Question Number: 17344

Law 15 - Throw In 10/16/2007

RE: U16 Adult

Kirk of Santa Barbara, CA USA asks...

Assume that Player A is positioning himself to take a throw-in, with both feet completely outside the touchline. Without causing any material delay, his coach yells out to have his teammate, Player B, take the throw-in. Player B is on the field of play roughly 10 yards away from the throw-in spot. As Player B is running over to take the throw-in, Player A, still standing outside the field of play, flips the ball, underhanded with one hand, to Player B, who is still a couple of yards on the field of play. When Player B catches the ball in his hands, the ball has clearly crossed the touchline. Player B then properly postions himself to take the throw-in and he completes the throw properly. The opposing team's coach starts screaming that Player A had performed an illegal throw-in by not throwing the ball from behind and over his head, and he demanded that his team be awarded the throw-in. As CR, I ruled that the Player A had not attempted a throw-in and, therefore, no throw-in infringement had occurred. Do you agree or disagree?

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

I agree! This is a very common method of transfering the ball prior to a throw-in. In fact, it's a smart way to do it because it is clear to all that they are not attempting to restart the game.

This coach is really trying to stretch the laws of the game to suit himself. He is a bit of a jerk as well.

Once the coach demands anything of me, I will remind him that his is not a position where demands are effective. Then I will let him know that if he persists in issuing demands, then he will be asked to leave the field.

He might think better of making such silly remarks like these again.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Good decision. Now, what did all the opponents do? Did they attempt to play the ball thinking it was in play? If so you are going to have to get on your whistle to get things back under your thumb. With respect to the coach, get in his ear and deal with his behavior. If necessary allow him to go elsewhere and enjoy something else.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Kirk. No offense, but you really shouldn't even have to ask this. The coach was clueless and he probably hasn't even watched soccer on tv or he'd seen this happen many times. Obviously the player throwing the ball underhanded to his teammate is merely transferring the ball and NOT attempting a throw-in. If the coach objected to this I feel bad for what else you must have had to put up with. This really a U16 game? Amazing.