5 Tips to Improve Your Throw-Ins

Throw-ins are a small but essential part of any game. Yet, they are not given the respect they deserve. They can serve as goal assists or give a player a chance for an unexpected pass. Plus, there are no offsides when throwing in the ball!

Truthfully, throw-ins deserve an apology for being so underrated. 

Teams may designate a specific player to take throw-ins, but every player should be ready and able to do it. Not all throws have to be flip throw quality; however, turning over the ball because your foot lifted or your hands weren’t fully behind your head isn’t okay.

With practice and by following these easy tips, your throw-ins can hit the mark every time. 

Exercise your arms!

Unless you are a goalie, using your hands during a game doesn’t happen very frequently. So it may seem completely redundant to recommend exercising your arms, but it’s necessary if you want to further your throw-ins.

Trade the soccer ball for a medicine ball and follow the throw-in process. First, pull the medicine ball behind your head and launch it forward like you would in a throw-in.

Initially, it may not go very far, but you’ll notice the distance grow after repeating this exercise. You’ll inevitably feel the burn after a few reps, but it will strengthen your arms! 

Take aim

It is vital to know where you are throwing to avoid giving the ball to your opponent. If your only focus is to get the ball back on the field, you will be liable to throw straight to someone who isn’t your teammate. Instead, visualize who or where you want the ball to go and aim in that direction.

Additionally, be sure that your teammates know where the ball is going so they can expect it. Over time, you can also learn the useful trick of looking in one direction but aiming the ball in another. This is a great way to throw off a defender and get the ball to your teammates in a crafty way. 

Pick a perfect hand position

Hand placement is an undervalued tip to improving your throw-ins.

A common hand misplacement is handling the ball like you are taking a basketball shot–dominant hand behind the ball and opposite hand on the side. This may seem like a good way to throw more powerfully, but it can actually cause an uneven throw.

Start by placing your hands evenly on each side of the ball; this will give you a straighter throw. Then, as you continue to practice, you can slide your hands a little further back on the ball for more power. 

Be ready to throw quickly

The longer you take to throw in the ball, the more time you give the opposing team to guard your teammates. This doesn’t mean that you should rush your throws; a fast but sloppy throw can equally cause a turnover.

Rather, keeping the game moving at a fast pace allows your team a greater chance of confusing the defense. This tip requires communication with your teammates; let them know that you are throwing quickly so they can be ready to receive the ball.

If you can make a quality throw-in quickly, do it to take advantage of the no offsides rule! Your team can capitalize on making it to the goal quicker, leading to a scoring opportunity. 

Mind your feet

Your feet have to stay on the ground when throwing the ball in, but sometimes gravity takes its course. For example, bending backward for more power can cause your back foot to lift as you launch the ball. Not only is this illegal, but it will also turn the ball over to your opponent.

When practicing, pretend your feet are glued to the floor and rely on your upper body strength to throw.

Eventually, you can lift your heel and keep your toe planted. If you prefer the run-up method, slowly incorporate taking a few steps and planting your feet before throwing. 

Optimizing on your throw-ins can make all the difference in a game. Practice until you feel comfortable and ready to take on this task. Who knows, your next throw-in could lead to a win! 

Featured image via Unsplash