Question Number: 17217

Law 15 - Throw In 10/9/2007

RE: Rec. and High School Under 18

Air of Sheridan, Arkansas USA asks...

do you have to hold the soccer ball the whole time (bounce off it) while doing a flip throw-in or can you put the ball down where your hands will hit and pick it up as you complete the throw?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Law 15 requires you to have both hands on the ball, have it come from behind and over your head, at the location where the ball left the field (within 3 ft), while having both feet on or behind the touchline - one assumes you have to face the field to throw the ball. If what you describe meets those requirements it is a legal throw-in. However, you may meet some resistance from referees who have forgotten to read their Law book recently, and don't remember the actual words but only what they "think" it says. Don't argue with them, but do report it to their assignor and hopefully that will take care of the issue.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

You might want to learn how the guys who can throw the ball 40-50 meters do it. That way you'll have no need to take the chance of having your acrobatic throw-in deemed incorrect. Just a thought.

Regards,