Question Number: 25808

Law 15 - Throw In 12/3/2011

RE: Intermediate Under 12

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 25585

I have a follow-up question to what Ref Gary Voshol said. Does the turn-over apply to AYSO (under FIFA Laws)?

I ask because it happened in an AYSO U10 game when a girl took a short run, brought the ball back behind her head, & then accidentally dropped the ball behind her. The CR awarded a throw-in to the other team, as the mechanics were faulty (the hands never came back over the head). The CR asked me & I told him that if the mechanics were bad, the call was correct, even if the ball never entered the field.

We asked two experienced AYSO refs, who both said that if the ball never entered the field, then there was no restart & the throw should be retaken.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

That seems like a 'gotcha' call. A young player in a recreational league simply slipped. There was no throw taken, good or bad. Let her try again.

If it was a real throw and the ball does not enter the field, then the throw would be retaken. However, in recent years IFAB included a paragraph in the Interpretations and Guidance section of the Laws: 'If the ball touches the ground before entering the field of play, the throw-in is retaken by the same team from the same position provided that it was taken in line with the correct procedure. If the throw-in is not taken in line with the correct procedure, it is retaken by the opposing team.' The part about correct procedure was new.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
There is the correct answer which is that if the throw in was not taken in line with the correct procedure it is retaken by the opposing team and then there is the 'best' decision for the game which I believe should be a retake. It was a slip by a young player which should result in a retake. Even at senior level on a wet day I have allowed a retake for a ball that slipped out of the hands and hit the ground before entering the field of play.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Common sense would tell us that if a throw was not able to be started or completed because of a fault not listed in the requirements for a throw, then we should allow a retake. Having the ball slip from the hands means it wasn't thrown. If it isn't thrown, how do we even get to the from behind and over the head, face the field, both feet on or behind the line and from the point of exit?