Question Number: 26159

Law 15 - Throw In 4/9/2012

RE: travel Under 11

Oksana Satch of Augusta, NJ USA asks...

A player is behind the touch line and throws the ball over his head but the ball lands out of bounds, never entering the field. He throws the ball down the line . Is the restart a do over since the ball never went into the field or crossed the touch line. Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Oksana
As the ball has not entered the field of play the throw in is taken by the same team from the same location. If the thrower is very close to the line there is every chance that the ball broke the plane of the line at the point of the throw in or close to it which case the ball entered the field of play.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

First, if the ball never is in play from a throw-in that is otherwise proper in form, the restart is a redo. (High school rules are different).

Second, the ball is in play when any part of the ball is over any part of the touchline line. If the ball bounces on the line, it is in play.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

The moment any part of the ball is on or above the touch line, it is in play.

If, for instance, the ball swerves just above the line, mid-flight, then swerves back out before landing, it has entered the field of play and the restart is a throw to the other team.

If this has not occurred (in the opinion of the referee), and no part of the ball is ever so much as above the line, then it's a retake.