Question Number: 34233

5/24/2021

RE: Rec Under 11

Joe Schmitt of LOUISVILLE, KY United States asks...

Starting this year (although I never heard anything "official" and I also ref on occasions), referees started calling every foot foul back and letting the team throwing in have multiple opportunities to perform a proper throw-in (although in some cases they just let the second one fly regardless of proper or not). I have questioned this numerous times and have never been given a good explanation other than that is the way we do things. I even had one ref tell me "you're winning so what does it matter". My argument is where is the learning if there is an incorrect action without consequences? Given, the players are only 8-10 but teaching proper technique at this age is of utmost importance. Curious of the staff's opinions.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Joe
This I suspect has to do with the competition organisers who probably agreed with assignors that at very young age groups that incorrectly throw in should be a retake rather than a turnover.
My experience is that I ask for a redo by the same thrower and many times while the action was not quite as poor as the first nonetheless could still be incorrect. It was not policy just my way of dealing with it. Sometimes coaches did not like it yet I saw the learning side of it rather than looking for a cheap turnover.

Generally it was for foot faults with the player jumping trying to get distance. Sometimes rather than have another redo I would let it slide as it could take multiple attempts to get the game restarted. Teams would "offer" another thrower yet I saw no learning in that for the thrower.
As players got older the bar gets raised in terms of technical faults on the throw ins with turnovers as required.
So for what its worth I would be in the camp that allows a great deal of latitude with 8-10 year old and the game is about fun not sticking rigidly to technical throw in rules. Some players get it easily while others struggle on some actions. I do not like games where one or two players take all the free kick, all the throw ins as their team mates are not as proficient in kicking or throwing. That is more about winning than player development.

At older ages they will learn much quicker when a few throws gets turned over so until then I would just go with the flow.
By the way in this part of the world games up to Under 11 do not have league tables and while the games are competitive they do not count towards a competition. Very young age groups do not have throw ins just kick ins with TIs commencing at U11 and there are other adjustments as well such as no offside, no back-pass rule etc for the U10s and below.

Keep up the good work of coaching Underage and providing opportunities for very young players to play the game. Focus on the fun and enjoyment. These players will soon enough begin to experience the challenges of competition and all that entails.

Here are three rights for underage players espoused by Horst Wein the famous soccer coach who passed away in 2016

The right to enjoyment both in practice and in competition, with a wide variety of activities that promote fun and easy learning.

The right to play as a child and not be treated like an adult, either on or off the playing field.

The right to participate in competitions with simplified rules, adapted to their level of ability and capacity in each stage of their evolution.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Joe,
the throw-in was designed to get the ball back into play swiftly with a minimum of fuss. It has a simple premise the referee indicates the spot from where the throw-in must occur, usually with a yard or so if where it exited the FOP although even that can be overlooked if a nonfactor to the impact on the match. The ball must be tossed with 2 hands starting from behind the head and come up over the head as the player faces the FOP with his feet on the ground on or behind the touchline.

For what it is worth, the MOST confusing part of the throw-in is the foot faults created by the #1 myth of what "ON!" the touchline, means!
The LOTG unfortunately does not clearly state that part of the foot can be INSIDE the FOP actually OVER the touchline as long as SOME part of that foot is still in contact "ON" the 5-inch touchline. This is because the LOTG states, on or behind, yet to be "on" the touchline itself is ACTUALLY on the FOP!

Let us dispel another few myths if we can

#2 aside from foot position on the touchlines, the back foot can be dragged along the ground and thus the toe of the foot is "on" the ground

#3 the ball can spin in the air as much as it does, the LOTG does not say the equal force must be used only that 2 hands do the toss, not a one-arm catapult-like the keeper might do.

#4 Consider the touchline as a 5-inch wall of water extending straight up onto the sky.
The ball is in play if ANY portion of the ball were to get wet on the release. So much as the outer skin of the curve if the ball gets wet, it's in play! If the ball overhangs any portion of that 5-inch white line while in the air the ball IS in play! If that ball should exit the FOP after it did come back into play, if but for a second, that is a loss of possession & the other teams thrown in from where it exited the FOP after it was in play. It is not a do-over, as if the ball was never in play. Keep in mind if a player is up close & tight to the touchline chances are they are deliberately handling the ball during the release, which is overlooked given the ball is being handled to get back into play, just that ball is in back in play as it has crossed the threshold into the FOP.

#5 Upon the release of the ball by the hands over the head of the thrower, the foot/feet CAN indeed be allowed to come up off the ground This is DIFFERENT than say the player jumping trying to get distance where the feet are coming up & off BEFORE the release.

#6 the ball is not required to travel far it can be allowed to tossed gently in front of the thrower as long as the ball is delivered from behind and over the head with the two hands.

#7 The flip throw generally not something to see at the youth level more teen or adult but as long as the feet are legally on the ground at the release point it's a correctly taken throw-in.

Still, we have fussy people whose perception of a fun game hinges on absolutes. Sigh. I can agree to good mechanics & technical skills are reinforced by good habits. Yes, life lessons where we give a well done or offer support for participation may lack the pain or embarrassment of a firm beating, necessary for some understanding that life is not always fair. There is something to be gained being handed your butt in a good loss or lesson that hard work and talent account for something. There are hardliners who say if we are 11 aside all LOTG must apply. Yet an 11 aside 12-year-old opposite to an 11 aside adult at the highest levels is not a comparison that makes any real sense! Pride is a funny thing you do or say things well-meant yet for some, they offend their personal sense of integrity or the way in which they believe a life lesson COULD versus SHOULD be taught.

I subscribe to a version of my colleague's camp that allows a form of education & teaching with youth. I often say, "Keep your feet on the ground, and throw the ball from behind and over your head", as I point to the spot for the wee ones to take it. My actions incensed a coach who felt I was taking sides, as HIS team was simply better prepared and felt that they should benefit because they wanted the throw-ins if the other team messed up.

It is a bit of a balancing act as to what is politically correct to do or say in today's world. You irritate some, encourage others. I will reiterate this, a throw-in is a simple method to restart play TRY not to get in the kids' way of having fun just because you or someone else wants to have their way!
Cheers