Question Number: 23908

Law 15 - Throw In 9/11/2010

RE: High School

Brian P of Belmar, NJ USA asks...

A player took a throw in with one foot on the field and one off. I always thought you needed to have both feet behind the line. The ref actually said you can just have one foot on the line while the other foot can be on the field. Is that accurate?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

When in doubt, go back to the Laws of the Game:

'Procedure
At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower:
* faces the field of play
* has part of each foot either on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line
* holds the ball with both hands
* delivers the ball from behind and over his head
* delivers the ball from the point where it left the field of play'

The same conditions apply under NFHS (high school) rules. Both feet must be properly positioned on or behind the line.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brian
The player could have both heels on the line and that is legal provided he keeps his heels on the line while making the throwing motion

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Brian, the Laws state that as long as any part of one or both feet are on the touch line when the ball leaves the hands of the thrower, it is legal. It is nothing to do with one or two feet on or off the field. The deal is neither foot can be COMPLETELY past the touch line on the field. But as you can see, the thrower can have ALMOST all of both feet on the field as long as they are both at least partly on the touch line or outside the field, off the touch line.

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

See Question: 24007