Question Number: 30841

Law 15 - The Throw In 10/1/2016

RE: Adult

Vahid of Sydney, NSW AUSTRALIA asks...

Hi, is there any requirement for how far a player should be from the touchline when taking throw -in ?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Vahid
Law 13 tells us that the throw is taken from the point where it left the field of play. Accepted practise is that that discretion can be a few yards in all directions including back from the field of play. Perhaps a bit more discretion can be given back from the field.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Vahid,
the throw in is cited as to be taken from the point it left the field of play along the touchline. The fact the opposition must be two meters away from that point to avoid interfering should indicate the throw take place close to that point it left so as not to put the defender in danger or cause him in fact to be too close.
The modern liberal approach of allowing attacking players to walk the ball meters up the touchline or throw from further than a yard or two away indicates you pretty much have to lob a throw in like a grenade or a basketball chest pass, some ten or more meters from the actual exit point to get a throw in reversed as improper. I see many sloppy throw ins at the highest levels but as to the importance of purity to allowing play to progress it becomes a futile gesture to punish something that the players seem to care little about unless it clearly is unfair, unsafe or so improper that it offends or disrespects the spirit as well as letter of the LOTG .
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Vahid,
Nothing specific aside from 'where the ball left play'. So typically a few yards is given as leeway.
If a player is going outside of this, it's generally best to manage it proactively if you can and move them back.
Bear in mind that taking the throw 5 years downfield from the location (towards own defensive line) is just as bad as 5 yards upfield!
Players often say 'what's it matter ref?' when you penalise them for the throw that's behind the mark - but if it didn't matter, they wouldn't have taken the throw there, would they? They're doing it so they can get the ball to their own defender.
And of course, taking it from several yards behind the line is unacceptable as well.