Question Number: 24646

Law 15 - Throw In 3/3/2011

RE: Rec Adult

Tom of Richmond, VA USA asks...

In a recent game, the ball went over the touchline for a throw-in in my team's favor. The ball went about 15 yards out of bounds perpendicular to the point at which the ball exited the field of play. When I retrieved the ball, I noticed that a teammate was making a good run near the touchline, so I threw the ball in from about 10 yards off the pitch but nearly even with the spot of exit. The ball never touched the ground before it reached the pitch, and as far as I could tell the throw-in was legal. However, the referee blew the play dead and said that I had to be within 5 yards of the pitch. He did let me retake the throw though. Was this the correct call?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Actually, it was wrong on a couple of points:
- you are supposed to be within a meter/yard of where the ball went out of play, not 5 yards
- the ref should have turned the ball over to the opponents for your illegal throw.

Count yourself lucky that the ref gave you a re-throw. Perhaps he intended to stop you from taking it, but didn't have time to do so.

This is documented in the USSF publication, Advice to Referees:

15.1 LOCATION OF THROW-IN
Although the throw-in is to be taken 'from the point where [the ball] crossed the touch line,' this requirement is satisfied if the restart occurs within approximately one yard (one meter) of this location, farther upfield or downfield or back from the touch line. A throw-in taken beyond this limit is an infringement of Law 15.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tom
Referee Voshol has given the US position on this. In Europe t is not as perscriptive where referees are given slightly more latitude in the interpretation.
Law 15 states that the thrower delivers the ball from the point where it left the field of play. We all know that does not happen in practise so there has to be some discretion. It is not stated yet usually a few yards would be acceptable in Europe and that includes back from the field of play. Indeed many in Europe claim that the TI location can be generous at times. Funnily enough the thrower going back significantly towards his own goal is rarely challenged by opponents which is incorrect in Law.
I also look for the reaction of the players. If the teams are getting on with play and both teams are respecting the throw in then I will rarely intervene. I have seen the situation you describe go unchallenged by the opponents and the referee allowed play to continue. The issue is consistency and perhaps another referee on another day will not allow it.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

As my colleagues have noted there is some latitude. A player who uses the extra distance from the field to take what apparently was an unfair advantage of the opponent in the opinion of the referee will suffer the consequence. That consequence is loss of the throw which is now awarded to the other team.

It is the opinion of the referee as to what is or is not fair in that game that day those players that matters.