Question Number: 30367

Law 15 - Throw In 4/30/2016

RE: Rec Adult

Kai Huang of Doncaster, Victoria Australia asks...

What should be the method of restarting play when a throw-in goes straight out of bounds (without entering the field of play)?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Kai
The restart is a retake of the throw in.
Now if the ball breaks the plane of the touchline the ball is in play and if it subsequently swings out of play the restart is a throw in to the opponents where it re-crossed the plane of the touchline

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Kai,

If the throw was otherwise taken legally and it does not enter the field, it's a retake. If the throw was taken incorrectly, then the other team takes the throw in.

Bear in mind though, that the moment the slightest sliver of the ball touches the vertical plane of the touch line (the moment any part is above the touch line) it's in play then considered to have gone out like normal. If it swings over the line then back out, players will often expect a retake, so it can help to explain that it swung over the line.

As an AR, I would simple signal in the appropriate direction for the TI. The referee should be astute enough to realise why you may be signalling in the same direction as what the throw was taken.