Question Number: 28676

Law 15 - Throw In 8/20/2014

RE: Adult

Steve of Maidstone, Kent UK asks...

This question is a follow up to question 28665

Thanks for your replies to my question. So in summary, once a player has stolen more ground than the referee deems trivial (should be 1 yd), the referee should blow and move the player back. A turnover would only usually be awarded if a player or team didn't heed the warning given. The main reason I asked is that when I used to play for a local 'pub' team, by the time you went to retrieve the ball and come back to take the throw in, you didn't know where it should be taken. As I played fullback, I took a lot of throw ins and if in doubt, I always used to check with the ref.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Steve,
sounds like a decent evaluation my good man! And your thoughts about retrieving the ball and not being aware of the throw location upon return resides in my thoughts as spot on!
It is another good evaluation for a reason why a referee could warn first rather than award the throw to the opponents to punish something unintended. Thanks for taking the time to respond and ask questions! It prompted me to rethink my approach!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Steve
If you watch closely at the Pro level some thrower may motion to the referee or AR with a point to the ground seeking confirmation if that is the correct location for the throw in. However in recent years I have noticed a relaxed attitude to the TI location and many throws happen quite far from where the ball left. It works both ways plus the teams never question or complain so it is let slide
Teams always questioned the location for long throw experts such as Rory Delap formerly of Stoke