Question Number: 24716

Law 15 - Throw In 3/21/2011

Paul of Smyrna, Ga USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24695

Although I am certain none of you meant to do so, your answers to this question may have been misleading.
You all made comments to the sort of 'as long as part of the foot is on the line, the requirement has been met.'
None of you mentioned that the feet may also be wholly behind the line, off the field of play.
By reading your answers, they young questioner might mistakenly be lead to believe that it is required that some part of the foot MUST be in contact with the line.
Just an obervation that I thought needed clarified.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Paul
Thank you for your observation. As you rightly point out the feet may also be behind the line which indeed is the most common position.
The answers were given in the context of the question only and in many questions it would be difficult to limit the answers without covering the whole Law which would then be a tome of an answer. For instance by reading your question the young questioner could also mistakenly believe that there is no limit as to how far back the thrower can be from the line for the TI to be legal.
There is always a balance between an answer and instruction/learning

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Paul, you are absolutely correct. Good observation by a fellow Georgian! I would just add that even if behind the touchline, the ball should be thrown within a yard or so of where it left the field of play