Question Number: 27826

Law 15 - Throw In 9/29/2013

RE: Competitive Adult

Laurie Warner of Sydney, NSW Australia asks...

Is there a restriction on how far behind the touchline a player can be when taking a throw-in ? We were taught in the 1990s that a player had to be within a metre/yard of the touchline and have always enforced this. We were told it was an IFAB decision.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Laurie,

A yard is a very short distance, and in practice 'a yard' always tends to mean 'a few yards'. At least it seems to in Australia!

Behind the touch line isn't as bad as, say, moving up the line - but I wouldn't be allowing any more than a few yards. The throw is supposed to be taken at the touchline.

This isn't pedantry; odds are, if the player is taking the throw from that far behind, they're doing it because they want a quick throw to take advantage of an unmarked player. So it is likely to have an impact on play.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Laurie
According to the Laws of the Game the thrower delivers the ball from the point where it left the field of play. Discretion of around a yard / metre is given.
Now many players believe incorrectly that a throw in can be taken as far back as required in their own half of the field or as far back from the field of play as desired. Both are incorrect. The TI is taken from where it left the field of play.
The referee is given discretion as to whether he sees it as trifling or not. If the opponents make no complaint I might ignore it. The problem will be is when it is ignored it can come back to bite later in the game when it is 'contested' on another TI.
Also referees should be proactive and prevent it from happening. Get on the whistle before the TI is taken. That then allows the TI to be 'retaken' by the same team from the correct location rather than a turnover for an incorrectly taken one. Teams rarely complain about retakes

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Law 15 has not changed. The throw is still supposed to be taken from the point the ball went over the touch line. Traditionally we have been taught to allow a meter or so in any of the 3 directions but in practice, some referees allow the throw to be taken as far off the touch line as the thrower likes as long as it makes the throwing distance longer. This has evolved, I think, on the mistaken belief that if a team wants to disadvantage itself, so be it. But as Ref Wright points out, if a team wants to take the throw so as to make it longer, it's usually for a reason beneficial to the throwing team. What is "standard" will vary from area to area. Around here, except at higher levels and, ironically, very LOW levels of play, 3-4 yards in any of the 3 directions are allowed by most referees

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

See Question: 27922