Question Number: 28295

Law 15 - Throw In 3/31/2014

RE: Rec Under 15

Brian Windham of New braunfels , Texas Usa asks...

Throw in question;
I was told last week by a referee that a player can have one foot on the field and one foot behind the line while throwing the ball in. The ref said that the rule had changed with in the last two years. Is it true that the throw in rule changed and a player does not have to have both feet behind the line?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Not sure where he's getting his information - the relevant law hasn't changed in a long time. Both feet must be on or behind the line - that means the toes can be on the field but the heels must remain on the line.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brian
There has been no change to Law 15 in the last 2/3 years. More likely he has only found out in the last two years that part of the player's foot could be on the field of play and that is illegal. Some believed incorrectly that the player had to stand behind the line while taking a throw in. The last change I believe was in 2008 when the Law was amended from 'Uses both hands' to 'holds the ball with both hands'. The previous change was in 2005 when the 2 yard opponent 'exclusion zone' away from the thrower was introduced.
So as long as a player has part of his feet on or behind the line it is legal. As Referee Wickham states a player could have his heels only on the line and that would be legal.
In 1969 this is what Law 15 stated
' The thrower at the moment of delivering the ball must face the field of play and part of each foot shall be either on the touch-line or on the ground outside the touch-line. '' That's what we have today just set out differently.
""At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower:
# faces the field of play
# has part of each foot either on the touch line or on the ground outside the
touch line
# holds the ball with both hands
# delivers the ball from behind and over his head
# delivers the ball from the point where it left the field of play""