[mick]

Originally posted by ChuckElias
It has always been my opinion, although no one here shares it, that:

1) the restriction on breaking the throw-in plane ends when the throw-in is released, BUT;

2) the restriction on touching the ball does not end until the ball crosses the boundary line.

These are listed as different violations in the rules, but only the restriction on breaking the throw-in plane is specifically said to end when the ball is released.

Chuck

Chuck,
Well, certainly the college interpretation is clearer in that:

"The opponents of the thrower-in shall not have any part of their person beyond the vertical inside plane of any boundary line before the ball has crossed that boundary line."

With that rule, the player cannot be there or touch it.
Simple and effective.
mick