Question Number: 35914

Law 15 - The Throw In 2/23/2026

RE: Ameture Adult

Disa Pointon of Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom asks...

This question is a follow up to question 1878

How close to the touchline does the taker have to be when taking a throw in.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Disa
Thanks for the question
Law 15 tells us that a player *will throw the ball with both hands from behind and over the head from the point where it left the field of play*

It says nothing about distance from that location.

We know it is not possible to be exact about that location so the accepted practise is a couple yards in all directions.
Is that strictly enforced and the answer is plainly no as we see throws taken well away from the location.

Now on grounds where there is a barrier a throw in cannot be taken from behind that barrier.
In grounds that are wide open as a referee I would expect the thrower to be close to the touchline so that the throw in and it mechanics can be seen.
There is also the opponents expectation that the throw should be expected from the touchline rather than say a ball collected a distance away and the throw taken unexpectedly from a distance back from the touchline.

In my experience closeness to the touchline is rarely a problem yet rather stealing yards up the touchline is the greater problem.
I recall in a game a player went behind a fence to collect the ball and took the throw from behind the fence. I did not allow that to happen.

As a final point some referees may have pet aversions to unusual throw ins. I saw one recently online where a referee did not like throw ins that had spin on the ball and he called them all much to the annoyance of the thrower. Most referees would not agree with his calls yet on the day that is the decision.
I recall one referee who would not allow the slightest movement of a foot at the moment of throw and he called those all the time with any hint of foot movement. On the day Players adjusted to take account of his decisions.




Read other questions answered by Referee Joe McHugh

View Referee Joe McHugh profile