Soccer Throw In

Preparation Phase

Throwing Phase

Follow Through

Start out holding the ball with both hands on either side. Extend both arms back behind your head while arching your back. As you bring your arms forward over the head, step forward with the foot you feel most comfortable with, while dragging the other toe on the ground for traction. You should release the ball after you pass your head, then follow through with your arms.

SHOULDERS

Shoulder girdle- elevation and upward rotation

Bilaterally rotate shoulder joints, adduct shoulder girdle so arms are overhead

Abduct the shoulder girdle when throwing the ball forward

Shoulder joint- hyperflexion (when hands behind head)

Extension when throwing the ball forward and following through.

HIPS

Neutral

TRUNK

Slightly extend your upper body back when bringing the ball behind your head. Flex forward to help give force to the throw.

KNEES

For my throw in, I step forward with my right leg. Therefore my right knee is flexed slightly when in the throw, and left knee is in extension while the toe is dragging.

ANKLES

The right ankle is neutral, the left ankle is in plantar flexion during the toe drag.

DRILLS

An effective way to work on throw ins would be to work on upper body strength. You can work the necessary muscles through push ups, pull ups, butterflies, or basically any upper body muscular workouts. It is also important to have a lot of lower body strength, which also helps to propel the ball forward. As far as drills for this skill go, the best way to improve the throw in is to keep practicing it. Have players work with a partner to throw to different targets of various distances, so the player can work on both their aim, and strength of throw.