Thank you to those who took their time to respond.
In posting the original thread, I had no idea of the intensity of the individuals responding would raise this query "Hey I paid good money for this!" The validity of my question was entirely self centered. Originally, I was not concerned with any opinion other than my own. I was simply looking for clarification of a few facts from my peers. If I had worded the question differently perhaps, we could have avoided some unpleasantness. Many opportunities to score are generated from a throw especially at the mid-youth to adult level. Which team is entitled to possession is of far greater interest to me than the mechanics of the throw. No big deal, maybe, for some, but speaking as a coach and player why would a referee say rethrow when it should be my teams possession? I am not an instructor only a coach who was so livid with referees for screwing up that I became a referee to find out why they try so hard to screw up this wonderful game. My initial reaction to Greyhounds poignant 2nd comment was one of bewilderment, I took exception to the tone of the response and contacted Greyhound personally, to ask "Why?" and Whistleblower, to ask, "What do you think? While I greatly appreciated the assistance and support of Whistleblower, I was disturbed he had somehow become embroiled in a defending roll and I am most unhappy that the discussion dissolved into trading insults. While my happiness may not be at the forefront of either Greyhound or Whistle blowers considerations Grey hounds comments have never insulted me personally. Opinions to me are like water off a ducks back, no self respecting official's armored shell should be dented by the thought that someone dared to fire a few salvos of dissent across my bow. However, I sensed a real animosity in the dialogue between Whistleblower and Greyhound. I felt that it was somehow my fault even if I couldn't figure out why?
I recognize Greyhounds concern with triviality but I adamantly refute the preposterous idea that the posting of my question on this forum in any way discourages young referees from continuing their education. It takes considerable character to become a good referee. To apply the rules of law within the framework of practical game management is no easy task for the fainthearted.
I have considered the weeding out process of officials to be in part the ability to deal with abuse. Nit picking the laws may well serve no useful purpose other than to clarify or perhaps muddy the convictions of the faint hearted but absolutely nothing is more lethal to young referees' discouragement and abandonment from the game than the dissent and abuse originating from the TouchLine and the failure on the part of local associations to protect the referee, remove those who lack the integrity and fairplay to allow the game to be fun and educate those concerned.
Writing the 1,2 or 3 day "By the Book Exam" is the probably the easiest thing a referee will do. Game Management comes from experience and the Spirit of the game is instilled if integrity and the principles of fairplay are contained within the individual to begin with.
Fairplay is in the universal acceptance that there is a right and a wrong way to play and officiate a game. It is a spirit, which compels us to value the conduct even if we can not agree on exactly what that conduct should be.
Three central trains of thought were generated by my throw in question.
(1) Why bother with such trivial stuff just retake the throw. My response "Just remember common sense rarely bodes as well in exams as it does on the field. It is crucial in any man or game management action the referee have match control and not relinquish it to players, coaches or spectators. The incidents are only to make a point. The purpose of the question is to make the assistant referee aware of duties and responsibilities not just follow the letter of the law or apply common sense when needed.
(2) If the thrower must take the throw in from the point where the ball left the field of play. Must not the ball also enter the field from the point where it crossed the TouchLine as well? My response "While it is mandatory for the thrower to take the throw in from the point where it crossed the TouchLine. The ball is in play immediately upon entering the field of play.
Remember the throw in is the only restart where the ball begins outside the Field of Play. The TouchLine is indeed part of the Field of Play and should the ball barely brush the outer edge of the TouchLine the ball is legally in play at that moment it breaks the plane.
It is understandable to compare a throw in taken 6 meters back from the touch line in an effort to spring a quick attack as similar to the ball travelling 15 meters from where it had left the field before reentering but I can find nothing in the law to confirm this.
My opinion is No, only the thrower position not the ball need originate at the point where the ball crossed the Touch Line.
If my opinion is incorrect than the correct restart would be to award a throw in for the other team as the ball would be incorrectly put into play. The question would be in error as no other options would be present.
This is a position steadfastly maintained by our English counterpart in the UK. One in which we agree to disagree for the moment. He has a remarkable web site that is one of the best I've come across. His quote is below.
http://www.carosi.freeserve.co.uk/co...eree/index.htm
"Anyway...... back to the question. You've kept me busy for the best part of today, and it has helped take my mind off other matters!.I have posted your question as Question No. 27 on my Throw-in page. I hope that you do not mind?
In answer to your query about where the ball should re-enter. It should re-enter near to where it went out. I have given many throws to the opposing teams because
the ball has been delivered into play at an angle some 20 or 30 yards further down the touch line."
(3) Thank you To those that acknowledged the question and responded with improvements, answers and criticisem. Here is the final draft of the question. The answers have been given with several principles in mind but only reflect my opinion and should not be taken as FIFA LAW.
(A) Absolute adherence to the letter of the law.
(B) Understanding of duties and priorities by the assistant referee.
(C) Correct decisions and restarts
(D) Common Sense and Game Management
Consider the following circumstances carefully.
" Assume a throw-in was taken correctly according to the law 15. The ball travels parallel to the TouchLine outside the Field of Play for 50 feet before it brushes the outer edge of the TouchLine plane. During it's flight, you hear several people yelling "Never in" Consequently a
..
(1) Spectator (2) Defending player (3) Attacking player (4) Attacking coach (5) Defending Substitute
catches the ball in mid flight some 70 feet away from the thrower before the ball has hit the ground.
(A) In your opinion, state your duties, responsibilities and reasoning in this incident up the point where the ball is caught?
(B) In each of the five instances, state the correct course of action and restart as a center referee.
As an assistant referee, my duties are to assist the center referee with match control by providing clear signals and communication with flag and eye contact. Depending on instructions from the center referee I believe my priority would still be staying level with the second last defender but I would protect my Line of Sight along the Touch Line by ensuring all fans, substitutes and coaching staff were back far
enough to provide a clear line of sight along the TouchLine. I would ask the center referee for assistance if intimidated or hassled by encroaching spectators.
If I noticed the ball break the plane along the TouchLine only slightly at 50 feet, I would be vigilante in raising my flag if it now left the Field of Play.
If I could accurately determine whether the ball was clearly in or out of play when it was caught as this would effect the restart and any subsequent decisions.
I am unclear as to approved FIFA communication Protocol but if I heard people yelling "Never In!" and I was certain the ball was now in play I would try and catch the eye of the referee with a mouthing of "good throw" and perhaps a thumbs up.
A confident center referee might call out "play the whistle" or perhaps use rule 18 and or retake or award a throw to the opposing team. If I believed the throw was valid I would not raise my flag and allow the center referee to make the call. If I believed the ball never entered the Field of Play, I would signal a throw in for the same team if the ball was caught. outside the field of play.
In answer to the correct call and restart I believe the ball was in play the moment it touched the outer edge of the touch line. Since the original question leaves us to infer the ball is still in play the following conditions apply.
(1) Spectator; As an outside agent interfering with play. Play is stopped. The spectator is removed from the Field of Play. Play is restarted with a dropped ball at the place it was caught.
(2) Defending player; Play is stopped. The player could be (but not warranted) cautioned shown the yellow card for unsporting behavior. Play is restarted with a direct free kick to the opposing team from where the ball was caught.
(3) Attacking player; Play is stopped. The player could be (but not warranted) cautioned shown the yellow card for unsporting behavior. Play is restarted with a direct free kick to the opposing team from where the ball was caught.
(4) Attacking coach; As an outside agent interfering with play. Play is stopped. The coach is removed from the Field of Play. No disciplinary action against a team official need be taken but if so it must also be included in the referee's match report. Play is restarted with a dropped ball at the place it was caught.
(5) Defending Substitute; As an outside agent interfering with play. Play is stopped. The substitute could be (but not warranted) cautioned shown the yellow card for entering the Field of Play without the referees permission and required to leave the field of play. Play is restarted with a dropped ball at the place it was caught.
Please temper your decisions with common sense. While the rules allows you to use the power, remember the spirit of the game.
As a matter of FIFA law a throw in that is truly "Never In" must be retaken. However I personally agree with the US high school bylaws which awards the throw to the opposing team.
[Edited by grizzlierbear on May 29th, 2001 at 06:16 PM]