Soccer Throw in Techniques and Tips
Throw ins are usually the most common form of restart during a soccer game. A team can use a throw in to set the tempo of a game and keep the opposition on the back foot if performed well. Long throw ins can also be a dangerous attacking weapon if your team has a player with the capability to deliver them.
Technique
A foul throw is a very frustrating event for a team, it wards an unnecessary turnover of possession to the opposing team. Furthermore, when you commit a foul throw your teammates are up the field waiting for you to throw to them, leaving your team vulnerable to a counter attack if the opposition takes their rewarded throw in quickly. To avoid foul throws and accurately to your teammates you should use the correct technique;
- Both feet on the ground. This can be achieved by planting both feet or dragging your back foot after stepping into the throw. You must be careful to keep the toes of the back foot in constant contact with the ground until the ball is released.
- Feet behind line. If the toes of either foot are on or over the white line before the ball is released then a foul throw will be called, and possession awarded to the opposition.
- Hold ball behind your head in both hands.
- Quickly propel arms over head, release ball above head with follow through pointing to intended targets.
Tempo
A team is able to increase their tempo of play and keep the opposition under pressure through the style and tempo of which throw ins are taken. A team who rushes to get the ball and releases a throw in to a teammate quickly moving to space, will keep possession and have the opposition on the back foot over the course of the game.
The effect of quick throw ins can be magnified by the tendency of defenders to momentarily lapse when the ball goes out of play. In most games, especially at the youth level players prepare for a breather when the ball goes out of play. The ability to punish this is magnified that if runners go in behind defenders, no offside rule is in play from a throw in giving your team real opportunity to penetrate the back line.
Possession
Turnovers from throw ins are costly, putting your team under pressure and wasting an opportunity to attack. If no immediate opportunity is available to deliver a quick throw in, communicate to your teammates where you require movement. Checking to and away from the ball is way to create space with your teammates moving to drag defenders out of position. Diagram A represents a situation that you may see when taking a throw in;
Diagram A Read Desciption Before watching diagram
Click here to view the drillIn diagram A (created with Coachfx) both close options are covered, but if X6 runs away from the ball dragging O8 with him. X8 will come into the vacated pocket of space to receive a pass. X3 also has the option of throwing the ball into the feet of X11 and ask for an immediate pass back to feet. Or if it is a favorable matchup, put the ball in front for X11 to chase and penetrate the defensive line.
When a central midfielder receives the ball from a throw in, she should be immediately aware that the side of the throw in will naturally have the highest concentration of defensive pressure. As a result, you should open up away from pressure and pass the ball to players in less congested areas, this can result in a 1 v 1 in space, or even a 2 v 1 advantage in the favor of your team.
Long Throw In
If you or a teammate has the ability to deliver a long throw, all throw ins your team is awarded in the attacking third become legitimate scoring opportunities. The clip below shows the threat caused by a long throw;
In the clip attacking team Stoke City sent defenders forward and treat the throw in like a corner. Even of your team can reach 5 to 10 yards short of the goal post, practice a player flicking on a header for a chance in front of goal.
