Question Number: 35787

High School 10/31/2024

RE: High School

DAVID LOVETT of Royal Palm Beach, FL United States asks...

I have a NFHS question. The throw in rules for high school say it has to be thrown in, in on continuous movement. So, I think this could be interpreted a couple of different ways. One is, what if the player starts the throw and decides his teammate is covered so he stops and turns in a different direction and makes the throw then? To me that would be illegal because the thrower stopped. But another interpretation could be that you can stop and change direction but the final delivered throw had to be one continuous motion. So at what point is the NFHS rules considering a "stop"? Is it actually during the delivery of the throw or from the moment you choose the direction you going. I hope this makes some kind of sense and thank you for your input.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi David .
the LOTG, be they FIFA or Highschool rules signify the throw in as a SIMPLE method to restart the game. Face the FOP, behind and over the head, feet on the ground (toe works) on or behind the touchline. Now there could be some indecision, pumping and waving type action before a full release. We tend to over complicate it, the body can turn at the waist so feet can be away from the direction but the arms coming up from in behind and over, can not be pumped held out in front, then returned back in behind, then turn into a different direction. Get it in play in a timely manner from the point on the touchline where it exited the FOP. Until the ball is actually released only then do you determine was in done correctly.

My opinion only, it is the creeping up along the touchlines that are the biggest no no of throw ins procedural violations as some are occurring yards away. Hugely important because defenders are told to be 2 meters away or face sanctions. I've seen the thrower move up 3 meters, 1 meter past where the defender was obligated under the LOTG to be! Often when they decide to dance about trying to get cute, just tell them quit farting around get it in play. A throw in does not have to perfect but it is not a time to stage trick plays .

Although here is one very legal and difficult to defend throw in, if the opposition chase about that might catch the odd team out. Defenders by the LOTG must be 2 meters at least away, run a player to them trying to get in behind and see if they follow. then a second player swoops in right along the touchline as your throw in is NOT required to travel a big distance it can be gently tossed at near your feet right along the touchline which he picks up and you move across to perhaps block any following defender be wary of a pick. Think antler horns for hand position at the release not a full carry arms extend then released as a release!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Hi David,

NFHS Rule 15-1- 2 of the 24-25 Soccer Rules Book states in part: The thrower shall use both hands (unless a physical impairment would limit the use to one hand) and shall deliver the ball from behind and over the head in one continuous motion.

The key to remember here is the ball must come from behind head in one continuous motion. The ball must be behind the head and come from behind the head in one continuous motion. Also the ball must come over the head and cannot be thrown from the side of the head.

In your statement, you indicate the thrower stopped. If the ball was still behind the head, the thrower could turn and then legally throw the ball in one continuous motion from behind the head.

However, if the thrower brought the ball from behind the head to the top of the head and then stopped, turned, and resumed the throw-in, this would be illegal and the opponents would be awarded a throw-in from the throw-in spot.

High school soccer is a winter sport in Florida and the season will be starting on Monday. I hope you have a successful high school season and get to work the Florida State High School Championships in February.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi David
In both NFHS and FIFA codes it is the same interpretation.

As the ball in your example is NOT thrown it is technically not a throw in so the throw in action is mute. Just because the thrower has decided not t9 throw, even going as far as to almost throw, does not make it an incorrectly taken throw in.

The thrower starts again and as long as that delivery meets the condition of a correctly taken throw in there is no infraction.
Some times one sees a player feint to take a throw in one direction and then changes direction entirely. As long as the throw action that delivers the ball into the field of play is correct there is no infraction and play continues.