At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower:

• faces the field of play
• has part of each foot either on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line 
• uses both hands
• delivers the ball from behind and over his head

The thrower must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.

All opponents must stand no less than 2 meters from the point at which the throw-in is taken.

The ball is in play immediately it enters the field of play.

The thrower must use two hands in a continuous motion. Beware the thrower using the strength of one arm/hand to propel the ball, this is illegal. The ball must not be dropped from above the head.

3. Action required by Referee/ Assistant Referee:       Go to top of this page

THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST BIT OF ADVICE YOU WILL GET ON THROW-INS.

PLAYERS CAN GET VERY IRATE AT WEAK REFEREE THROW-IN DECISIONS

Whistling for throw-ins: There is no need to always blow your whistle to award/indicate a throw-in, but you will need to do so on some occasions. Especially when some players do not realise (or believe) that the ball has gone out of play over the touchline.

4. Infringements and Sanctions:                                Go to top of this page

Throw-in taken by a player other than the Goalkeeper:     

• an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred

• a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred
• a penalty kick is awarded if the infringement occurred inside the thrower's penalty area

Throw-in taken by the Goalkeeper:          

• an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred

• a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the infringement occurred outside the goalkeeper's penalty area, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred
• an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the infringement occurred inside the goalkeeper's penalty area, the kick to be taken from the place where the incident occurred

If an opponent unfairly distracts or impedes the thrower: 
(For example, by jumping up and down and waving his arms  around, in front of the thrower.)

• he is cautioned for unsporting behaviour and shown the yellow card.

For any other infringement of this Law:
(Examples: taking the throw-in from the wrong place or lifting one leg off the ground.)

• the throw-in is taken by a player of the opposing team.

5. General data:                Go to top of this page

A ball can be thrown to a player in an off-side position. That player is then not deemed to be off-side once he receives the ball.

6. Referee's Position During Throw-ins:          Go to top of this page

See my Positioning Page for details of all Referee positions on the Field of Play

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7. Questions and Answers:                     Go to top of this page

Additional Questions and Answers provided by FIFA covering all of the Laws of the game, can be found on this web site here. The original FIFA Questions and Answers pdf file can be downloaded from the FIFA web site here.

Question 1: Following a challenge for the ball between an attacker and a defender near the touchline, the ball was seen to squirm off the players and deflects over the touchline and out of play. It looked as though both of the players were taking a kick at the ball at the same time whilst making the challenge, and at first, it appears as though the defender may have made the last contact with the ball a fraction of a second after the attacker, but from a distance it looked as though they both made contact with the ball at the same time, causing it to deflect over the touchline. It can sometimes be impossible to decide which way to award a throw-in - especially when there are a number of players around the ball, and it is touched quickly in succession by a number of players before crossing the touchline. Is there any advice you can give in such situations? .

Answer 1: It all depends on the Referees perception, and (for want of a better term) his Default Automatic Method Navigator (D.A.M.N.) because you're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't!). The same applies to free kicks and corner/goal kicks. These unclear types of decisions are probably the easiest to make, even though they are the most difficult to make. This may seem like a contradiction - but let me explain. Firstly, the Referee must recognise that there will be many times during each match, when it is impossible to make the correct decision. This is due to a number of factors. The speed of play, the distance between the incident and the Referee, the fitness of the Referee, whether there are players in the Referee's line of sight, the shielding of the ball by the players' - and dare I say it "the Referee's eyesight"!

In unclear decision situations of this type, the Referee can give the decision to the attacking team or he can give it to the defending team. Some Referees automatically give 'unsure' decisions to the defending team - this is how it has been done historically in the past. Some modern Referees give 'unsure' decisions to the attacking team, thus embodying a modern movement to give the attacking team the advantage, therefore increasing the chances of a goal being scored - which in turn will increase the enjoyment of the spectators.

Example (a), during an offside situation, if a Referee or an Assistant Referee is unsure whether an attacker is level or not with the second last defender, then the benefit of the doubt normally goes to the attacker - and play is allowed to continue.

Example (b), when a ball is deflected over the touchline and the Referee does not know which side to award the throw-in to, it is normally given to the defending team.)

New Referees are advised to chose one of the two D.A.M.N. methods to use when being unsure of which way to give a decision (give it to the defending team? or give it to the attacking team? - but be consistent). Of course, the above advice also applies (more so) to the Assistant Referee.

So the answer to the question above is?..... there is no answer, it's up to you the Referee!

The Referee should not 'lose any sleep' worrying about whether he has made the correct decision or not during a game. Even if the Referee (or Assistant Referee) makes the wrong decision - it is the right decision as far as the match is concerned, because he is the only one responsible (some decisions you win and some you lose). Match incidents happen in split seconds, and Referees' have to make instant decisions and continue onwards with the game. If a Referee shows any weakness or uncertainty when making delayed or unsure decisions, the players, the crowd and the team officials will certainly make the most of it! Be firm and positive and accept that you will make genuine honest mistakes - but accept that they are not made by you (the Referee) on purpose.

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Question No. 2: When an opponent stands nearer then 2 metres from the point at which a throw-in is taken, if the throw-in has not been taken, then clearly you re-start with the throw-in, but if the throw-in was taken, do we re-start with an indirect free kick?


Answer No. 2: If at the exact moment when the throw-in is taken, an opponent is nearer than 2 metres from the point at which the throw-in is taken, and the Referee decides to caution the perpetrator, then the restart must always be a retake of the throw-in. 

Why?

Because the 2-metre infringement can only ever occur before the ball is in play (hence an indirect free kick is never an option).

Note: It is not necessary to stop play if an encroachment action has no effect on the game at all. If there is no effect on the game, play should be allowed to continue. The Referee can deal with the perpetrator later if required.

If the opponent is more than 2 metres away from the point at which the throw-in is taken, but then comes closer after the ball comes into play, no infringement has occurred, and play should be allowed to continue.

It is either an infringement of the 2-metre rule or not.
It is either a retake of the throw-in or not.

Notes: If an opponent does not comply with the 2 metre distance ruling, it is not obligatory to caution them. Referees would be expected to manage the situation; the same as they do with a free kick. It is not necessary to stop play if the action has no effect on the game at all. If there is no effect on the game, play should be allowed to continue; after all, that is surely what the players would want. A Referee can deal with the perpetrator later if they really want to.
If the ball has been thrown, and the Referee has not been astute enough to prevent encroachment; then once again, there is no need to stop play if the action has no effect on the game.
If the encroachment is detrimental to the thrower's team, then a caution could be considered. Because the encroachment can only ever occur before the throw takes place, if the Referee decides to immediately issue a caution, then a retake by the same team is the correct restart.

Question 3: What is the correct procedure for taking a throw-in?

Answer 3: When the ball is delivered (released) by the thrower, he should be facing the field of play - this normally means that he also faces the direction in which he is going to throw the ball. He must have part of each foot either on the touchline, or on the ground outside of the touchline. The thrower is allowed to have a part of his feet inside the field of play, so long as part of both feet are either touching the touchline or outside of it. For example: if a thrower has both heels on the touchline, and his toes extend into the field of play, then this is OK, and the throw-in should be allowed to take place. Both feet must be on the ground as the thrower delivers the ball from his hands. He must use both hands with "equal force". The thrower must deliver the ball from behind and over their head in a continuous motion. This does not mean that the ball must leave the hands from an overhead position. A natural throwing movement starting from behind and over the head will usually result in the ball leaving the hands when they are in front of the vertical plane of the body. The throwing movement must be continued to the point of release.
Referees very often penalise a thrower, if the ball is released in front of the vertical plane of the thrower's body, but this is still a legal throw - so long as the arm movement is continuous before the ball is released. And the ball was delivered from behind and over the thrower's head. An opponent must also be more than 2 metres away.
The sketch below has been used to depict a correct throw-in FA Booklets for the last 25 years.

If the ball is 'dropped' without the hands first having passed over the top of the thrower's head, then this is a foul throw. If this happens, play should be stopped and the throw awarded to the opposing team. Law 15 states that the ball must be released from behind and over the thrower's head. A natural throwing movement starting from behind and over the head will usually result in the ball being released when the hands are in front of the vertical plane of the body - just in front of the  forehead - this is OK

Referees are advised not to be too 'fussy' about whether throw-ins have been taken 100% correctly. By all means, penalise any obvious infringements - but constantly blowing for foul throws is one of the quickest ways to spoil a game and to get the players 'on your back'.

During competitive matches, (or during games where very young children are involved) trifling or doubtful technical infringements of Law 15 are often ignored, so long as no advantage is obtained by the team taking the throw-in and the throw-in occurs with little or no delay.

Question 4: Just how close to the spot where the ball actually crossed the touch line does the thrower have to be before he is allowed to take a throw-in?

Answer 4: Referees generally allow some leeway in relation to where the ball actually crossed the touchline. Law 15 states that the throw-in should be taken from the point where the ball crossed over the touchline - but in reality, throw-ins are rarely taken from the correct spot. The Referee normally overlooks a margin of a few metres (yards) or so either way. Do not allow players to abuse this allowance. The best way to deal with players moving too far away from the correct position, is for the Referee to blow their whistle before the throw has taken place, and wave players back nearer to the correct position. Prevention is far better than cure - and this is just one instance where a good Referee can prevent infringements happening during a match. A little bit of foresight by the Referee can prevent untold problems arising. The Referee should always try to educate players where he can - this will prevent further problems arising in the game; and the players will learn how to take the throw correctly (they will also appreciate that you - the Referee - are also taking an interest in the game, and are not there just to hand out yellow and red cards!).

When the ball has been kicked high over the touchline, players and Referees generally operate on a "feel" for the correct place for a throw-in to be taken. It is impossible for a Referee to gauge the correct throw-in position when the ball is lofted some 30 metres high at and at an angle over the touchline, and the Referee is still in the centre circle. The Referee should make a 'best guess' for the correct position. Players will look towards the Referee to give them some indication of where the throw-in should be taken. In instances of this nature, the Referee should not wait for the players to ask him - the Referee should indicate where the throw-in should be taken. The Referee can do this by several methods. (a) By blowing his whistle, using short peeps and hand movements to entice players back into the correct position. (b) By speaking to players and telling them to move up or down accordingly. (c) By hand signals alone - the Referee can 'shoo' players up or down the touchline by waving his hands in the appropriate direction. Assistant Referees should also speak to players, and coax them to take the throw-in as near to the correct position as practical.

It is important for Referees to ensure that players taking throw-ins, do not gain an unfair advantage by advancing or retreating along the touchline.

Referees are also advised to penalise players who take throw-ins many metres back from the touchline. Players are very cunning - for example, when they retrieve the ball for a throw-in and are making their way back to the touchline, they very often throw the ball in at an angle, whilst they are 10 or more metres away from the touchline, the ball then enters the field of play some 20 yards from where it crossed out of play over the touchline. This is a foul throw and should not be allowed. The throw-in should be awarded to the opposing team. The ball must enter the field from the point where it crossed the touchline.

Question 5: During the taking of a throw-in, it was noticed that the Referee allowed the player take it about four yards from the spot where the ball went out over the touchline. Later on in the game, the Referee was seen to be very particular about players taking throw-ins from the exact place where the ball had left the field of play. Why are Referees so inconsistent?

Answer 5: Most Referees allow some latitude on the exact positioning of throw-ins. Especially if the location is away from the goals, and near the middle of the field. This allows the ball to be thrown back into play as quickly as possible. Players are usually receptive to this type of common sense, and are less interested in adhering strictly to the Law about exact positioning. Players do not often argue over such action, this demonstrates a good sportsmanship that will normally have little or no effect on the result of the match.

If the throw-in, is in such a position that could affect the outcome of a game (for instance, if a team has a good thrower, and the throw is towards the corner arc), the Referee should ensure that the thrower does not gain an advantage by moving too far along the touchline to be nearer to the goal. Some Referees are more particular about making players take the throw from the correct position every time - but in my experience, this (along with the finicky positioning of free kicks) is the easiest way for a Referee to frustrate players and spoil a match.

Question 6: What should the Referee look for when players are deciding amongst themselves who should take a throw-in?

Answer 6: There will be many occasions during a match when players pass the ball to each other, or wait for colleagues to catch up with play before a throw-in is taken. The Referee must decide whether players are taking such actions solely to waste time. Players purposefully wasting time should be cautioned and time added on at the end of the game to compensate for any lost time. For example, if the ball goes out of play for a throw-in and an attacking right wing player picks up the ball near the halfway flag to throw in and then he decides to wait for his left fullback to slowly make their way across the width of the field to take the throw-in - then this is obviously time-wasting - and a yellow card should be given. Players very often retrieve the ball and then pass it to a team-mate to make the throw-in instead. This is done for tactical reasons, or to allow a better thrower to project the ball further into play from the throw-in. The Referee should ensure that the player coming to take the throw-in, actually steps off of the field of play before he takes-over the throw-in. The Referee needs to differentiate between a player taking a throw-in, and a player simply tossing the ball to college for them to take the throw instead - it is usually obvious which is which.

Question 7: Is it legal for players to perform an acrobatic somersault as they run up towards the touchline, and then release the ball during a throw-in?

Answer 7: Yes, provided that the correct procedures have been followed. As long as the throw meets all the criteria in Law 15 (correct position, ball delivered from behind and over the head, with two hands while facing the field of play, feet in the right position and on the ground when the ball is released, etc.) then the throw is legal. In England during the 1980's, this type of throw was the vogue and was performed many times - but suddenly stopped for no reason at all? I suppose spectators got fed up and the novelty ran out!

This type of throw in follows all of the rules that the player must have both feet on the ground when he/she is releasing the ball, the ball is being thrown from behind the head, and the ball is being thrown with equal force by both hands. 

Note: FIFA Questions and Answers 2004 Law 14 (The Throw-In) Q9 stated: Is a player allowed to take a throw- in acrobatically, by rolling with the ball?
Yes, provided that the correct procedures in the Laws of the Game are followed.

Question 8: What is the correct restart when a player taking a throw-in, throws the ball directly into his own goal without any other player touching the ball on its route into goal?

Answer 8: A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in. The correct restart when a player throws the ball directly into his own goal -is a corner kick to the opposing team.

Question 9: What is the correct restart when a player taking a throw-in, throws the ball directly into his opponent's goal without any other player touching the ball on its route to goal?

Answer 9: A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in. The correct restart when a player throws the ball directly into his opponent's goal - is a goal kick to the opposing team.

Question 10: Are players who take throw-ins allowed to throw the ball onto the back of an unsuspecting colleague and then regain possession of the ball themselves? Law 15 states that the player taking a throw-in is not allowed to touch the ball again, until it has been touched by another player - and in this case the ball had touched another player.

Answer 10: This is certainly not the way that throw-ins are supposed to be taken in accordance with the 'Spirit of the Law'. If the Referee thinks that this is an 'unsporting behaviour' offence rather than an accident (and it more than likely is unsporting behaviour), then an indirect free kick should be awarded at the place where the offence occurred, (i.e. where the ball touched the back of the player after it had come into play from the throw-in. The Referee can also consider the issue of a caution; but a strong word with the perpetrator is the best way to deal with this in the first instance.

It would be nonsense to start allowing such trickery that circumvents the criteria laid down in the Laws to creep into the game; despite the hours of time people have spent trying to justify it as a legal act (when it plainly is not, or never has been part of the game).

Question 11: During a throw-in, the ball enters the field of play, travels down just inside the field of play alongside the touchline, and is subsequently blown (by the wind) back over touchline and out of play again before it has been touched by another player. What is the correct restart.

Answer 11: The Referee should award a throw-in to the other team, to be taken from where the ball last left the field of play when it was blown back out of play over the touchline

Question 12: During a throw-in, the ball travels along the touchline. What action should the Referee take?

Answer 12: None. The touchlines are part of the field of play, and the ball is deemed to be in play from a throw-in, the moment the ball touches or crosses the touchline. The whole of the ball does not have to be inside the field of play - so long as a part of the ball is over the touchline, it is deemed to be in play. A ball thrown along the touchline itself, is deemed to be back in play.

Question 13: What should the Referee do if a player taking a throw-in, purposefully throws it onto the back of a retreating player?

If a player, taking a throw-in, throws the ball at an opponent, the referee is presented with a gray area involving sound reading of the conditions of the game. This throw could be considered to be trifling, unsporting behaviour, or violent conduct, depending on the force used. If the throw-in was correctly taken and the referee considers that a foul has been committed, the restart would be a direct free kick from the point of contact. If the throw-in was not correctly taken and the referee considers that misconduct has been committed, the restart would be a retake of the throw-in, because the game was not restarted properly.
(Source - Clarification for the Laws of the Game from FIFA 11 March 2002)

Question 14: If a player taking a throw-in, throws the ball into the field of play, and then proceeds to kick the ball before it has been touched by another player - what action should the Referee take?

Answer 14: The thrower is not allowed to touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player. An indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team, to be taken from the place where the thrower touched the ball a second time following his throw-in.

Question 15: Is a goalkeeper allowed to take a throw-in?

Answer 15: Once a goalkeeper leaves his penalty area, he becomes another normal outfield player and is subject to the same rules and permissions as the other outfield players. There is therefore no reason why the goalkeeper cannot take a throw-in for his team

Question 16: Why is it that some Referees are particular about calling for foul throws when a player lifts his trailing foot off the ground, and other Referees never seem to bother about this infringement of Law 15?

Answer 16: It can be difficult to ascertain the exact moment when a player lifts his foot off the ground before releasing the ball. Some Referees allow a greater leeway in judging that the foot is raised AFTER the ball is been released. Over the years, throw-in infringements have become less. This is due both to better coaching, and a better understanding by Referees in deciding what minor infringements to ignore during a match.

Question 17: What action should a Referee take if a goalkeeper picks the ball up after it has been thrown directly to him by a colleague (without having been touched by another player).

Answer 17: An indirect free kick should be awarded to the other team if the goalkeeper touches or picks the ball up inside his own penalty area.

A direct free kick should be awarded to the other team, if the goalkeeper touches or picks the ball up outside of his own penalty area.

In both cases, the free kick should be taken from the spot where the goalkeeper touched or picked the ball up.

A goalkeeper is allowed to pick the ball up if it is thrown to him by an opponent.

Question 18: When a goalkeeper receiving the ball direct from a throw-in taken by a team-mate, has to dive and palm the ball away from entering the goal. - and thus prevents an oncoming nearby attacker from making contact with the ball and shooting towards goal. Should the Referee Send off the goalkeeper for denying a goal scoring opportunity and restart with an indirect free kick, or should the Referee just give the goalkeeper a caution and restart with an indirect free kick for touching the ball after it has been received directly from a throw-in taken by a team mate?

Answer 18: Indirect free kick, no caution, as the goalkeeper is permitted to handle the ball in his own area.

When a goalkeeper handles the ball whilst in his own penalty area, in violation of the laws, the punishment is an indirect free kick and not a penalty kick (for example, when he handles the ball after receiving it directly from a colleague taking a throw-in).

Because a goalkeeper is allowed to handle the ball in his own penalty area, he can not therefore be sent off for stopping an obvious goal scoring opportunity by illegal use of his hands in his own penalty area. (The goalkeeper can of course be sent off for stopping an obvious goal scoring opportunity by other fouls, or if he stops an obvious goal scoring opportunity by handling the ball outside of his penalty area).

Question 19: Before a throw-in has been taken, a colleague of the thrower deliberately kicks an opponent. What should the Referee do?

Answer 19: Send the offender off the field for violent conduct and restart play with the original throw-in.

Question 20: Law 15 states that the thrower must have a part of each foot either on the touch line or on the ground outside of the touch line. Does this mean that the thrower's feet can be on the field of play as long as his heels are still on the touch line?

Answer 20: Yes: A player taking a throw-in can have the majority of his feet on the field of play with just a part of his heels on the touch line. But if the thrower raises his heels so that one or both of them are no longer on the touchline at the moment of throwing the ball, then it is considered that contact with the touchline is lost - and the feet are no longer on the ground as Law 15 specifies. In this case, it is a 'foul-throw' - and play should be stopped and restarted with an award of a throw-into the opposing team.

Question 21: Can a goalkeeper pick the ball up when it is throw-in directly to him by an opponent? This sometimes happens following an injury, when the ball had been previously kicked out of play over the touchline by one of the goalkeeper's colleagues to allow an injured opponent to be treated.

Answer 21: Yes, the goalkeeper can touch or pick the ball up when it is thrown directly to him from an opponent taking a throw-in. It is only when the goalkeeper touches or picks the ball up after it has been thrown to him by a team-mate that an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposition. This was covered in a Law 12 change in the 1997/98 season

Question 22: If a Referee is the only match official present, and when a player throws the ball down along the touchline, how can the Referee decide whether the ball has actually entered the field of play or not?

Answer 22: The Referee should try and position himself to allow as reasonable view as possible of the area that the throw-in is being taken. It is not always possible for the Referee to be alongside the touchline when every throw-in is being taken. If there are no Club Linesmen or Assistant Referees to help him, then the Referee should make a 'best guess' on whether or not the ball has come into play or not from the throw-in. The Referee should not be influenced by shouts from players or spectators. In some ways, making decisions like this are actually easier for the Referee - so long as he is firm and positive when making his decision, and he has psyched himself up before the match - to not worry about making unclear honest decisions - the decision then becomes very easy to make. Referees who are strong with their decision making, soon impart to players that they will not tolerate too much nonsense and dissent - even when they make the wrong decisions (so long as they are honest mistakes).

Question No. 23: If I understand correctly that the whole width of the chalk line is indeed part of the field of play, why does it seem in Law 15 very confusing and ambiguous that a player would be allowed to have his feet come in contact with the line during a throw in?

Answer No. 23: You are correct - the whole width of the chalk line is indeed part of the field of play.

During throw-ins, the position of the ball and when does it come into play? are more important that the position of the feet. The positioning of the feet is somewhat contradictory, because the thrower is off the field of play, but when taking the throw-in he is allowed onto the field of play by partly standing on the touch-line. I guess that the idea is for the thrower not to ‘bodily’ come onto the field of play. In other words, he needs to be behind the touch-line or on it. Therefore, he can technically be on the field of play, or off the field of play when taking the throw. 

Question 24:  A player takes a throw-in whilst he is standing 1 metre (1 yard) back from the touchline. The throw-in is taken correctly, but the ball bounces outside of the field of play, before it crosses the touchline, and travels into the field of play. What should the Referee do?

Answer 24: During a throw-in, the ball comes into play immediately when it crosses the touchline. Although there is no specific stipulation written in the current Law 15 (The Throw-In) that states that the ball must enter the field of play before it touches the ground, the Laws of Associated Football (LOAF) 1990/1991 "below" offers a clue:

"When the whole of the ball passes over the touch-line, either on the ground or in the air, it shall be thrown in from the point where it crossed the line".

If during the taking of a throw-in, the ball bounces on the ground outside of the touchline, before it enters the field of play, it cannot be said to have travelled properly 'into play' - because it had not been "thrown-in from the point where it crossed the line".

This manoeuvre is more likely to be an accident, rather than instigated on purpose by the throwing player. This is no different to when a player taking a throw-in in wet conditions, accidentally drops the ball on the ground outside of the touchline, and it rolls into the field of play. Therefore, (in both cases), because the ball had not entered the field of play correctly (the ball has not come into play), the throw-in should be retaken by the same team.

The throw-in procedure has been known for many years. The situation described in this question, is a 'major' deviation from what is normally expected. And as such, I believe that most Referees would see this as an accident (occurring before the ball has entered the field) and ask the thrower to take the throw again. I certainly would!

It will not be long before a player taking a throw-in, rebounds the ball off from a tree trunk and thence into the field of play, or from a substitute standing outside of the touchline!. There is a danger here of broaching into Law 19 -The Law of Stupidity!

Thanks to Ivica for this interesting question. (WebMaster)

Thanks again to Ivica for this interesting question. (WebMaster)

Question 26: A player gets injured and receives treatment from the trainer. The injured player is asked to leave the field of play in accordance with the Laws. He can only re-enter with the Referee's permission. The ball goes out for a throw-in near to the injured player. He takes the throw-in and comes back onto the field of play. Is this allowed?


Answer 26: No. in this case it is not allowed. An injured player may only re-enter the field of play from the touchline when the ball is in play. 
When the ball is out of play, an injured player may enter from any boundary line (see Additional Instructions for Referees & Assistant Referees and Fourth Officials in the LOAF). 

Note: Assuming that play has already been restarted before the throw-in takes place. 

It is theoretically possible, during the stoppage in play that occurs whilst the throw-in is being considered, for the injured player to enter (with the Referee's permission), by stepping onto the field of play over the goal line, or the touchline (i.e. he has fulfilled all the Law requirements), and then stepping back outside the field of play over the touchline, pick up the ball, and throw-it in. 

Even if the thrower has his feet on the touchline, he can be said to have re-entered the field of play. It is only if his feet remain outside of the touchline, when he takes the throw, that he can he be said not to have re-entered. 

This is the end of this 'Throw-in' page

Please click here for the answer to Question No. 27

Question 34: Throw in awarded to team 'A'. Two players from team 'A' went to retrieve the ball. One of the players picked the ball up and ran back to the touchline to take a quick throw-in. He got upset when I told him to wait for his team-mate to come back on to the filed of play before taking the throw. Was I right? 

Answer 34: You did OK, and it's great to see you using common sense.
The game is for the enjoyment of the players. The game is not there for Referees to find ways of spoiling it. 
In the situation you described; if a Referee allowed play to continue whilst the team-mate of the thrower was some yards away from being able to enter the field of play, because of a misunderstanding whilst collecting the ball, then that Referee would need to have a serious rethink about what his responsibilities to the players are. 

Always go with your gut thinking (especially if you are a female!), because they are more than often correct.

Question 35: If during a match the ball goes out of play over the touchline in the air and is then blown back into the field of play before touching the ground is the ball still in play?

Answer 35: No. The touchline extends in an  upward plane into the air. If the whole ball crosses this upward plane it is out of play. If the ball is subsequently blown back, a throw in should be awarded against the team who last touched the ball. The throw-in should be taken on the touchline, from the point that the ball crossed the upward plane of the touchline. Referees should not be too particular about the throw-in being taken on the exact blade of grass where the ball went out of play - so long as an honest attempt at estimating the spot is made.

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