Soccer Referee Resources
Home
Ask a Question
Articles
Recent Questions
Search

You-Call-It
Previous You-Call-It's

VAR (Video Assistant Referee)

Q&A Quick Search
The Field of Play
The Ball
The Players
The Players Equipment
The Referee
The Other Match Officials
The Duration of the Match
The Start and Restart of Play
The Ball In and Out of Play
Determining the Outcome of a Match
Offside
Fouls and Misconduct
Free Kicks
Penalty kick
Throw In
Goal Kick
Corner Kick


Common Sense
Kicks - Penalty Mark
The Technical Area
The Fourth Official
Pre-Game
Fitness
Mechanics
Attitude and Control
League Specific
High School


Common Acronyms
Meet The Ref
Advertise
Contact AskTheRef
Help Wanted
About AskTheRef


Soccer Rules Changes 1580-2000


Panel Login

Question Number: 30408

Law 15 - Throw In 5/12/2016

RE: Rec Under 9

Jolene Peters of North Augusta, SC USA asks...

Is it legal for a player to make a throw in so that is bounces on the ground? The player has followed all the mechanics for feet, hands, taking the ball completely over the head, etc. The throw is not lofted, but directed toward the ground so as a teammate can control it off a short bounce. Is this legal?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jolene
It is not an easy question. What you described could refer to a *spike* which many referees deem to be illegal or it could just be a regular throw that bounces. In the spike instance the ball is thrown sharply down towards the ground close to the thrower. To do that the ball will have to delivered from in front of the players head.
Law 15 states that the thrower "delivers the ball from behind and over his head." The regular natural throwing movement starting from behind and over the head will usually result in the ball leaving the hands when they are close to the vertical plane of the body.
Now there is nothing wrong with throwing the ball towards the feet of a team mate provided as you say the proper mechanics are followed. When a team mate comes in very close proximity to the thrower the only way to get the ball to his feet is by either dropping it or by delivering it from in front of the head. I have long contended that the throw mechanics is to prevent that crowding around the thrower. Another example is clearing the penalty area at a goal kick or free kick. Have a look at this video. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SGkpkMnNOQg
That was an illegal throw in. Note no appeal by Blue and the referee allowed it. Could you imagine the ball getting to feet of Red 11 had the correct TI mechanics been followed?
Now as we have said many times the throw in is a simple way of restarting the game. If one reads Law 15 it is a simple enough mechanic yet the game expect it to be executed in line with the accepted norm. When a thrower deviates from that it may attracts howls of an illegal throw certainly at the lower levels of the game. Some times it will be illegal such as a foot over the line, a raised foot , the ball is dropped etc. Other times it will just looks different, divergent yet not illegal. It may be to use a term trifling or doubtful with no benefit to the team. On the throw that goes sharply down the referee could opine that the ball was released in front of the head which then makes it an incorrectly taken TI. He might not if he believes it was delivered correctly from behind the head. He will though be asked to decide in his own mind or by opponents and therein is the challenge of opinion and consistency.
As a coach I would ensure that players do not ask the question of the referee of illegal mechanics at a throw in and I would also coach the receiving player to make a timed run to a location where the ball is thrown to the feet without the need for the throw in to be sharply downwards or dropped. The question then does not arise.



Read other questions answered by Referee Joe McHugh

View Referee Joe McHugh profile

Ask a Follow Up Question to Q# 30408
Read other Q & A regarding Law 15 - Throw In

Soccer Referee Extras

Did you Ask the Ref? Find your answer here.


Enter Question Number

If you received a response regarding a submitted question enter your question number above to find the answer




Offside Question?

Offside Explained by Chuck Fleischer & Richard Dawson, Former & Current Editor of AskTheRef

<>
This web site and the answers to these questions are not sanctioned by or affiliated with any governing body of soccer. The free opinions expressed on this site should not be considered official interpretations of the Laws of the Game and are merely opinions of AskTheRef and our panel members. If you need an official ruling you should contact your state or local representative through your club or league. On AskTheRef your questions are answered by a panel of licensed referees. See Meet The Ref for details about our panel members. While there is no charge for asking the questions, donation to maintain the site are welcomed! <>