How to do a Soccer Throw In

The soccer throw in doesn’t get enough credit in soccer as a key play or part of the game. It’s really a set piece that can be taken advantage of if your team uses it right. And remember there’s no offsides on a throw in, so you can have a player break down the field or even stand in the opposing team’s end until the ball is thrown.

The key though with the soccer throw in is to keep possession of the ball when you have a throw in. This means throwing the soccer ball to the feet of a teammate who’s open and no under a great deal of possession. Or, if someone is breaking down the line in the attacking area you throw it to them, but that player must have support.

Here are the basic rules when throwing the ball in:

• Ball must be thrown in with both hands
• Ball must be thrown in from behind the head
• There is no offsides on a throw in
• Can’t score off a throw in unless it touches another player
• Both feet must be on the ground when the ball is throw in
• Player throwing ball in can touch the line

Remember what Cruyff said too: "I always threw the ball in, because then if I got the ball back, I was the only player unmarked."

Learn more about throw ins here:

• How to do a Soccer Throw In
• Rory Delap: The Long Throw
• The Long Throw In
• Soccer Throw In Fail
• Oguchi Onyewu Long Throw
• How to Do a Flip Throw In