How to Do a Throw in Soccer

Throw-ins are somewhat crucial moments in a soccer game: they present an opportunity to maintain possession of the ball, capitalize on a turnover or - unfortunately - lose possession of the ball yourself. As such, the throw-in is one of the most fundamental skills in soccer. It is also one of the most nerve-wracking tasks in the game. For one thing, everything stops, and all attention is on the person throwing the ball in. Add to this the fact that many players ignore the development of throw-in skills, and you've got a recipe for disaster. Don't fret, though. Follow these steps, and with a little practice, you'll be able to take advantage of throw-ins like the pros.

Steps   

  1. Pick up the ball. Unless you're the goalie, you don't get to use your hands much in soccer, so enjoy it while you can. Grip the ball with both hands and bring it behind your head. Your hands should be "behind" the ball so that your palms will push the ball forward when you throw it in. Make sure you've got a firm, but comfortable, hold on it.
  2. Position your feet facing the field. Stand a few feet behind the sideline so that you can run up to the line without crossing it. Some players like to keep their feet together, while others like one foot in front of the other. Do whatever feels most comfortable to you.
  3. Scan the field. Deciding where to deliver the ball is the most important step. You may have set plays for this or you may just need to find an open player. Once you've made your decision, you'll need to execute quickly so that your opponent can't detect where you're going to throw.
  4. Run up to the sideline to throw the ball. Get a short running start--just 2-4 steps--to help you gain the needed momentum to power the ball to its target.
  5. Arch your back slightly. Do this right before you're ready to actually throw the ball. Many players try to throw exclusively with their arms, but most of the power should come from your back and shoulders, as well as the momentum from your running start.
  6. Square up with your target and plant your front foot. When you're ready to throw the ball, make sure your shoulders are square with your intended target. This is crucial for making an accurate throw, and also necessary because the ball must travel directly over your head. Now stop your run and plant your leading foot.Remember to keep both feet down to avoid an infraction!
  7. Release the ball. Bring your arms up and forward so that your hands (and the ball) travel directly over your head. At the same time bring your arched back forward like a spring and drag the toe of your back foot on the ground. Dragging your toe adds stability and accuracy and helps prevent you from being carried over the sideline. Extend your arms fully and release the ball from just behind the head.
  8. Run onto the field to re-enter play. You've completed the throw-in. Hopefully you got the ball to your teammate. Now get back out there to help move the ball into scoring position. If, on the other hand, you accidentally threw the ball to your opponent, you can make up for it by running out to try to steal the ball back.


Tips   

  • The running start is designed to get better distance on the ball. Note that when running, there is a tendency to lift the foot, in which case the opposing team will be awarded a throw-in. To ensure this does not happen, drag one toe on the ground. Sometimes it's imperative to just deliver the ball a short distance as quickly as possible. In this case, you can skip the running, but make sure you pay attention to the rest of the fundamentals.
  • Strategy is very important in the throw-in. If you're close to your own goal, you want to be extremely careful where you throw the ball. Generally, short, quick throw-ins are less risky here. If you're in the middle of the field, you want to try to advance the ball, but keep it under control. Find an open teammate, preferably upfield. Near your opponent's goal, you should try to set up a scoring opportunity. You can't score directly off a throw-in, but if you can throw far enough you can try to get the ball to the center of the field where a teammate can punch it into the goal. Alternatively, you may want to try a short throw-in to someone who can quickly cross the ball to the center of the field. In "strategizing" their throw-in, most beginning players, as well as their team mates, forget to include the throw-in player. The player throwing in is usually the only unmarked player on the field right after the throw-in. In a tight situation, a pass back to the throw-in player who has just come back onto the field of play and has the freedom to get off a good pass, will help free up and move the play.
  • Be sneaky. Maybe you just want to deliver the ball to a teammate a few feet away, but your opponents keep swarming your target. Get a running start and act like you're going to throw far, or make it appear that you're going to throw upfield but then throw downfield. Little tricks like this can keep your opponents guessing and help your teammates get open.
  • Want to throw the ball really far and look impressive doing it? Try a flip throw-in. See the related wikiHow for instructions.
  • Practice throw-ins regularly. Practice makes perfect, of course, and you'll be a lot less nervous if you know you can throw the ball in accurately.


Warnings   

  • A throw-in will be awarded to the opposing team if one of more of the following occur during a throw-in: one or more feet cross the sideline into the field of play, one or more feet are lifted from the ground while throwing, the player fails to throw the ball from directly over his head.
  • A free kick will be awarded to your opponent if you throw the ball in and touch it before another player touches it.
  • Your strong leg should be forward which is the opposite of how it would be if you were throwing a baseball.