Reimagining Throw-Ins: Unlocking Tactical Potential in Football
Anyone who followed Premier League football from 2008 to 2012 is likely to remember Rory Delap's remarkable long throws for Stoke City. His signature move, known as the 'Delap special,' struck fear into opposing defenses as he hurled the ball into the penalty area from the sidelines.
Despite Delap's brief period of dominance, throw-ins have largely remained an underutilized aspect of football strategy. While Delap showcased their potential, there are undoubtedly more tactical opportunities for a set-piece that operates outside the offside and handball regulations.
During a match, an outfield player is permitted to throw the ball onto the pitch approximately 35 times, often from a position close to where the ball went out of play. Interestingly, there are no offside rules that apply to throw-ins.
This unique characteristic may explain why throw-ins have been overlooked and neglected for nearly a century. They seem to exist in the periphery of the game, treated as an awkward pause before the action resumes.
Notably, the rules governing throw-ins have remained unchanged since the 19th century, unlike many other aspects of football, whether tactical or technical.
Here are five innovative ideas for reinventing throw-ins.
Learn Delap's Technique and Make It Mainstream
Delap's precise, long throws were both iconic and intimidating. Defenses often struggled to handle the speed and flat trajectory of his deliveries, with Hull City goalkeeper Boaz Myhill once opting to concede a corner to avoid a throw-in.
Stoke scored 25 goals from Delap's throws over four years, highlighting the effectiveness of this tactic. Yet, despite its potential, few have been able to replicate his throwing style. Why is that?
While Delap's background as a javelin thrower contributed to his unique delivery, there is certainly room to train players to achieve similar lengths and speeds. By focusing on strength training for full-backs, teams could develop a new offensive weapon.
End Long-Throw Snobbery - They Are Just Like Corners
It is time to dispel the stigma surrounding long throws. Due to Delap's association with Tony Pulis's Stoke, long throws have been unfairly linked to direct and unattractive football.
We should challenge this perception. Arsenal is reviving the importance of set-pieces under Mikel Arteta, who has even embraced comparisons to Pulis's Stoke as a compliment. Moreover, set-piece coaches are increasingly popular in modern football.
A long throw-in is fundamentally similar to a corner kick sent directly into the box. Why do we view long corners as acceptable while long throws are perceived as regressive?
This discrepancy highlights the unusual status of throw-ins, often regarded as an afterthought. Maximizing their potential is sometimes seen as bending the rules or undermining the spirit of the game.
Delap briefly revolutionized the throw-in, yet he only scratched the surface of its potential. There is ample room for further exploration.
Repurpose Corner Routines - And Reshape Attacking Throw-Ins
Set-piece coaches have transformed modern corners and free-kicks into complex plays reminiscent of American football. Why not apply similar innovation to throw-ins?
While there are numerous strategies for corners, throw-in tactics have remained static and improvisational. The lack of creativity in this area is surprising, especially given the advancements in other aspects of the game.
Innovation is not difficult to achieve; by removing the stigma and normalizing long throws, teams can adapt set-piece plays accordingly. This shift can lead to exciting opportunities, such as when defenders pack the box, creating space for short throw-ins that mimic short corners.
Once the barriers are broken, the possibilities become limitless.
Beat the Offside Trap - Turn Innocuous Throw-Ins into Lethal Ones
Thus far, we've concentrated on refining the long-throw technique. However, the trajectory of a Delap-style throw can yield much more than just a hurl towards the goal.
The offside rule is fundamental to football. Without it, teams could simply launch the ball to players waiting near the goal, rendering tactics obsolete—an issue prevalent during throw-ins.
It is remarkable that the offside rule does not apply to goal kicks or throw-ins, and even more surprising that teams do not exploit this to their advantage.
Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson has occasionally taken advantage of this, famously assisting Sergio Aguero with a clever pass while Aguero made a sneaky run behind the defensive line.
Why not apply this strategy to throw-ins? By positioning one or more players near the offside line, teams could force the opposition's defensive line to drop deeper, creating space in front or allowing for direct runs on goal.
For example, during Liverpool's 1-0 defeat to Paris St-Germain in the Champions League, Luis Diaz made a typical run down the wing, seemingly unaware of the offside rule's non-application during throw-ins.
Such situations arise frequently, yet few players consider taking advantage of them. Perhaps this is understandable if a long throw is not forthcoming. Just imagine the possibilities a player like Delap could unlock.
Take Risks with Cross-Field Throws
Utilizing throw-ins that exploit the offside trap encourages fresh perspectives on a set-piece often confined to traditional approaches.
Throw-ins in defensive areas or even at the halfway line can be challenging. When opponents closely mark the team in possession, throw-in takers often resort to looping throws down the line, hoping for the best.
This tendency arises partly from the unusual technique required for throw-ins, which remains under-practiced. Additionally, many players hesitate to take risks. However, in an era of high-risk passing from the back designed to draw opponents forward before breaking the press, it is time for a change.
Teams could practice cross-field long throws and line-splitting diagonals to break free from tight marking. For instance, in a recent match between Arsenal and Everton, Arsenal struggled to maintain the pace needed to penetrate the defense.
In the third minute, Martin Odegaard opted to recycle the ball, but what if Gabriel Martinelli had positioned himself near the offside line, creating an opportunity for a line-splitting long throw?
Similarly, Miles Lewis-Skelly played it safe with a short pass, but a long throw across the field to Bukayo Saka could have opened up the game significantly.