Question Number: 23050

Law 15 - Throw In 4/1/2010

RE: Comp Under 15

John of Sydney, NSW Australia asks...

This question is a follow up to question 22595

The point of release of the ball from a throw in is always something that is not consistently policed. My interpretation of TLOTG is that you should deliver the ball from behind and over your head.
This means it must go behind your head and come over your head, there is no ruling on where you should release the ball.
We are constantly pulled up by some refs for letting it go in front of the head.
Can you clarify what is the correct place to release the ball?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

A throw-in is a method to get the ball back into play quickly. Too often, I sadly note, referees call foul infringements which are doubtful and trifling.

Law 15 requires only that the player 'delivers the ball from behind and over his head.' By tradition, a spike - - when the ball is released in front of the head and directed straight down - - is considered a foul throw. Otherwise, referees ought not to be concerned with where the ball is released as long as the hands start behind the head and move over the head.

This notion is made explicit for referees in the US. Though not binding in Australia, the USSF Advice to Referees notes: 'This phrase does not mean that the ball must leave the hands from an overhead position. A natural throwing movement starting from behind and over the head will usually result in the ball leaving the hands when they are in front of the vertical plane of the body. The throwing movement must be continued to the point of release.'

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
There is an element of 'implicit knowledge ' in Law 15. Releasing the ball in front of the head is seen as an incorrectly taken TI as the ball ,while it may have started of behind the players head originally, is delivered from in front of the head. It has the same release action as not putting the ball behind the head and it will look like an incorrectly taken TI every time to the referee and others. Many times it is done because the target of the throw is too close and to compensate the thrower makes this motion. The more difficult one is where the ball is released too early from behind the head again for this short distance purpose. Thatthrow in will draw calls of 'Foul Throw' as well and some referees will not allow it.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You should always remember a throw-in is just a method of getting the ball back into play quickly and most infractions are trifling. Perhaps this will help. From the current Advice To Referees from USSF:

15.3 PROPERLY TAKEN THROW-IN
A throw-in must be performed while the thrower is facing the field, but the ball may be thrown into the
field in any direction. Law 15 states that the thrower "delivers the ball from behind and over his head."
This phrase does not mean that the ball must leave the hands from an overhead position. A natural
throwing movement starting from behind and over the head will usually result in the ball leaving the
hands when they are in front of the vertical plane of the body. The throwing movement must be
continued to the point of release. 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. There is no
requirement in Law 15 prohibiting spin or rotational movement. Referees must judge the correctness
of the throw-in solely on the basis of Law 15.