Question Number: 25426

Law 15 - Throw In 9/14/2011

RE: COMP,AAA High School

Michael Mchugh of Oromocto , Newbrunswick Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24987

Is it legal to make a throw in off one of your own players back as he is running away? Have used it a few times,the ball goes off his back,drops,and the thrower runs into it with a kick.

Also,with regards to corner kicks,if my kicker is set to take the kick,and just slightly rolls the ball with his foot after originally placing it inside the arc,legally can he jog away,and another player come in deceptivly grab the ball and go to the goal? Read a rule that says the ball,once kicked,even if it doesnt leave the arc,is in play,please give me guidance. :)

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Such a throw in is certainly legal, as long as all the other criteria for a legal throw have been satisfied.

Your corner kick ploy is also quite permissible - though just be careful that the ball actually does move at the touch. Naturally there's some risk that the referee may not see the ball move and penalise the 2nd player.

Just be careful that the player in question doesn't shout out something to his teammate like 'you take it' - some referees will see this verbalisation as crossing the line and caution him for unsporting behaviour.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The thrower may play the ball after it hits the teammate's back.

The ball is in play on a corner kick when it is kicked and moves - - it does not have to leave the corner arc. There are usually three issues on the trick corner kick: (1) Some referees might judge that the initial roll of the ball was not a kick (this is one way players adjust the location the ball at a CK); (2) some referees might miss the initial touch if it is too subtle; and (3) Coaches may not shout something that misleads the opponents.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The throw is a legal tactic.
At a corner kick, the ball is in play when it is kicked and moved. As you say, it does not have to leave the corner arc. A problem with this tactic is often the referee crew will be fooled and not view the initial touch on the ball as being "kicked and moved". When this happens, the second player is whistled for a second touch and an indirect free kick awarded the opponents.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Michael
With the throw in tactic described there is nothing wrong with that. The referee or AR however has to see the ball hit another player for the ball to be viewed as in play. I might add that the law has been changed in that a player may now throw the ball off an opponent provided it is not in a careless nor a reckless manner nor using excessive force and the referee must allow play to continue.
As regards the ruse at a corner kick there is nothing wrong with the ball being kicked into play and left for a team mate. However many times to make the ruse work players/coaches verbally distract an opponent which is unsporting behaviour. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves and there is no requirement for it to leave the arc to be in play. The referee however if he does not see the original kick putting the ball in play and the ball does not leave the arc might stop play to penalise the 2nd player for a double touch violation. If the ball leave the arc on the 1st touch a double touch violation is not possible by the 2nd player.
BTW the last three attempts that I have seen at this ruse at the highest level all failed and resulted in a retake.

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

See Question: 25464