This was sent to me. Thought you might want to discuss it and offer input:
---
Hey mate,
I'm in my boozer tonight talking to my assistant coach and he starts spouting on about the amount of foul throws we concede. (I'm an expat, from Liverpool and he's a Yank. We live in St. Petersburg, Fl.)
He then tells me it's not a foul throw if your foot crosses the line, in a kind of "tennis foot fault" way, as long as part of your foot is touching the line. Imagine Phil Taylor placing his heal on the oche and throwing a dart! I disagree with this and tell him he's an American spaz, and should drink his beer, shut up and watch the rounders.
Anyway, long story short, I've spoken to a few pro's I know and 1 ref who refs games in the league of Wales. All of the pros agree with me that it isn't a foul, but the ref spouted on about Rule 15 and the following ambiguous text.
A player....."Has part of each foot either on the touchline or on the ground outside the touchline." It doesn't say you can't put your foot over the touchline!
Can you contact someone in authority that agrees with me and let me know that I'm right ASAP?
It doesn't get enforced the foul throw rule, you watch the game tonight.. on the basis of a "foul throw" watch how many times the rules are breached, 1 foot always leaves the ground if they are trying to execute a long throw almost always, and short throws are sort of thrown from directly above the players head. Its enforced more in sunday league footy.
Talking of all this, did you lot see just how far up the pitch prague were trotting before finally chuckin' the ball in. I reckon on one occassion, about twenty paces towards our goal.
Bang out of order, and the ref and linesman just turn a blind eye. Absolutely scandalous imho.
Ground rules: 1. Not more than 2 players in the opposing team are entitled to step on our half of the pitch at the same time. 2. Not more than 10 passes on a row are allowed from the opposing team. After that the ball shall automatically be delivered to LFC keeper Pepe Reina. 3. Not more than 2 players in the opposing team are entitled to challenge a LFC player holding the ball.
Ground rules: 1. Not more than 2 players in the opposing team are entitled to step on our half of the pitch at the same time. 2. Not more than 10 passes on a row are allowed from the opposing team. After that the ball shall automatically be delivered to LFC keeper Pepe Reina. 3. Not more than 2 players in the opposing team are entitled to challenge a LFC player holding the ball.
A lot of rules has changed over the years so I really haven't a clue about this as I been away from real footy for years. One thing for sure is a few years back when someone is taking corners, the ball has to be in the centre of the line on the curve and not just touching the line a bit. That has changed as well as pk kicks. The ball just seems to need touch the line slightly these days giving the kicker an advantage. As for foul throws, the refs seem to give the definate of the doubt to the thrower these days as growlie has mentioned. Throwers seem to wander around the line and pick their spot of where to throw it and also throw it casually without putting the ball behind their heads etc. Certainly a lot has changed in terms of how the game is played. It might still be the same rules but modern footballers/refs change the game.
