Question Number: 26729

Law 15 - Throw In 9/7/2012

RE: High School

Soccer Parent of Eagan, USA asks...

We had a scenario last night where the ball went out of bounds and the team that was supposed to take the throw in went to the sideline to do it. On his way there, a ball boy threw him a ball and the player got confused on where the out of bounds line was (football, Lacrosse, and soccer are all played on the same field). He never left the field of play and did the throw in while still standing on the field of play. Should that have been declared an illegal throw in or should he have been given another opportunity similar to when the ball never enters the field of play on a throw in?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
It is really a judgement call for the referee based on the circumstances. If the throw in is taken by a player over the side line on the field of play then the correct decision in Law is a throw in to the opponents for an incorrectly taken throw in.
The referee could also determine due to the confusion with the lines that it was a genuine error and perhaps allow the throw in to be taken again correctly. The latter approach might depend on the spirit of the game and the attitude of the two team to the game.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Years ago, before the Columbus Crew had their own stadium, they were playing on a football (pointyball) field. One of the players took the throw-in from the football sideline. While my sons and I were laughing watching the game on TV, they did nothing - just keep playing. It was an honest mistake.

While this is technically an illegal throw and it should go to the other side, the multitude of lines on many of today's fields make that seem way too harsh.

If the other team is unfairly affected by the throw from the wrong location, you should probably go back for a redo.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

A wise referee elects to hold up the throw-in when it is clear that the non-soccer lines on the field are causing confusion. Even if the ball is thrown before the referee communicates that decision, that throw-in (as with any restart that the referee decides to delay) must wait for the referee's whistle, and must be retaken if done without one. Thus, it would be proper to allow the team to take the throw-in without regard to the prior action.

But, high school rules do not permit a retake of the throw where the ball never enters the field of play. If the referee judges that the throw-in was taken from an improper place, the referee may award a throw-in to the opposing team.