By OkayGoal 
The art of the throw-in is often overlooked until it’s too late. It’s not a set piece that people usually put much value in because they happen so often and usually in tight quarters where you have to really work to create opportunities. But given that Megan Campbell of London City Lionesses just set the Guinness World Record for longest throw by a female player at 123 feet and 2 inches, it’s time to dive into the art of the long throw in.
The art of the long throw-in
A good throw-in can create a lot of movement and chances. It all just depends on the thrower and location on the field. Players with a long throw can take special advantage of positioning near the opposite goal, though short throws are often chosen. With enough distance on the ball, a throw-in could easily be treated as an onside kick or a corner. A throw-in has the same basic setup as a corner; an opportunity to reset, get into an attacking formation, and get the ball in the air. Getting the ball in the air is so important in soccer; it creates chaos and allows for vertical advantages to come into play.
Megan Campbell
As we mentioned at the top of this article, Campbell now holds a record for her long throw-in. She’s really notorious for it and has created countless opportunities with this special talent. She credits her record-breaking throw to her hypermobile shoulders.
Sam Staab
Staab’s long throw is similarly valuable. As a defensive player, she is able to wing the ball out of dangerous territory for her defensive line. Staab is sometimes referred to as QB1–a nod to American football and the title for a starting quarterback—because of how well she throws the ball.
Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir
Jónsdóttir is an Icelandic forward who creates as much panic for a defender with her arms as she does with her legs. Given the right position, Jónsdóttir’s throw-ins are like corner kicks, creating lots of shuffling and swinging in the box. She is the throw-in specialist for her nation and her club team and that is such an asset.
Possibly the longest throw I’ve ever seen from Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir @footballiceland pic.twitter.com/bHXkzlhEjz
— Lucas Arnold (@FotboltiLucas) June 16, 2021
Danica Evans
We all know that one of the coolest things a soccer player can do is the handspring throw. It’s an incredible display of athleticism and really hard to perfect, which is where Evans comes in. We don’t see a lot of handspring throw-ins on the pro fields, so when we do get them, it’s a really special thing. These are all power and little accuracy, but they’re so cool.
Featured Image via Getty
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