Throw-in

A player performing a throw-in during a game.

A throw-in is a method of restarting play in a game of association football when the ball has exited the side of the field of play.

Procedure

The throw-in is taken from the point where the ball crossed the touch-line. The throw-in is taken by the opponents of the player who last touched the ball when it crossed the touch-line, either on the ground or in the air.^[1] Opposing players may stand at any distance from the thrower but no closer than 2 m (2.2 yd), so long as they are still on the pitch. A player may take a throw in at a distance further back from the touch-line, and, typically, a referee will tolerate small discrepancies between the position where the ball crossed the touch-line and the position of the throw in.

At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower must face the field of play. He should have part of each foot either on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line,^[2] and use both hands to deliver the ball from behind and over their head from the point where the ball left the field of play.

The ball becomes in play as soon as it enters the field of play and leaves the hands of the thrower.

A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in – if a player throws the ball directly into their goal without any other player touching it, the result is a corner kick to the opposing side.^[3] Likewise an offensive goal cannot be scored directly from a throw in - the result is a goal kick to the opposition team.

A player may not be penalised for an offside offence when receiving the ball directly from a throw-in.^[4]

The optimal release angle for attaining maximum distance is about 30 degrees, according to researchers at Brunel University.^[5] The optimal angle would be 45 degrees if the release velocity did not depend on the angle of throw and if there was not air drag. However, according to the study, players are able to throw the ball with greater release velocity for lower angles. Also the optimal angle for fixed release velocity is lower than 45 degrees because of air drag.

Infringements

If an opposing player fails to respect the required distance (2m) before the ball is in play or otherwise unfairly distracts or impedes the thrower, he may receive a caution (yellow card) for unsporting behavior.

If the thrower fails to deliver the ball as per the required procedure, or delivers it from a point other than where the ball left the field of play, the throw-in is awarded to the opposing team. This is commonly known as a "foul throw",^[6] though such throws are not considered fouls.

It is an infringement for the thrower to touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player; this is punishable by an indirect free kick to the opposing team from where the offence occurred, unless the second touch was also a more serious handling offence, in which case it is punishable by a direct free kick or penalty kick.

A goal will not be scored directly from a throw in, nor can an own-goal. The restarts for each are a goal kick for the defending team, and a corner kick for the opposing team, respectively.

A goal keeper cannot handle a ball thrown directly to him by a teammate. This cannot be circumvented by the keeper using his feet first before handling the ball. If this infringement occurs within the goalkeeper's penalty area, an indirect free kick is awarded. If the infringement occurs outside the goalkeeper's penalty area, a direct free kick is awarded.

If, in the event that the goalkeeper takes the throw-in, the goalkeeper cannot touch the ball again until it has touched another player once it is in play. The proper restart for this infringement is an indirect free kick.

It is legal to throw the ball in the goal with no contact in a throw in.

Historical origins of the throw-in

The modern throw-in comes from the nineteenth century English public school football games. In these codes of football a variety of methods of returning the ball into play from touch were used. The modern throw-in draws upon various aspects of a number of early English school games. For example, returning the ball by throwing it out was part of the Rugby and Cheltenham football rules. Like the modern throw-in the direction was not specified. The Sheffield rules instigated the throw in of the ball at right angles by the opposite side to the one that played it into touch.^[7] The two handed throw in—called line-out—is part of rugby union football. That the first side reaching the ball must throw it out (at right angles, in this case) was part of the Football Association rules and the Rossall rules.

References

External links

• FIFA Laws of the Game – Law 15)
• Q&A on Throw Ins(from AskTheRef.com)