Throw In

A "throw in" (sometimes written "throw-in") is a method of restarting play in many field sports, most commonly association football (soccer) and rugby football (rugby union and rugby league), when the ball has gone out of play over the touchline or sideline. The act involves a player throwing the ball back onto the field of play.

In association football, a throw-in is awarded to the opposing team of the player who last touched the ball before it crossed the touchline. The throw-in must be taken from the point where the ball crossed the line and must be performed with both hands, delivered from behind and over the head. Failure to execute the throw-in correctly can result in the throw-in being awarded to the opposing team. A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.

In rugby football, a throw-in restarts play after the ball goes into touch. In rugby union, this is known as a line-out and involves players lining up perpendicular to the touchline to contest for the ball thrown in by a player from the team who didn't put the ball out of play (unless certain exceptions apply). In rugby league, a similar restart called a play-the-ball occurs, but it's often simpler, with fewer contesting players and no lifting allowed. The restart rule in rugby league favors quick and efficient play.