Question Number: 16157

Law 15 - Throw In 7/29/2007

RE: comp High School

Glenn of perth , wa Australia asks...

A coach complained about one of my players throwing 'downwards' during a throw in insisting he was a qualified ref.
My player was throwing to feet 3M away so of course he threw downwards. The guy reckons it has to leave the head either level or in upward flight. Having been involved in football for 40+yrs, I've never heard of this rule. Am I simply out of touch?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

He may have read this, from America's Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game:

A throw-in directed straight downward (often referred to as a "spike") has traditionally been regarded as not correctly performed; if, in the opinion of the referee such a throw-in was incorrectly performed, the restart should be awarded to the opposing team.

In my humble opinion a throw-in thrown a distance of a meter or so away is fine. Just because it doesn't go very far doesn't make it improperly thrown.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

There are many Myths of the game regarding throw-ins and you just encountered one of them. Throwing the ball downward is not a problem as long as the force with which it is thrown isn't meant to cut a defender into pieces - the so called spiking of the ball. Neither is a very soft throw, perhaps to a teammate only a few meters away or even off of another player's back. The USSF Referee training department put out a great little video several years ago called The Myths of the Game. There is a whole section on throw-ins and it talks about the "spike" along with the flip-throw, etc. As long as a throw meets the criteria under the Law - both hands on the ball, from behind and over the head, facing the field, both feet on the ground, on or outside of the touchline and from the point (within a meter) of where it left the field there shouldn't be any issues about whether it was a proper throw. Where the ball leaves the player's hands is not an issue - some referees feel, incorrectly, that the ball must leave the hands over the player's head. Bunk! There is no prohibition against putting spin on the ball either. As long as a player is making a sincere effort to get the ball back into play and is conforming with the above critieria, most referees little fault will find and correctly so. Methinks the other coach was frustrated and grasping at straws.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

I agree with Mr. Fleischer. It is a throw in and the purpose is to get the game restarted. Players like to complain and it was this players way of trying to get at the referee.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

AS a coach, I train my players to break at the wrist just above the head to do soft throws or allow the ball to fall just inside the field. This prevents the arm carry of the ball past the head to waist height and then releaseing the ball which looks funny and will have some referees/coaches see it as incorrect or as a spike.

While I agree the myth part has to do with being too strict on the throw portion of the act as opposed to a drop and style points teach your kids not to do it in that fashion for two reasons aside from whether it is or is not considered legal by an over zealous referee.

(1) The further a ball is carried over the head the greater the likely hood of the back foot coming off the ground before the ball is released.
(2) Just like a kick which puts the ball in motion it is a defined movement some referee accept a nudge and others will not. A throw in is a throw, albeit not far or long! Howeve, a carry in then a drop could be percieved as two seperate actions and myth or not whether a ball must be released while over the head as opposed to passing that point traditionalists are likely not going to let it pass at the higher levels of play.
Cheers

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

See Question: 16209