Soccer Throw In Position

[CecilOne]

In a discussion of rules, someone said:
"Don't forget the thrower on a throw in must be within 3 feet of the touch line when releasing the ball".

Have you seen or heard this rule before or does it belong in a Soccer Myths thread?

[KYRef2]

Does that mean that we have to watch and be sure that the "athlete" who throws the ball after doing a full gainer with a half nelson lands within three feet of the line? If he doesn't, do we just deduct style points, or call a foul throw and give it to the other team?
Seriously, is the issue how close to the line the thrower is; as opposed to the usual how close to the spot where it went out?
The only time that I can see the relevance for being this picky is if the ball went into touch in front of the team area, and you do not want the player to take the throw-in from behind and over the entire team (or from behind and over the fourth official).

[Nevadaref]

Originally posted by CecilOne
In a discussion of rules, someone said:
"Don't forget the thrower on a throw in must be within 3 feet of the touch line when releasing the ball".

Have you seen or heard this rule before or does it belong in a Soccer Myths thread?

Cecil,
It is a real rule. Here is what is written in the USSF's Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game:
15.1 LOCATION OF THROW-IN
Although the throw-in is to be taken "from the point where [the ball] crossed the touch line," this requirement is satisfied if the restart occurs within approximately one yard (one meter) of this location, farther upfield or downfield or back from the touch line. A throw-in taken beyond this limit is an infringement of Law 15.

The bold is mine.

[CecilOne]

Thanks, I heard about that, but apparently no one knows of a similar rule or interpretation in NFHS.

The concern with being within a yard back is to prevent an angle that allows the ball to cross the line elsewhere, concealment behind the bench (10 feet in NFHS) and other trickery. So in NFHS, as long as we judge that the ball entered where it went into touch without deceiving the defense, the throw in rule is satisfied.

[Nevadaref]

That's one interp. I tend to think that the NFHS just doesn't have the same attention to detail that the USSF does. Obviously, call what you think is appropriate and fair.