A tactical question : Marking the thrower at throw-ins

MementoMori

So this is something that you see regularly at all levels of the game.

A team has a throw-in somewhere in their opponent's half.

Anyway no-one actually bothers properly marking the player taking the throw-in i.e it almost seems like there is a prohibition in effect from marking the player who takes the throw-in until they receive the ball back as opposed to once they step back onto the pitch

The player takes the throw-in short and it's invariably headed or tapped back to them once they are back on the pitch, unmarked.

If I were a manager I would make sure that for all throw-ins someone is assigned to mark the player who takes the throw-in the moment he steps back on the pitch, as otherwise is makes it too easy for the attacking side to get relatively decent cheap possession from throw-ins, because the potential markers stand too far off him until he has received the ball back.

Of course this will not work with teams who have a Delap type option but at the very least you're not simply handing possession back to the opposition unchallenged.

Also seeing as we are on the topic, does any one have other areas of the game where they have suggestions for tactical improvements at free-kicks, throw-ins, corners, kick-off?

Theresalwaysone

You are not allowed within 5 yards of the thrower as far as Im aware. Its so you cant just stand in front of him and inhibit his throwing of the ball.

SantryRed

It's one yard. Not five. My team always have a player infront and behind the winger to prevent the easy ball. Once the throw in is taken the man in front marking immediately moves to the thrower to mark him.

For corners, ALWAYS bring two men out to the ball. This means the defending side will need two men out. If they don't bring two out continue the short corner until they cop on.

MementoMori

SantryRed wrote: »

For corners, ALWAYS bring two men out to the ball. This means the defending side will need two men out. If they don't bring two out continue the short corner until they cop on.

Vaguely remember the bit about having to give the player taking the throw-in some room, but does anyone have confirmaton of the exact rule.

Don't think I've ever seen a free given for it though.

About the short-corners thing - depending on the height available especially if your team have a couple of short-arses in the team against a reasonably tall team not a bad option to drag one or two of their taller players out of the box.

Also if you do have two players out there taking short corners it means that you will generally have taken two defenders well away from the goal-mouth area. Whereas with a standard corner you will have most likely have one player someway between the corner-flag and goal but they mostly be there to try and block the cross, but they won't be actively charging out for the corner and once the ball has beaten them, they will be in will a shout at getting back into the goal-mouth to challenge for second balls/rebounds etc.

Also the number of players who are decent in the air/quality of crossers available would have to come into consideration. Using short-corners could potentially mess up a defending side a bit especially if they were using a zonal type defence.

MementoMori

Theresalwaysone wrote: »

You are not allowed within 5 yards of the thrower as far as Im aware. Its so you cant just stand in front of him and inhibit his throwing of the ball.

Also just to clarify -it's not about inhibiting his throw, it's more a case of once the throw is taken and the player has stepped back up on to the pitch, there should be a player designated to close on the player as quickly as possibly to stop him getting the ball back in a fair ball of space.

At the moment it seems that players will stand back so as not to inhibit the thrower, he ill take the throw and ball will be flicked/headed back to him and only then will the defending players react and try and close up. I'm saying straight away once the ball has left the player taking the throw-in hands, the defending player should get up as close as possible to them meaning that they actually have to win possession as opposed to the current situation whereby they generally get it back under little or no pressure.

Kenteach

The official rule is defending player must be 2 metres back from the throw in. I remember once an old coach of mine getting us to stand just inside the line to inhibit a long throw specialist. For their first throw I followed orders. Their thrower took his run up, despite my position, delivered an amazingly long throw, and followed through with both fists to my face. The lads saw enough blood to end the tactic there and then!

Xavi6

Yep 2 metres is the rule I believe, and you aren't allowed jump. Always one in front, one behind the person closest to the thrower and the player in front goes to the thrower once it's been taken.

Also, a man on each post when defending corners. It baffles me how so many professional teams neglect to do this.