throwins

Throwins, often written as throw-ins, is a term used in several sports to restart play after the ball has left the playing area or following a stoppage. The core idea is to reintroduce the ball into play from a boundary or inbound location while preserving possession and flow. The exact rules vary by sport, but the basic mechanism is a controlled throw from the boundary line or designated spot.

In association football (soccer), a throw-in is awarded when the ball wholly crosses the touchline. The throw is taken from the point where the ball left the field, by a player of the team that did not last touch the ball. It must be taken with both hands, from behind and over the head, with both feet on the ground on or behind the touchline. The ball is in play as soon as it enters the field. A throw-in that fails to meet these requirements is a foul throw, and possession is awarded to the opposing team. A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.

In basketball, the term is commonly used to describe an inbound pass from out of bounds to resume play after a stoppage. The inbounder must pass the ball to a teammate within a specified time, and the pass is taken from a designated spot near the sideline or baseline. Inbound plays are distinguished from free throws and other types of restarts, and violations can result in possession changing hands.

Other sports employ similar renewal mechanisms under different terminology, but the throw-in remains a standard method for resuming play after the ball leaves the field or bounds.