Throw In Law 15 Answer 27

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Question 27:
A throw-in is taken by an attacking player at the correct position (A).
The ball travels 50 feet outside of the field of play before it brushes the outside edge of the touchline at position (B).
The ball then continues to travel in the air along and touching the vertical plane (edge) of the touchline for another 20 feet to position (C).
There are several calls of "The ball's not in".
What action should the Assistant Referee take if before the ball eventually touches the ground, it is caught by a:
(a) Defending opponent
(b) Attacking colleague
(c) Defending team coach/manager
(d) Defending substitute
(e) Spectator

Diagram 1.

throwin1.gif (4736 bytes)

Answer 27: Answer: The easiest way to understand when the ball comes back into play from a throw-in is to firstly appreciate that the ball goes OUT of play when the whole of the ball crosses the touchline (Law 15 The Throw-In). Conversely, the ball shall be in play immediately it enters the field of play when any part of the ball touches and/or crosses the touchline (either in the air or on the ground) - so long as the throw-in is taken from the point on the touchline where the ball left the field of play - and the thrower does not infringe any of the Law 15 stipulations (e.g. faces the field of play, uses both hands etc.)

Law 15 clearly states that a throw-in is awarded from the point where it crossed the touchline. And as such, the ball must enter the field of play from roughly that exit point (and not some 50 feet down the touchline).

As far as the question is concerned, the throw-in was improperly taken because ball entered the field of play some 50 feet from where it originally went out.

To take matters to the extreme, it would be totally unjust for a throw-in taken at one end of the field of play (Position A), to enter at the far end (position B). (See Diagram 2).

If this was allowed, then the thrower might just as well stand at position (B) when taking the throw-in! In other words, stand just about anywhere along the touchline.

The Assistant Referee should therefore raise and wave his flag to indicate a foul throw. The restart would be for the Referee to award a throw-in the other way, to the opposing team at position (A).

Diagram 2

throwin2.gif (7411 bytes)

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The following...... answers the original question "What action should the Assistant Referee take if before the ball touches the ground, it is caught by?"

(a) Defending opponent: Award a throw-into the defending team.

(b) Attacking colleague: Award a throw-into the defending team.

(d) Defending substitute: Award a throw-into the defending team.

(e) Spectator: Award a throw-into the defending team.

As the throw-in was not taken properly, the ball is deemed not to have legally entered play, and as such the restart is always to award a throw-in to the opposing team.

The Referee can not award a free kick or a dropped ball, for such an infringement as this - occurring when a foul throw has been committed - the ball is therefore still out of play. The restart in such occasions is the natural restart (e.g. throw-in, goal kick, place kick etc..)

The Referee should also strongly consider having a quiet word particularly with any guilty Defending team coach/manager or defending substitute. Concerning the encroachment by the spectator - the Referee should wait for the spectator to leave the field of play, or arrange for a Home team official or security staff to deal with any problems.

The question becomes more interesting if following the throw-in, the ball brushes the touchline 3 feet from the thrower and continues its trajectory travelling the remaining 67 feet along the outside plane of the touchline to position (C, Diagram 1). The ball has thus entered the field of play correctly (the Referee/Assistant Referee are allowed to apply a small amount of leeway in judging the exact legal position where the ball must re- enter the field of play). In this case, the Assistant Referee does not indicate a foul throw - and the answers to the question concerning deliberate handling would then be as follows:

(a) Defending opponent: Award a direct free kick to the attacking team.

(b) Attacking colleague: Award a direct free kick to the defending team.

(d) Defending substitute: Dropped ball for outside interference. (Law 8)

(e) Spectator: Dropped ball for outside interference. (Law 8)

(Dropped ball to be taken at the place where the ball was located when play was stropped).

In each case, the Assistant Referee should raise and wave his flag to indicate that an offence has been committed following the legal taking of the throw-in.

Any people obscuring the touchline itself, should be moved away to allow the Assistant Referee a clear view. Communication between the Assistant Referee and the centre Referee will have been discusses during the pre-match briefing that the Referee gives to both his Assistant Referees. The Assistant Referee (subject to the decision of the Referee) is normally the judge when deciding if the ball has left the field of play or not (see Law 6 The Assistant Referee). The Assistant Referee should position himself goal-side of the player taking the throw-in. This way, both offsides and throw-ins can be monitored at the same time. The Assistant Referee would normally monitor any feet faults whilst the Referee watches for any faulty throwing motions - but these factors are dependent on the Referee's pre-match instruction to his Assistants. When indicating an offence, the Assistant Referee first notifies this to the Referee by raising and waving his flag. The direction of the offence can further be communicated by the Assistant Referee pointing his flag in the direction in which the restart should be awarded - thus indicating to the Referee which team was the guilty party! When the Referee is unsure why his Assistant Referee has given a decision, then the simple thing for him to do is to approach the Assistant Referee and discuss the reasons and the options.

The Assistant Referee should always aim to be in such a position alongside his touchline, as to allow him the best view of judging whether a ball delivered from a throw-in legally enters the field of play or not. If the ball does go into play, and the Assistant Referee anticipates any of the above incidents - he is not obliged by Law to warn-off any persons who are about to deliberately handle the ball.

Nevertheless, it could be argued that Law 18 Common sense dictates that there may be occasions when a quick "The ball is in play" shout from the Assistant Referee - along with a hand signal indicating 'Play-on’ may prevent any misunderstanding. I would not personally advise this course of action for two reasons.

(a) By NOT raising his flag, the Assistant Referee clearly shows to all, that the throw-in has been taken correctly; and

(b) The Assistant Referee should never indicate 'Play-on'. This shout is the centre Referee’s prerogative. It would be very embarrassing if the Assistant Referee indicates 'Play-on', and the Referee then stops play!

If the ball legally comes into play by touching the plane of the touchline, say from a throw- in taken by the attacking team - and a defending player purposefully shouts "Never in" or "The ball's not in" for example. This could be construed as a 'cheating' move by the defender to distract the attacking team. If the Referee thinks that the shout was done on purpose to prevent or delay an attacker from gaining fair possession of the ball which is in play, the Referee should award an indirect free kick to the attacking team at the place where the infringement occurred i.e. where the cheating shout emanated from - and caution the shouting defender for unsporting behaviour.

(See Law 12 Fouls and Misconduct " An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the Referee commits any other offence, not previously mentioned in Law 12, for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player. The indirect free kick is taken from where the offence - shouting - occurred.")

Note: To clarify the maximum distance that a thrower needs to be from the touchline itself......The UK Football Association basic syllabus with teaching notes booklet "Course of Training for Referees" clearly states in the candidates 'MUST KNOW' section covering Throw-ins...........

Quote: "from point where it crossed the touchline (allow up to 1 metre, including behind touchline." Unquote.

Many thanks to Richard of Edmonton Canada for his interesting question.

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