Question Number: 22826

Law 15 - Throw In 2/16/2010

RE: Rec Under 11

Don Klecher of Marlon, New Jersey USA asks...

Why can't a player score directly from a throw-in?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Klecher
Its been part of the Laws since soccer began and Law 15 as you know states 'A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in'.
The TI is seen as a way of restarting play when the ball goes over the touchline. It is not seen as a goal scoring restart. For that matter why even throw it in. Why not kick it?
Indeed in the early years of the game the ball had to be thrown in at right angles to the touch line. I guess its tradition really and it probably would not make a big deal of difference if it was allowed.
Until that change happens, which is highly unlikely, we go with what we have.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The simple reason is because Law 15 says so. 'A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.'

But I never liked the because-I-said-so answers either. The reasoning is given in the first line of Law 15: 'A throw-in is a method of restarting play.' It's meant to be a simple way of getting the game started again, not a scoring opportunity.

Way back when, throw-ins were different. There was no technical benefit to taking a throw. The first player to get to the ball (to touch it, thus 'in touch') got to take the throw. It had to be taken with the feet on the line and thrown perpendicular to the touchline. When they changed it so it could go in any direction, they still wanted to keep it a simple restart.

It wasn't that all long ago that most restarts were indirect - the only direct restarts were free kicks from the (then-called) penal fouls, and corner kicks. In both of these situations the defenders took an opportunity away from the attackers, so the restarts for them were direct. It was only in 1997 when kickoffs and goal kicks were made direct kicks.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Throw-ins are intended to be a quick way to get the match restarted. While long throw-ins aren't new, they are returning to fashion and causing defenders trouble.

I don't suspect we will see any interest in letting someone score directly from a throw-in as the arms aren't supposed to be the focus of players' skills.