Question Number: 34241

Law 15 - The Throw In 6/11/2021

RE: rec Under 14

ella of Chicago, IL USA asks...

If you referee a 1st and 2nd grade girls game, do you call illegal throw ins? Or do you just leave it and let it play through?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Ella,
a throw-in is supposed to be a simple way to get the match restarted after the ball is put out into touch.

It has a couple of basic premises the ball is to throw in from where or close to where it exited and delivered by the player, while facing the field of play, with two hands, from behind and over the head, with feet on the ground, standing on or behind the touchline.

At the youth level, we would hope the league had the coaches & referees on the same page when it came to educating parents and players. . You can (a) REMIND them and actually say, "Feet on the ground hands over your head!" Even add praise, "Well done!" this is not compromising your neutrality, it is called encouragement and for our kids, no coach should be all in a dither thinking his 8-year-olds are better than the other teams 8-year-olds.

Yet competitive juices will flow with frantic attempts to restart quickly resulting in some odd-looking attempts. The frustration for youth is often their athletic strength to toss it far is not exactly at peak so the jumping actions are their best gut effort to really toss it a far distance. They also tend to spike on occasion in as much as they lift their feet.

Keep this in mind
(a) It is OK to not toss it far!
(b) The feet CAN be ON the touchline & partly into the FOP, it is NOT a foul throw.
In truth, there is no such thing as a foul throw, it is either performed correctly or the opposing team gets to redo it!
(c) The excuse, "The ball was never in!" when a ball is thrown down the line REMEMBER this, think of the touchline as a 5-inch wall of water extending straight up, the ball only has to get a little bit wet to be BACK into play. While it is true a ball that bounces before it enters the FOP is not in play, most of the ball can stay in touch and yet be legally in play.
(d) It ok to lift your feet once the ball is released and a toe drag is fine.
(e) spin on the ball is fine

This is my opinion only, unless the throw-in is a one-handed overhanded grenade lob in full ballerina mode I'd let it slide as ugly unless it is so outlandish it calls for a redo. The idea of each team lining up to rethrow a throw in multiple times as each kid is prone to their mistake seems redundant, best offer a calm voice and perhaps a retry again on occasion rather than a loss of possession, if agreeable to the coaches, should be league policy. When the ladies get older and are playing 11 aside a more harsh approach is called for but let them play and have fun is best for the wee ones. That said it does not hurt to try and instill good habits at a young age. Perfect practice makes perfect but on occasion, there will be one-handed people playing soccer where allowances are made!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ella
My advice is to only call the ilegal throw in that is so obvious it cannot be ignored. Minor technical infractions can be ignored. At young age groups the game is all about fun. In fact many associations have decided that TIs should be replaced with a kick in as it is just too onerous on very young players to take proper TIs. In my association throw ins only commence at above age 10 which are 5th graders.

My approach on TI infractions, the really obvious ones at lower age groups, has been to ask for a retake by the same thrower with some instructions such as *Feet on the ground* *Ball behind the head* etc. That gives a message to the teams that I am not ignoring it and at the same time using it as a learning opportunity. I would not do turnovers on 1st and 2nd graders and the game should not be competitive at young age groups that require turnovers. Coaches should not expect that and it should be all about fun with some learning thrown in.

Now as games get more competitive then the illegal throws get called and turned over as per the law. I am of the opinion that u13 upwards that players should be able to a proper throw in and concessions are not needed with incorrectly throw ins getting turned over. Until then I’m very relaxed about it.