Question Number: 28564

Law 15 - Throw In 6/29/2014

RE: High School

Scott of Chesapeake, Virginia United States asks...

I witnessed on many occasions during the season, a single player that appeared to deliver the ball during a throw in from over her shoulder. The benefit in her technique gave her an exceptionally long delivery of a spinning ball and, in my personal opinion, an advantage. No calls were made by referees at any time during the season to indicate that the throw-ins were illegal.

When the throw-ins were questioned by an opposing coach, the referee's position was that 'any' part of the ball had to pass over the player's head to be considered legal. In the cases observed by me, it was certainly a very small 'portion' of the ball that was passing over the player's head, if at all.

Is this a valid interpretation of Law 15?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Scott
As described it would seem to me to be legal. Law 15 states that the player ''delivers the ball from behind and over his head''. Spin has nothing to do with it. It might look different or awkward but if many referees have looked at the throwing action and considered it legal that would suggest nothing wrong to me.
Also I don't believe that there is any advantage in the method as long as the ball is delivered from behind the head even if it looks suspect. I saw one player in the World Cup with this type of action and while it looked different did not look illegal to me.
Research studies have shown that release velocity which is combination of hand speed and body momentum is significantly more important than height of release or release angle in gaining distance.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

These sound like proper throw ins. If any part of the ball starts behind the head, it is enough. When the ball is held in both hands, it is very obvious when the ball is thrown incorrectly - - the ball does not start behind the head and usually ends beyond the edge of the shoulder.

The fact that the ball is spinning tells us nothing. There is no requirement that equal force be used with each hand.