Throw-in
The method of restarting football when the ball fully crosses a side line, taken by throwing it back into play.
Overview
A throw-in is awarded to the team that did not last touch the ball before it crossed a side line. The thrower must use both hands, deliver the ball from behind and over the head, and keep part of both feet on or behind the touchline.
A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in, and the thrower may not touch the ball again until another player has played it. An improper technique gives the throw to the opposing team.
Key points
- Both hands must deliver the ball from behind and over the head.
- Part of both feet must stay on the ground on or behind the line.
- A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.
- A foul throw hands possession to the opposition.
Where it’s used
Sports that use throw-in:
Related rules
Offside
A rule that prevents an attacker from gaining an advantage by being positioned too close to the opponents' goal ahead of the ball and the last defenders.
Handball offence
A foul in football committed when an outfield player deliberately handles or controls the ball with the hand or arm.
Direct and indirect free kicks
The two types of free kick awarded in football to restart play after a foul or other stoppage.
How it connects
The meaning-bearing relationships that place Throw-in in the wider knowledge graph — each one with the reason it exists.
Frequently learned together
Taught side by side in the same stage of a learning path.
- OffsideBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Football learning path.
- Handball offenceBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Football learning path.
- Direct and indirect free kicksBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Football learning path.
- Penalty kick awardBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Football learning path.
- Yellow and red cardsBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Football learning path.
Explore across the knowledge base
Follow the threads that connect Throw-in to the rest of SocialSportHub.
Officiating
- RefereeThe primary on-field official who enforces the rules, controls play, penalises fouls, awards restarts, and blows the whistle to start and stop a match.
- Line JudgeA boundary-line official who calls whether the ball or player is in or out and flags foot faults, working under the head referee across many sports.
- Penalty SignalA standardized hand or flag signal an official uses to announce a foul, penalty, or restart so players, teammates, and spectators can read the call.
- Out-of-Bounds CallAn official's ruling that the ball or a player in possession has left the legal playing area, stopping play and handing a restart or possession to the opponent.
- Foul callA foul call is an official's ruling that a player broke a rule of contact or conduct, triggering a penalty such as a free kick, free throw or penalty.
Tactics
- Set-piece playRehearsed routines from a dead-ball situation such as a corner, free kick or throw-in used to create chances.
- Offside trapA defensive football tactic where the back line steps up together to leave an attacker offside.
- Territory versus possessionRugby union's central strategic trade — when to keep the ball and when to kick it away — and why the 22-metre line makes field position worth more than possession in some parts of the field.
- High pressA football tactic where a team hunts the ball high up the pitch to win it back close to the opponent’s goal.
- Line choiceChoosing the path you take through a course or descent, trading the shortest route against the one you can carry most speed on.
Knowledge Atlas
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Take it away
Open data and the whole-platform view of this subject.
How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Rule
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-09-12
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