The Basics
When a soccer match is in play and a ball crosses the touchline (the side of the field), the game is stopped and the ball is returned to play via a throw-in. A throw-in is awarded to the team that did not touch the ball last when it crossed the line. The player performing the throw-in must take the ball from behind his or her head, with both hands on the ball, and deliver it at or above shoulder level. Regulation states that both feet must be behind the line, and not touching the ground until after the throw is performed. A legal throw-in is essentially similar to a dead ball kick, in terms of the body movement and positioning of the player delivering it from the actual sideline.
According to the Laws of the Game, Laws 15, Section 3, "At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower:
a. faces the touchline;
b. has part of each foot either on or behind the touch line;
c. holds the ball with both hands;
d. comes forward with the ball;
e. does not touch the ball again until it has been touched by another player;
f. delivers the ball from behind his head; and
g. does not allow any part of either foot to touch the ground until he/she has released the ball.
If the throw-in is taken incorrectly, then the opposing team is awarded a re-take of the throw-in.
The player throwing the ball into play must be in control of his or her body and the direction of the throw. If the player’s body and the ball come in contact with an opponent , and only the thrower touches the ball before it goes into play, there is no foul, unless the ball strikes the referee or assistant referee, in which case the ball is out of play for a re-take. If the ball touches another player, coach, spectator or official before entering play, the throw-in is considered to be an incorrect throw, and is awarded to the opposing team.
For safety purposes, it is against the rules to throw the soccer ball in while using your foot, knee, chest, or head, as this is considered a dangerous play. A legal throw-in resumes the game; therefore, when the ball is thrown into play with more force than normal, and subsequently heads toward the opposing goalkeeper and into his or her penalty area, the soccer goalkeeper must properly control the ball before renewing play. In contrast, if the goalkeeper touches or plays the soccer ball while his or her feet are still within the penalty area, this action constitutes a foul, resulting in an indirect free kick awarded to the attacking team. Moreover, when a sideways or over-the-head throw-in is performed with one foot touching the ground or the touchline, it can be deemed interference if the thrower kicks or runs the ball or person toward the center of the pitch. Beyond caution for interfering, improper equipment can draw a caution for the goalkeeper, a sending-off for violent conduct, or a sanction for misconduct. In short, the throw-in must be straight or arched in the same trajectory as a goal kick or corner kick.
Key Throw-in Techniques
Players must take into account proper positioning when starting a throw-in. Feet must be placed correctly and positioned appropriately according to the field markings and the player’s own location on the field. Muscular strength, hand placement and grip are all key components for an accurate and powerful throw-in. The ball must be thrown at the correct angle for the most distance as well. First, the player with the ball should place their feet shoulder-width apart to spread their body weight evenly to either side of their center of balance. While the feet should be shoulder-width apart, they can be placed in a more comfortable form for the player, as long as they remain behind the line and in-line with the body. The player must rotate their head 180 degrees to get a full visual of the field for a quick reaction to an open teammate, an open shot at the goal, or open space that can be exploited. Next, they should extend their arms high above their head while grasping the ball with both hands. The player must then bring the ball straight over their head, while keeping it at a parallel level with their head. The player should then keep their eyes looking forward, to see where the ball will be thrown and to establish another visual on the field after the first rotation of their head. At this point, the ball is at its highest point over their head and now begins its downward arch. The player must not lose sight of the field and keep it in their peripheral vision while watching the ball, because this is when an opponent may attempt to distract you and steal the ball from your throw-in. Now, for the most critical part of the throw-in, the player should keep their feet at a shoulder-width distance, lower their arms and return to a neutral position. This will have the desired effect of moving the ball to the player’s side where they can use their torso as a brace while getting into proper throwing position. At this point, the player must establish a firm grip with each hand on opposite sides of the ball and hold their arms tightly against their torso for maximum velocity. While keeping the ball flat against their upper torso and abdomen, the player should drop their arms to their sides while getting into the appropriate throwing position. While the ball is still flat against their body, the player must squat down in a crouching position, or bend from the waist if a crouch is not comfortable, until the ball is level with the top of the player’s head or close to it. At this point, the player should slowly start raising the ball while keeping their eyes on the field for an intended target. Once the ball is at its highest point, the player should transfer their weight to the starting position by keeping the foot opposite the throwing arm resting on the ground while bringing the other foot up behind it at a 90-degree angle. Keeping the knees slightly bent, the player should then push off the opposing foot to a standing position while bringing their throwing foot up to meet their other foot. At this time, without losing any momentum, the player should transfer their weight to the foot that is at the back and move forward at a 45-degree angle. Now, keeping the ball behind the player’s back, they should turn to the side of the intended target while having their shoulders straighter rather than rounded to keep their body and arms fully extended. The player should transfer their weight from the forward leg to the opposite leg as they touch the ground with the front foot and fully extend their arm by opening their shoulder to allow for an accurate throw-in.
Pitfalls to Avoid
Here are some of the most common mistakes players make when executing a throw-in that can lead to an ‘foul throw’ or loss of possession. This section will discuss these mistakes and how players can avoid them.
Rotating wrists. The absence of a rotation of the wrist can result in losing the ball when thrown "down" but not to the side.
Holding the ball in one hand. Holding the ball in one hand causes difficulty in making the throw with both hands.
Illegal restart. Missing the back line while transferring, or not lifting the ball well enough above the head, can result in a foul throw.
Bass of feet on the ground. The player needs to keep both feet on the ground at the time of the transfer.
Knee and elbow – movement can cause loss of possession.
Throw-in Strategies
Beyond the physical execution of a throw-in, the strategic implementation of these skills can make a significant difference during a match. On the defensive end, coaches may further instruct players to utilize appropriate throw-ins as an opportunity to more effectively mark opponents or win the ball back into possession through defensive movement and touch. For example, a throw-in may be employed to slow down an opponent’s quick transition or to strategically mark a key target player as the ball comes back in play. With proper timekeeping management, teams can also use a throw-in to kill off valuable seconds and maintain an advantage.
Offensively, players will need to think on their feet in order to exploit the opportunities presented to them . Some may opt for a simple overhead throw, while others will try to catch defenders off guard with a quick throw-in. As highlighted by Ronaldo’s remarkable technique in the viral video, this strategy may include utilizing a leg prop, which draws attention away from the ball and across the motion of the player’s striking limb. Such an unconventional focus point may cause defenders to bisect their attention and fail to properly mark the intended target.
Other offensive tactics involve using the throw-in to pull off a quick one-two with the nearest attacker, or using a "long throw" to increase the potential coverage of the throw and launch a cross-like assist to a fellow teammate. These unique tactics may effectively confuse the opposition’s defense and even result in a sudden goal-scoring opportunity.
Throw-in Training Drills
Once the basics of proper throw-in technique are covered, the real growth begins—when a coach integrates candid feedback and competitive training drills for the players to put their new skills to the test. Incorporating two very different competitive drills can help players practice their acquiring their new skills during an actual game situation. One effective drill is to have two teams engage in a throw-in passing game, where each team has two goals and pairs of players from opposing sides set off to try and steal the ball with their feet. The catch is, though, that they can only use their hands to throw the ball back into play. A second excellent drill for the throw-in is to have each player set up at a designated hole in the field that will serve as a passing gate for players moving in both directions. Then, instruct the players to move the ball around the field using only throw-ins. A single static player is allowed to guard the goal of the offensive team, but everyone else is required to use either their head or a stationary two-handed throw-in to pass the ball. The goal is to encourage players to translate their newly learned throw-in skills into a game situation while also remaining competitive. When these competitive drills are incorporated into team practice sessions for several weeks, players will become accustomed to the throwing skills they need to master, which will likely make them even more willing to practice and more receptive to the feedback provided by their coach.
Evolution of Throw-in Rules
The history of the throw-in in soccer is somewhat clouded in mystery, as the Laws of the Game are not the same as the common law and did not evolve incrementally through case law. However, it seems that the throw-in has always been part of the game. Some refer to a Renaissance painting depicting a medieval game in which a player is seen executing a throw-in (see above). The game may be either soccer or field hockey as both games were played in Europe at the time.
In any event, in 1863, when the Laws of the Game were drafted for what we now call Association Football, the throw-in was an integral part of the Laws. In fact, it was a less common sight, even to this day, back then because the Laws of the Game had a variation of the concept of a "fair catch." The fair catch was similar to the concept in American football where the player receiving the ball has the opportunity to catch a kicked ball and then decide whether or not to advance the ball. In short, the player receiving the ball either had a courtesy to catch the ball or otherwise could leave it forgoing the chance that his/her side would have possession. The Laws of the Game required that the throw-in be taken according to the principles of the corner kick and the ball had to be thrown with both hands, from over the head and both feet on the ground . The throw-in was only the reward to the team of the player who last touched the ball and possession of the ball reverts to the other team after the throw-in. Thus, the throw-in was more akin to a corner kick than what we know today. Even in 1872, the throw-in was a rarity and records indicate that there were only about 26,000 throw-ins in one prominent English league’s season in 1872.
Over time, the throw-in has become simpler, less frequent and perhaps less important. In the original 1863 Laws of the Game, fouls committed by the player executing the throw-in would have caused a free kick to the other team. Today, it is only rarely that a player leaves the field on a throw-in. Essentially, the rules on throw-ins have been relaxed, making for an easier ball retrieval system. The ball must be thrown with both feet and two hands and no part of the throwers’ body may touch the ground. If all of this happens properly and the ball never touches the ground in the possession of the thrower, the throw will be awarded to the opposing team. If the ball can be retrieved legally, it can be employed from anywhere on the touchline.