Why soccer is evil part 92,784

Officially, yes, but I've seen games in the past where a linesman or referee has told a played standing fractionally inside the touchline to step back to allow the thrower space for a follow through.

 

Not a bad idea.

 

Based on the rules I learned in referee school a few years ago, there is no distance rule on throw-ins. However, the defending player must remain stationary until the ball is in play.

 

Isn't giving the guy throwing the ball room an unwritten rule and common courtesy in soccer?

 

In the majority of soccer I've watched, common courtesy gets checked at the door.

But I think that's true of most sports.