Question Number: 23412

Law 15 - Throw In 6/3/2010

RE: Club Under 11

Edgar of WLB, New Jersey USA asks...

Can you tell me how officials determine who to reward the ball to when two players contact the ball simultaneously and it goes out of bounds? I see this most often when an attacker is moving down the field and the defender challenges him for the ball. The ball is struck simultaneously by the players, but caries forward in the direction of the defense. While the simple answer may be that the ball should be rewarded to the defensive team because the ball moved forward appearing to go of the attacker last. As I stand on the sideline it looks to me that the ball is struck by the attacker hitting the defensive player and then goes out of bounds. Obviously this is a case by case situation, but it seems that 90% of the time it is called in favor of the defender.

Can you tell me if there is some standard instruction given to officials in this situation?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Edgar
First off there is no standard instruction given to officials in these situations. It is up to the referee to determine who in fact touched the ball last. In very tight calls some times direction of the ball can assist the referee in his decision. Many times it is the referee's sense of who got there first/last, reaction of the players, movement of the ball etc.
I was an AR in a National Cup game at the weekend and there were a few tight calls and I gave my best to ensure I got them all spot on. There is a split second to make the call and I gave what I thought was correct based on my view and the factors already mentioned. On tight calls one can be certain that 50% of the people will not agree with the decisions.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Referee's should not believe in the notion of two simultaneous touches, so we look for clues. Sound. Do we hear two touches on the ball? Sometimes, however, the sound is one player making contact with the other player. Spin and direction. While it is not always the case, if the ball is headed away from the goal, it is more likely to have been touched last by a defender. We make a decision based on the clues.

Beginning referees often often ask what if the referee has no idea who touched it last? I know that I did. The answer I received was make a decision. Never show doubt. Moreover, in most matches that beginning referees are assigned, the team taking the throw-in will usually loses possession in about two seconds. It doesn't make any difference to the outcome of the game.

At higher levels of play, with throw-in specialists, the throw-in can lead to scoring opportunities. Resolving doubts in favor of the offense encourages attacking soccer, and resolving them in favor of the defense minimizes the chance that that an incorrect decision will lead to a goal. There is no one recommended approach.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Although it probably seems like it, rarely do two opponents play the ball at the same time. The challenge for the referee is to use all available clues as to who touched the ball last before it went out of bounds. Sometimes everyone in the game saw who touched it last except the referee. Sometimes I watch the players as they often know who should get the throw-in and if both teams seem to accept this, I let play continue. Which brings up yet another annoying coaching tactic: teaching your players to grab EVERY ball that goes out of play over the touchline and start to take the throw. When I see this happening, the coach and his players get a little talk about the misconduct called delaying the restart of play. Some referees give every throw that's questionable to the defense in fear of aiding a goal. This is cowardly and does the game a disservice. I agree with Ref Wickham; make a decisive call and sell it.