Question Number: 22663

Law 15 - Throw In 12/21/2009

RE: Whatever High School

John of Norton, MA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 22611

I think that ref Contarino makes an interesting point however there is another cases where an improper restart can lead to changing to a restart for the other team. In the case of an improperly taken throw in the ball is never actually in play, since certain offenses can occur before or as the ball is released. I think (for whatever that is worth) that in both these cases if the team with the restart is not able to get the ball in play within the rules, they should loose the restart.

Answer provided by Referee Tom Stagliano

Referee John

There are some fundamental differences among FIFA laws, high school (NFHS) rules and college (NCAA) rules.

In general, if the ball is in play, the rules are the same.

However, when the ball is Out of Play, there are many differences, but because the ball is out of play, the referee has some time to think the matter through and make the correct decision based upon the rules of that particular game.

Under high school (NFHS) rules, there is only one time that an improper restart results in the ball being given to the opposing team to take the restart: That is if the player taking the throw-in makes a mistake (steps completely onto the field over the touch line, or raises one or both feet before the ball is released, doe not face the field of play while taking the throw-in, etc.) . However, under all laws/rules that is the same. Additionally, under high school rules, if the player makes a perfectly legal throw-in (perfect release), but the ball never enters the field of play, the ball is given to the opponents at the original spot for the opposing team to throw-in. This change was made a number of years ago, because Referees were allowing these types of throw-ins to occur, late in a one-goal game, by the leading team, and Not stopping the clock to re-take the throw-in. A team can waste 30 or 40 seconds doing this. Therefore, the NFHS rules board clamped down and labeled that 'an illegal throw-in', with the ball given to the opposing team to take the throw-in.

Now, under FIFA LOTG, there is one other time an improper restart results in the ball being given to the opposing team to take the restart. That is the case of an improper Penalty Kick (e.g. ball kicked backwards). In those isolated cases, the PK was taken improperly and the restart is an IFK for the opposing team. Only FIFA mandates this, High School and College rules would restart with another PK attempt.

For all other improper restarts: free kicks, goal kicks, corner kicks, or a kick-off. .... If those are done improperly, then they are retaken by the same team, under all rules and laws.

NOTE: If the referee under any of the laws or rules, determines there is Misconduct in addition to the improper restart, there may be a caution, independent of which team then restarts play. Additionally, under FIFA LOTG the referee may add time to the game to account for time lost due to the improper restarts. Also, under High school or college rules, the referee may Stop the Clock to not allow time to be wasted due to the improper restart.

I hope this sheds a little light on the subject of improper restarts.

All the best.

Stag (from MA, also)

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Ref John, perhaps you are referring to another FIFA Law change on throw-ins that happened about the same time that kicking the ball backward at a PK resulted in turnover. As Ref Stagliano notes, there is a major difference between FIFA and NFHS on what happens when the ball does not enter the field on a throw-in. Under NFHS, it is automatically turned over to the other team. In FIFA, it used to always be a retake. However a few years ago, in the commentary not text of the Laws, we found, 'If the ball touches the ground before entering the field of play, the throw-in is retaken by the same team from the same position provided that it was taken in line with the correct procedure. If the throw-in is not taken in line with the correct procedure, it is retaken by the opposing team.' That last sentence was new. So now sometimes under FIFA the throw-in can go to the other team when it was never put into play.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Yeah, I forgot about the throw-in which I also cannot fathom. If the ball is never put into play, IMO, the restart should stay the same