Question Number: 28482

Law 15 - Throw In 6/7/2014

RE: rec Adult

alex of richmond hill, ontario canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 28472

Joe's answer might have cleared up my years of confusion regarding 'delivers the ball from behind and over his head'. My understanding to that statement is you hold the ball behind your head with both hands, then swing the ball forward and only release the ball after the ball has moved to the front. Joe's answer seems to indicate that the ball release has to be behind the head, or at most right above the head. Am I understanding this correctly?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Alex
The release of the ball must happen before its gets to the front of the head. The method I believe, with its history, tries to keep players away from the thrower and prevent crowding. When the ball is dropped or increasingly as I see released in front of the head, which is more controlled, player can get much closer to the thrower. I would say that a proper release and throwing motion from behind the head means that the ball has to travel at least 5/6 yards minimum with this method. If it is released in front of the head it can be within 2/3 yards. Some "flick action" throws are border line as most of the momentum of the ball is up and then down.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Remember that a throw-in is simply a method of getting the ball back into play. If all the mechanics are not 100% perfect, does it really matter? What we don't want to see is a player taking advantage of a technique to get some advantage on the throw - longer distance, for example.

Typically the ball is released anywhere from somewhat behind the head, over the top of the head, or slightly in front of the head. Only if the player holds onto the ball so long that it ends up going almost straight downwards (a 'spike') would it have to be called as illegal.

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

See Question: 28492