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Soccer Rules - Throw Ins

Youth Modifications:
Referees often will stop the match if a throw-in is done incorrectly.
However, many times at younger ages, the players are given an opportunity to try and do it the right way.

A throw-in is a method of restarting play.
A throw-in is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched
the ball when the whole of the ball crosses the touch line, either on
the ground or in the air.
A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.

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
• holds the ball with both hands
• delivers the ball from behind and over his head
• delivers the ball from the point where it left the field of play
All opponents must stand no less than 2 m (2 yds) from the point at
which the throw-in is taken.
The ball is in play when it enters the field of play.
After delivering the ball, the thrower must not touch the ball again
until it has touched another player.

The Referees are reminded that opponents may be no closer than 2 metres
from the point at which the throw-in is taken. Where necessary, the
referee must warn any player within this distance before the throw-in
is taken and caution the player if he subsequently fails to retreat to
the correct distance. Play is restarted with a throw-in.
If a player, while correctly taking a throw-in, intentionally throws the
ball at an opponent in order to play the ball again but neither in a
careless nor a reckless manner nor using excessive force, the referee
must allow play to continue.

If the ball enters the opponents’ goal directly from a throw-in, the
referee must award a goal kick. If the ball enters the thrower’s own
goal directly from a throw-in, the referee must award a corner kick.
If the ball touches the ground before entering the field of play, the
throw-in is retaken by the same team from the same position provided
that it was taken in line with the correct procedure. If the throw-in
is not taken in line with the correct procedure, it is retaken by the
opposing team.

Throw-in taken by a player other than the goalkeeper
If, after the ball is in play, the thrower touches the ball again (except
with his hands) before it has touched another player:
• an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to
be taken from the place where the infringement occurred (see Law
13 – Position of Free Kick)
If, after the ball is in play, the thrower deliberately handles the ball
before it has touched another player:
• a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to be
taken from the place where the infringement occurred (see Law
13 – Position of Free Kick)
• a penalty kick is awarded if the infringement occurred inside the
thrower’s penalty area
Throw-in taken by the goalkeeper
If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper touches the ball again (except
with his hands), before it has touched another player:
• an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kick to
be taken from the place where the infringement occurred (see Law
13 – Position of Free Kick)
If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper deliberately handles the ball
before it has touched another player:
• 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 (see Law 13 –
Position of Free Kick)
• 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 infringement occurred
(see Law 13 – Position of Free Kick)
If an opponent unfairly distracts or impedes the thrower:
• he is cautioned for unsporting behavior
For any other infringement of this Law:
• the throw-in is taken by a player of the opposing team