Question Number: 27902

Law 15 - Throw In 10/16/2013

RE: Premier Under 16

Matt of San Diego, Ca USA asks...

why when someone throws the ball in and it never goes in do they get to re-throw the ball again. Should it be the same as a corner kick ? if you can't throw the ball in the fist time on a ' free play ' you should be pentalized just like you do on a bad corner kick

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Matt
The Laws state that when a throw in does not enter the field of play the throw in is retaken.
Now if the ball at the TI touches the plane of the touchline it is in play and if goes out of play again immediately the TI is awarded to the opposing team where the ball left the field of play. If the referee deems that the TI has been incorrectly taken and it does not enter the field of play the TI must be turned over. The Law is written to allow the referee discretion.
I has a situation last week where the ball slipped out of the player's hands just as it was being thrown and it did not enter the field of play. The TI was retaken. It would have been 'unfair' to turn the throw over in that situation. I also had a claim that a throw did not enter the field of play. Without a neutral AR I decided from the hand and ball position of the thrower that it had entered and the throw in was then taken by the opponents from where I believe it crossed the line to go out of play.
Not sure what you mean by the corner kick. Once the ball is kicked and moves at a corner kick the ball is immediately in play and on the field of play. If it is kicked directly out of play it is either a goal kick or a throw in not a retake.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Matt,

A corner kick is different - the ball is actually placed on the field for a corner kick. So the moment the ball is touched, it is in play. In a situation where the ball crosses straight over the goal line, it was actually briefly in play before doing that.

A throw-in, on the other hand, begins when the ball is off the field.

So unless the ball has entered the field of play, we don't consider that the throw has even been taken - it's probably a bit similar to a goal kick, where the ball isn't in play until it leaves the penalty area.

I can see the logic in arguing that even if the ball hasn't entered the field of play it should be a turnover, but the laws only allow the turnover if the throw has been taken incorrectly. If the procedures of the throw are taken correctly (correct place, feet on the ground, delivered over the head, etc), then the law hasn't actually been breached - it just hasn't entered the field of play, and the law only allows for a turnover if the delivery of the throw breaks the laws.

Bear in mind that if even a sliver of the ball is above the touch line then swerves back out, then this is in play.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The answer is a question: when is the ball in play? On a corner kick, the ball is in play as soon as it is kicked and moves. If the ball then goes past the goal line, it is out of play. On a throw-in, the ball is not in play until it enters the field of play. If it doesn't enter, it isn't in play and cannot go 'out.' Under TLOG, it would be a 'foul' throw only if the form of the throw-in otherwise infringes the laws (e.g., one foot is over the line).

Under high school (NFHS) and NCAA rules, a throw-in that never enters the field is considered a foul throw, and a new throw-in is awarded to the opponents.