RE: comp Under 16

Jon of santa rosa, CA USA asks...

I've seen this scenario with more than one ref and and am wondering if I don't understand throw in mechanics. A girl is standing ready to throw 'down the line' when she twists her body and throws it in the opposite direction. All mechanics are good: feet where they can be, facing field, ball thrown onto the pitch from behind and over the head-just a twist with the body. Whistle blows, other team takes the throw. Am I missing something here or are some refs that are missing something?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jon
As desribed I read nothing wrong in that and some refs are 'missing something'. In fact it happens all the time. Some referees if they see something 'different' in a throw in and there are howls of 'foul throw Ref' , believe that it has been taken incorrectly and turn it over. If the TI meets all the requirements of the law even if it looks 'funny' it does not deserve to be turned over. The TI is a simple way of starting the game and too much is made of different TI styles by opponents who are looking for a cheap turn over of the ball. When that happens in my games I simply say 'Might not look great but it's legal' or 'Nothing wrong there'

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Most of these twist and throws are legal. But I've seen some who twist while moving the ball, resulting in it coming around the side of the head instead of over the head. Maybe that's what some refs have seen and correctly have called; others have seen this call and generalized it to the incorrect conclusion that all twisting throws are wrong.

I am firmly of the opinion that throw-ins are a simple skill, and that once past the formative years of learning the game (somewhere around u12) the players should be given far greater leeway. Only if they do something illegal to artifically enhance the range of the throw should the ref need to intervene. Besides, I often have far more important things to watch on the field than to see if the throwin was textbook perfect. Those players looking to receive the throw, or opponents looking to intercept, for example.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Ugly or clumsy or different do not an illegal throw make, as long as the simple criteria are met!