Question Number: 26054

Law 15 - Throw In 3/10/2012

RE: USSF Level 8 Under 15

Paul Shickell of Ridgefield, CT USA asks...

A player did a 'Soccer Front Handspring Throw-In', however instead of the ball flying deep into the field, the ball went straight up into the air and landed on the field of play 2 yards in front of the same player, who then proceeded to play the ball (which I know is illegal).

Q: What is the correct restart and why?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Paul
The referee has two options
a. If the throw in is incorrectly taken the throw in is taken by the opponents from the same location.
B. If in the opinion of the referee the throw in was correctly taken then the offence is the thrower touching the ball before it has been played by another player. The restart is an IDFK from where the thrower touched the ball for a second time.
I would suspect that if the ball only went two yards it is likely that the throw in was incorrectly taken and I would go with A.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

A correctly executed flip throw is a legal form of throw-in. The throw can be ugly, and still be legal.

If otherwise proper in form, the restart is an indirect free kick to the opponent for the double touch violation. If not, the restart is a throw-in to the opponent.