Question Number: 25150

Law 15 - Throw In 6/29/2011

RE: AYSO Select Under 14

Mike of Chino Hills, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 25138

I have a different interpretation upon reading the ATR and the Interpretations of the Laws section. It is stated, 'the referee must warn any player within this distance **before** the throw-in is taken'. To me, this means the referee should enforce the required distance prior to the ball entering the field. Prior to the throw, the ref should ask the defender to move back. If the defender ignores the referee, then the ref should caution for failure to respect the required distance. The throw-in has never taken place, so the restart remains the same. The ATR also says, 'the referee should not ordinarily interfere with quick throw-in restarts to enforce the minimum distance unless this is requested by the thrower'. To me, this means that if the attacker chooses to throw the ball with the player less than the distance, then the referee just lets play continue. In the example of the U17 game, the ref should have either 1) enforced the distance prior to the throw, or 2) let play continue once the attacker chose to throw the ball.

The way I read it, the ref should not caution the defender after the throw in has been taken, so the restart does not come into play. I would think that a caution after the ball has entered the field, should restart as an indirect free kick. I don't see where it states that the restart goes back to a throw in **after** the ball has entered the field.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Practically speaking, it is not always possible to warn the defender to retire the distance - the referee shouldn't be right on top of a throw-in but closer to where it will land. And, if the defender has been warned once, I for one, harbor no qualms on cautioning a repeat.

As my colleagues note, the infringement occurs before the ball is put into play - therefore, the restart is a retake.

It is impossible to know from the original situation why the referee restarted play with an IDFK. Perhaps there was some other infringement (what it could be does escape me) which prompted the IDFK restart.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mike
Prevention is always better than cure. So the advice is always to try to deal with a situation before it happens. However that is not always possible. So in the case where an opponents interferes with the taking of a throw in the offence has happened before the ball is put into play not after. The 2 yard infringement can only ever occur before the ball is in play
To explain it another way. It is akin to encroachment at a free kick. The referee has a choice. The referee either lets play continue as the offence was trifling as it had no effect on play or if he stops play the original restart is retaken.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

There is a lot in common in the referee's management of a free kick and a throw-in: (1) Good things happen when the referee is proactive early in the match using voice and presence. Players notice and adjust. (2) The referee should not be quick to interfere with a quick throw-in - - getting the ball back into play quickly is the main priority in a throw-in. (3) If warnings do not suffice, or if the attacking team is prejudiced by an unlawful tactic, the referee should caution the defender and redo the restart.