Question Number: 32837

Law 15 - The Throw In 10/25/2018

Petr of Prague, Czech Republic Czech Republic asks...

Hello,
player throws the ball in and the ball slips out of his hands. What is the restart? Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Petr
it could depend a bit on the circumstances assuming it was done correctly it could be play on especially if a nearby legal opponent was onto it . We generally do not reward mistakes but if it is painfully obvious where a player slips & falls or a ball leaks out of the hands we are not seeking a harsh outcome a retake fits the bill. If it goes kablooey before the release portion into the FOP when it is being bobbled referee might say pick it up, dry it off, get on with it. Same again at youth a wet ball just clearly slips a referee is liable to say go ahead rethrow. This is where a bit of common sense is required!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Petr,
As ref Dawson says, it all depends. Mostly on at which point during the process the ball slips out of the hands and where the ball lands. If the ball never comes into play, the throw is retaken by the same team. If everything else about the throw is fine according to the law, play can just be allowed to continue. If the ball slips in such a way that it means some aspect of the procedure was not complied with and there is no doubt that this was a genuine accident a referee might choose to allow a 'do over.' Or (and so long as the ball comes into play) the referee might choose to award the throw to the opponents. There's no specific correct answer to this conundrum.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Petr
Each situation will be different so the answer is different.
I have gone with everything from a retake, to a turnover of the throw to a free kick for a double touch.
Sometimes the ball just drops and it is unclear that the ball has entered the field of play so it is a retake. Other times the TI action contributed to the ball falling which is a turnover and finally where I have decided that the ball was in play with it being played by an opponent so play goes on. On a double touch / handling I have gone with a free kick.
My preference is to go with a retake yet one size does not fit all

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 32846