Can GKS take throw-ins?

Can Goalkeepers Take Throw-Ins? Here's the Real Answer

It’s a question that occasionally pops up during slow moments in a match: can a goalkeeper actually take a throw-in? The short answer is yes — but with a few important caveats.

According to the Laws of the Game, there’s no rule explicitly preventing a goalkeeper from taking a throw-in. In fact, any player on the field, including the keeper, is allowed to throw the ball back into play when it crosses the touchline. So technically, if your goalkeeper wants to sprint up the pitch and deliver a pinpoint throw to a teammate, they’re well within their rights.

That said, you’ll almost never see it happen — and for good reason. Goalkeepers are typically stationed at the far end of the field for a strategic purpose: to guard the net. If they’re caught upfield during a throw-in, their team risks being left defenseless if the opposition quickly counterattacks.

Moreover, while goalkeepers can take throw-ins, they’re generally not chosen as the designated set-piece takers for offensive situations like corners or free kicks. As one expert noted, “Goalkeepers can't be appointed as set piece takers for offensive Free Kicks, Throw-Ins and Corners.” While that’s more about team selection than rules, it reflects the standard role distribution in modern football.

So while the goalkeeper can legally take a throw-in, doing so is rare and usually only happens in very specific, often desperate, moments — like a last-minute attempt to influence the game. But under normal circumstances, you’ll find them right where they belong: near their goal, ready to defend.

Bottom line? The rules allow it, but football logic keeps goalkeepers where they’re most effective — far from the front-line theatrics of throw-ins and set pieces.