Question Number: 16740

Law 15 - Throw In 9/17/2007

RE: Select Under 19

William Koss of Sterling, VA USA asks...

I have two questions;

1. Whenever there is a trip, even that might be unintended, could you consider the trip to be careless and therefore a foul?

2. The LOTG state that from a throw in the thrower delivers the ball from behind and over his head. Does the thrower have to hold the ball behind his head prior to throwing or if a player holds the ball above but not behind his head prior to the throw, is it a legal throw?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Yes accidental could still be a careless foul, while we are told not to punish the doubtful or trivial and deal with the deliberate at times the actions of the players are ill-conceived and place the opponent at risk albeit unintentionally. Generally yes the ball is to go behind the head but not always in a dramatic way as in touching the back of the neck!
Throw ins are a simple method to restart play. Procedurally the ball is to go behind the head then over the head as it is released. As to finding this particular action worthy of a loss of possession consider the age skill and need to find it wrong. Picky or attention to detail can they be the same or are we setting a sloppy standard? Even if considered doubtful or trivial a word to the thrower to follow the procedure a bit more rigorously could be added! Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

1 you can consider an accidental trip to be careless but you don't have to if that's what you are asking. 2. You accurately describe what the LOTG require for a legal throw. I'm not certain what the rest of your question means.