Question Number: 24901

Law 15 - Throw In 5/8/2011

RE: Rec Under 10

Kyle Hammel of Liberal, Kansas United States asks...

On a throw-in, is it true that any part of both feet must be on the ground at the time the ball is released? Is there any requirement that the feet must stay on the ground for any period of time after release of the ball? A ref in my son's youth league kept calling illegal throw-in's in instances where the kid throwing the ball in would raise a foot off the ground immediately after the ball was released. That doesn't seem right. Thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Law 15 says:

'At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower:'
...
'has part of each foot either on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line'

The requirement is that the foot must be down while the throw is taken. The foot can come off the ground after that. How much after that will be up to the referee's eyesight.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Kyle
Some referees do not allow players to 'walk' while taking a throw in as they believe both feet are not on the ground at the moment of delivering the ball which is a requirement for a legal throw in Law 15. Many see it as trifling. Also referees rarely if ever see a raised foot after the ball has been released because their attention has moved with the ball. In addition if you watch closely a player rarely raises his back foot after the ball has been released from a throw in but rather as part of the throwing motion
I recall many years ago as a coach there was a particular referee that called every single foot infraction on a throw in including 'walking' while taking the throw in. Players very quickly adapted to his 'requirement' for both feet to be on the ground during and after delivery of the ball.
I was AR in a final recently and one of the full backs had the habit of 'walking' during his throw ins. This could have been called IMO but the teams did not see it as an infraction and the referee crew saw it as trifling. Another crew might see it differently certainly my referee friend of old.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Remember that most referees at U10 matches are just as inexperienced as the players. Also, it has been drilled into young soccer player's heads that both feet have to stay on the ground. and most young referees are also players. Unfortunately, most inexperienced referees do not know when the ball has been released and will blow the whistle every time the foot comes up, even if it's a full 2 seconds after the ball has been released. Best to tell your son to make certain he keeps both feet on the ground even if he has to cross them to do so. Throw-ins are treated as game changing events by U-little coaches instead of merely a method of getting the ball back in play quickly. Have your son practice the mechanics so every throw will at the least, be a fair throw.