Question Number: 31205

1/27/2017

RE: Rec Under 12

JOHN CORCORAN of NEWPORT NEWS, VA United States asks...

What is the correct call? Player A is taking a throw in. He throws the ball and it hits the ground outside the field of play and then goes over the touch line into play. Is it a re-throw?

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

It depends under which set of regulations the game is being played. Under the Laws of the Game as promulgated by the IFAB, it is a retake for the same team, assuming no other infringement of the throw-in law occurred. Under NFHS rules however, the throw is turned over to the opponents.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi John,
As Ref Grove states, under the LOTG it is a retake from the same team, assuming that the throw was otherwise taken incorrect.
That includes taken from the correct spot - if a player has run off to fetch the ball, and taken the TI 15 yards from the field and it bounces before entering, then the throw has not been taken from the correct spot, so it's a TI to the other team.
Also, consider the scenario where a throw goes down the line but hits the ground outside the field. The moment any part of the ball is above the touch line it is in play - sometimes in these cases the ball is above the line then swerves back out. In these cases it's a throw to the other team where the ball left the field again. But, unless you have an AR or are on the line yourself, you'll have to give the the thrower the benefit of the doubt.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
As described this is a retake under the Laws of the Game.
During play though a referee would need neutral assistant referees to assist in the call to ensure that the ball in fact did not touch the line first or enter the field of play. If it touches the line or crosses the plane of the line it is deemed have entered the field of play in which case it is play on. If the ballot subsequently goes out of play it is a throw in to the opponents where it left the field of play.
Sometimes when there is a doubt about the ball not entering I just assume that it has and turn the TI over where I opined it left the field of play.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Joe,
IF the throw in was done correctly and fails to enter the FOP before it touches the ground, ( keeping in mind the 5 inch touchline boundary can be broken albeit ever so slightly and that ball will go into live play mode.) Consider the 5 inch line as a wall of invisible water extending into the sky from the ground up, if ANY portion of the ball gets wet that ball is in play Under FIFA LOTG the throw in would not be considered as taken.
HOWEVER ,
if the throw in was taken incorrectly, wrong spot, both hands not used, lifted the feet off the ground then the results of a ball going wherever are not a factor as the ball WILL be turned over to the opposition.

I can tell you it is nearly impossible to retake the throw in for SEVERAL reasons (1) The ball is supposed to be re-entering a yard or two from where it exited, there is little space for this to occur unless the thrower directly parallels the touch lines. (2) The throwers' arms often extend into the FOP before the ball is released most definitely putting the ball into play. Often a strong sideways wind affects the trajectory causing the ball to wind up touching down outside but had gained enough of the touchline or even fully crossed it to be in play. If this occurs the AR looking along the touchline should simply raise the flag and indicate throw in to the opposing team. The USA high school NHFS simply awards the throw in to the other team so the fact the ball drifted in or out is not in dispute. If we can not tell it is in or out I lean to in as the thrower should have made better use of their effort and time! Reward attacking play do not reward foolish play!
Cheers