Long throws have become a game-changer in the Premier League, but football's lawmakers are now considering a drastic measure to limit their effectiveness: imposing time limits on throw-ins. The International Football Association Board (Ifab) has discussed introducing a rule that would restrict the amount of time players can spend taking throw-ins, with the goal of increasing match time and reducing the number of stoppages in play.
The trend of long throws has been on the rise this season, often mirroring the preparation process of an attacking free-kick. This has led to a noticeable decrease in in-play time, a key metric for the game's administrators. According to Stats Perform, there were more than twice as many long throws in the Premier League during the opening weeks of the season compared to last year, with teams averaging around 3.44 throw-ins per match.
The potential rule change has sparked debate among officials and coaches, who are concerned that it could disrupt the strategic aspect of throwing the ball. However, Ifab's advisory panels believe that introducing a time limit on throw-ins could help address the issue of reduced in-play time, which can impact the overall pace and excitement of the game.
Other rule changes being considered by Ifab include expanding Video Assistant Referee (VAR) protocols to allow officials to intervene if a second yellow card is incorrectly awarded. Additionally, the offside law will be examined further, with officials asked to consider ways to reduce marginal offside decisions that might be hindering attacking play.
The potential time limit on throw-ins is just one of several measures being discussed by Ifab, and it's unclear at this stage whether the board will ultimately decide to implement such a rule. However, as the game continues to evolve, it's likely that the discussion around these changes will persist, with the aim of finding ways to promote more dynamic and exciting matches.
The trend of long throws has been on the rise this season, often mirroring the preparation process of an attacking free-kick. This has led to a noticeable decrease in in-play time, a key metric for the game's administrators. According to Stats Perform, there were more than twice as many long throws in the Premier League during the opening weeks of the season compared to last year, with teams averaging around 3.44 throw-ins per match.
The potential rule change has sparked debate among officials and coaches, who are concerned that it could disrupt the strategic aspect of throwing the ball. However, Ifab's advisory panels believe that introducing a time limit on throw-ins could help address the issue of reduced in-play time, which can impact the overall pace and excitement of the game.
Other rule changes being considered by Ifab include expanding Video Assistant Referee (VAR) protocols to allow officials to intervene if a second yellow card is incorrectly awarded. Additionally, the offside law will be examined further, with officials asked to consider ways to reduce marginal offside decisions that might be hindering attacking play.
The potential time limit on throw-ins is just one of several measures being discussed by Ifab, and it's unclear at this stage whether the board will ultimately decide to implement such a rule. However, as the game continues to evolve, it's likely that the discussion around these changes will persist, with the aim of finding ways to promote more dynamic and exciting matches.
i mean teams are already rushing down the pitch when the ball is being thrown in... what's the point? 
plus it's all about strategy now... teams just wanna keep throwing until they get it right or something 
They're just another way teams are trying to slow down the game and gain an advantage. Newsflash: football is meant to be fast-paced and exciting, not like a chess match! 
Maybe its time for a complete overhaul of the rules? Just saying...
. Newsflash: that's not how it works! Coaches have been preparing these throw-ins for weeks, and now you're gonna just limit us to 10 seconds? No thanks 
. And what's next, are they gonna start tellin' us which way we can kick the ball?! It's all about slowin' down the game, makin' it less exciting... I mean, who wants to watch a bunch of guys stand around waitin' for a ball that's just gonna get kicked outta bounds? 
... I mean, think about it, ifab's just gonna mess with the flow of the game like this? A time limit on throw-ins? That's just a way to slow down the pace of the game and control what happens on the pitch. It's all about increasing VAR protocol changes too... that's just more ways for the powers that be to stick their noses in and dictate how the game is played 
. And don't even get me started on the offside law... it's all about keeping the status quo and not letting the players have any real freedom to express themselves on the pitch 
. Like, if a player takes forever to throw in, you're just gonna stand there waiting, right? But seriously, if this rule comes into play, teams are probably gonna adapt and just do like 2-3 throw-ins per match or something 
. I don't know, man... it's all about balance, you feel me? More stoppages = more time for subs and less actual game time 
.
. Don't even get me started on offside 
... like, can't they just use technology or something to spot those decisions more accurately? 
️!