Question Number: 15798

Law 15 - Throw In 6/14/2007

RE: select Under 14

steve hall of Cape coral, Fl usa asks...

when a player takes a throw in from the wrong spot does the ref give it to the other team?

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

Law 15 is very specific. The ball must be thrown in from the spot where it left the field of play. Only in the USA, where somehow we seem to think we have to give excuses for sub-standard expectations, do we allow for leeway 1 to 2 yards from the spot that the ball left the field. If it is not thrown in from that spot, then Law 15 has been infringed upon and the penalty is that the throw goes to the other team. I'm willing to bet that if every referee began their match insisting the Law 15 be strictly adhered to, there would be no throw in problems during the remaining portion of their match. Ahhh, but that's much too high a standard for us Americans that seem to thrive on creating new laws because our old laws aren't being enforced.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Throw-ins are supposed to be taken from where the ball went out of bounds. Just like free kicks are supposed to be taken from where the offense occurred. We don't have to find the exact blade of grass, but we should be close. How close depends on the rest of the scenario that is going on at the time. Sometimes 10 yards is trifling, sometimes 2 yards makes a difference. It's all up to what the effect of the move would be. Also, when the ball crosses the touchline 25 feet up in the air, it can be difficult to pinpoint the correct location for the throw-in. If the thrower makes a good-faith effort of going to the correct spot, we should give her the benefit of the doubt.

If a free kick is taken from the wrong position, the ref can whistle it dead and have them redo it properly. Many times refs incorrectly apply that same remedy to a throw-in that is taken from the wrong position, when in reality the throw should be given to the opponents.

The way to avoid this is for the ref to proactively stop the throw from taking place in the wrong position. Point to the area where the throw should be taken, and give the whistle a few sharp tweets if the thrower is not paying attention. If you whistle before the throw is made, you have stopped the play (even if the player didn't stop) and you can correct the position for the throw.

In my opinion we should turn the throw-in over to the other team when the player seems to go to the correct position, but then makes a 5-10 yard run down the line before releasing the ball. Or when the thrower retrieves the ball well back from the touchline and then throws it in from there while no one is expecting it. Just like any other offense that we whistle on the field, this one should have some consequences to it before we blow up.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Again the referee must look to the level of his match to determine how things go. The Law states where it left the field.

A referee who tells the players on the first three throw-ins to throw where it went out is well served by this when the fourth throw-in is well away from the point. Over to the other side, a slight smile and an I told you three times, didn't I?

At the highest levels, 70,000 screaming fans will have issues with teaching players the Law. They came to watch the players run around and kick the ball, not swap throw-ins. The thinking at that level is did we take unfair advantage or did we return the ball to play.

To determine if this is how you should referee, look to your match fee. Less than three digits -- where it went out. More than three digits and an assessor or match inspector present get it into play...

Regards,