Millions of people play soccer worldwide, and there are many rules covering everything from the field size and ball material to goals and possession. Throw-ins and corner kicks are two ways of getting the ball back into play after it has gone out of bounds. Which method you use for ball reentry is dependent on what line of the field the ball crossed as it went out, the sideline or the goal line.
Throw-In
A throw-in occurs when a player kicks the ball out of bounds across the sideline. The referee gives the ball to a player on the opposite team and he throws it back into play. Both feet must remain on the ground and both hands must remain on the ball at the time of the throw. It is legal to do a flip-in, which entails a player taking a running start and literally flipping over on the ball and throwing it in as he comes up. The same rules apply however: Both feet must be grounded and hands must be in contact with the ball when making the throw-in.
Positions During a Throw-In
When a team is conducting a throw-in, much depends on the strength of the player inbounding the ball. If that player is a strong thrower, the team will position players nearer the middle of the field. Weaker throws require players to stay closer to the sideline for accepting the ball as a pass. The throwing team is now on the offensive and the throw-in goes forward toward the goal. Players do need to stay on-sides. An offside call happens when an offensive player gets between the last defensive player and the goal; staying ahead of the defense without the ball is not allowed.
Corner Kick
A team takes a corner kick when the defense kicks the ball out of bounds across the goal line. The offense sets the ball in the corner of the field closest to where it went out and kicks it toward the goal. A corner kick is a perfect set up to score. It is essentially a free kick to the middle of the field directly in front of the goal. You may utilize a corner as a short pass, most likely to set up a better shot opportunity for the passer inbounding the ball.
Positions During Corner Kick
The term far-post is crucial during a corner kick. This means positioning one player as close to the far post of the goal as possible without being offside. The goalie typically is close to the center of the goal and two defenders will make sure the posts are covered. The defense also has to cover all the offensive players surrounding the goal box. Players tend to cluster during a corner kick and it is imperative that everyone keeps their hands clear of the ball to prevent a free kick situation.
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