Question Number: 22595

Law 15 - Throw In 11/29/2009

RE: Rec Under 11

Sam of La Mirada, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 22506

More commonly in the younger ages, I have seen players hold onto the ball too long in making the throw-in and 'spike' it in front of themselves. Since the ball came over the head with both hands, is this still a legal throw-in even though it is released when it is in front of their chest? I have seen it called both ways.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Advice to Referees 15.3 contains this sentence: 'A throw-in directed straight downward (often referred to as a 'spike') has traditionally been regarded as not correctly performed; if, in the opinion of the referee such a throw-in was incorrectly performed, the restart should be awarded to the opposing team.' Please note 'in the opinion of the referee'. This would probably be why you have seen it called differently in different games.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I general, spikes are not legal in the US but it is up to the referee to not only decide if the throw is a spike, but to also decide if it is a trifling infringement that should be ignored

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Sam
Law 15 states as one of the requirements is that the player ' delivers the ball from behind and over his head' To spike the ball on a TI it has to be delivered in front of the head which is always viewed as an incorrectly taken TI. In underage games a referee may adopt a more flexible approach and see it as a trifling infringement and ignore it.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

A throw-in is supposed to be a simple restart of play from a stoppage where no foul occurred, the ball simply last touched someone on its way out!
Doing it ugly irritates some and that alone can create the procedural faux paux let the other team do it to send the message! Trifling or doubtful, I think I had something in my eye and ugly still gets the job done at recreational levels.
A redo at the mini level is often employed! As the referee is as much part of the training as the coaches!
Yet the laws say, 'delivers the ball from behind and over his head' the ball in contact with the hands is in fact inside the field of play and needs to be released. At adult or elite something's are not as flexible!
Cheers!

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

See Question: 23050