How to - Soccer Throw In

Statistically, a team will have an average of 26 soccer throw in opportunities during a match, so as you might guess, it's pretty important to know how to make good use of them, either to gain possession in play, or to create scoring chances initiating at the throw in.

I'm going to cover the two standard soccer throw in techniques for short and long throws, pointing out the correct body movement for both and later in the article, we'll take a look at some common offensive strategies that can turn a seemingly insignificant throw in into a good scoring opportunity.

Short Throw Ins

For a short throw in, keep your feet close together, with your entire sole on the ground. Grab the ball with both hands, bring it over your head and throw it to your free man using your elbows, or for slightly more powerful throws, helping out with your shoulders. Make sure you don't throw the ball on either side of your head and make sure your heels are down on the ground at all times, since otherwise the ref will call a miss-throw and award possession (through another throw in from the same spot) to the opposing team.

Long Throw Ins

For long throw ins, you will want to move back from the line and take a few steps to allow yourself to charge up your throw in with power. Run forward, planting one foot on the line (heels down, again) and at the same time, throwing the ball with full force using your shoulders and elbows. The other foot can either be dragged on the ground or planted next to the first one, as long as it touches the ground.

You can use your body to gain some extra power in your throw in, arching your back before the throw and bringing it back quickly exactly when you release the ball.

Soccer Throw in Techniques

Like most other set pieces, the success of an offensive throw in relies more on the off-ball movement of your teammates than on the way you actually execute the throw in. The basic soccer throw in technique is the crossover: it involves two players close to the throw in spot switching places, in order to confuse the defenders and give your team a chance to gain possession in play.

One less used soccer throw in technique is the so-called "trick throw in". When the thrower has no free player to pass the ball to, he calls in a secondary player near him, faking a tactical discussion. When this secondary player backs away from the thrower, he throws the ball in the player's back, gaining possession himself.

This way you avoid the opponent's pressure for a few seconds and you get to continue the play with the ball at your feet. And let's face it, it's a pretty spectacular and funny way to solve a throw in (and surprisingly efficient). However, the entire trick fails if an opposing player follows the secondary player close to the line.

If you don't have a player that can take throw ins all the way to the penalty box in your offensive third, a good tactic is to have a good crosser take the throw. He will pass the ball to a teammate, who will one-touch the ball back to the thrower, who in turn will have to cross the ball into the penalty box with a single touch (you'll rarely have the time to get a second touch on the ball).

Throw ins are usually taken by the left or right back, however if the situation calls for a quick throw, any player that is nearer to the ball should take it. But in static situations where you want to turn your throw in into a positional attack, the left and right backs should always be the ones to take the throw.

In order to better yourself for throw ins, perfect your upper body strength and your actual throwing technique. Study the body mechanics of players with great throw ins (Jon Arne Riise from Liverpool comes to mind) and try to copy their movements. Last but not least, discuss how your teammates expect you to throw the ball for them and work out a strategy that will surprise the opposing team’s defense and give you a solid possession from each throw you get.