didds said:
... what about a knee then? (I've seen that done).
Or a head? (I've accidentally headed a kickoff into touch before ;-)
I guess the real point is that the ball was propelled forward by a non-illegal method (given that throwing it forward IS illegal... but the laws do not prohibit use of the heel, or knee, or head WRT forward progression of the ball).
It might not be quite wahat the law makers really provided for ... but w/out it being illegal by definition, and a very dubious call of "cheating" its only fair to permit it eh?
didds
OK, I think we're all agreed that the overhead throw and catch move is illegal - I'd give a PK for an intentional throw forward.
WRT the heel/knee trick, my line of thinking is thus - the ball has come forwards out of the player's hands and has not, under the letter of the Law been kicked (since knees and heels don't constitute kicks, another point I think we've all agreed on). Since the ball has gone forwards, does this not make it a knock on? I think I'd call it as one; the only question I have is do you give a scrum or a PK, since it clearly WAS what the player intended to do...
I think this all comes down to whether tha ball was under control or not. If you're not holding the ball, you're free to touch forward with any part of your body (yes Didds, including your head!) except the hand or arm. However, if you're holding the ball and you drop/throw it forwards, you need to make contact with the foot (not heel) or lower leg (not including the knee) to constitute a legal kick, or expect to be pinged for a knock-on.
