Question Number: 32508

Law 15 - The Throw In 6/13/2018

RE: 1 Other

Hassan Firaz of Male, Maldives asks...

How many seconds a player can take for throwing? Some players take several times. What can referee do if he feels that's too much time? thank u

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Hassan,
The throw in is a simple procedure to restart play, it takes only a few seconds once the ball is retrieve, if there is dawdling a word of warning to get things moving, if it is deliberately being used as an excuse to waste time then the referee can at their discretion, show the yellow card & caution a player for delaying the restart. In fact at one point there was a near mandatory caution if one player went to retrieve and began the throw in only to stop and then toss it to a 2nd team mate to actually take the throw in.

Generally a word of warning solves the situation but there are times when a caution for delaying the restart is warranted much the same as a goal keeper who dawdles on goal kicks.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Hassan
There is no defined set time for a throw in to be taken. It has to be taken without delay and it is up to the referee to decide what that means.
Generally it never causes a problem until a team in a leading position wants to start using up time by being slow and tardy at restarts usually near the end of a half or the game. It manifests itself by players walking slowly to retrieve the ball, maybe holding the ball longer in the throw position, backing off the throw a number of times or perhaps then tossing the ball to another team mate to take the throw.
The tools that the referee has to deal with it are
1. Strong words of encouragement to get on with play and telling players that the time will be added on.
2. The use of a caution for delaying the restart of play
3. Adding on the time lost in added time.
Generally players will react favourably to referees who are proactive on opponents delaying the restart. It is a matter of getting the message across that delay is being watched and managed. Once players start to pay no heed to the instructions it is time for cautions to be issued.