The Long Throw-In: Football's Underrated Weapon
The long throw-in is football's underrated set-piece weapon. We explain the technique, the data on conversion rates, and the famous practitioners from Rory Delap to Joe Hodge.
The long throw-in is football's underrated set-piece weapon. A specialist who can throw 30-40 metres effectively turns every throw-in inside the opposition half into a set-piece opportunity equivalent to a corner — except defenders can't be marked goal-side because there's no offside. Rory Delap's Stoke City teams (2008-13) used long throws to score 50+ goals over five seasons. Modern teams with a long-thrower (Brentford, Sheffield United, Crystal Palace) consistently outperform expected set-piece xG.
How the long throw works
A long throw-in follows the same IFAB Law 15 rules as any throw-in: both feet on or behind the touchline, both hands on the ball, ball delivered from behind and over the head.
The "long throw" specialist generates 30-40 metres of distance using the run-up, the wind-up, and full body extension. Famous practitioners (Delap, Joe Hodge, certain Brentford players) can hit 40+ metres consistently. The standard senior throw-in is 15-20 metres — half the range.
A long throw is the only set-piece that has no offside. Attackers can stand right next to the goalkeeper and contest crosses without consequence.
Why it's so dangerous
Three structural advantages compound:
- No offside. Attackers can position anywhere in the box without the offside trap. This shifts defensive responsibility onto the back-line individuals — they have to physically engage rather than let the offside flag handle it.
- Long-throw delivery is harder to clear than a cross. A throw-in arrives flatter and faster than a typical inswinging cross; goalkeepers find it harder to claim, and the ball stays in dangerous areas longer.
- Second-ball value. The crowded box creates many second-ball opportunities. Teams that win second balls add 0.05-0.10 xG per long throw on average.
Long-throw conversion data
Across the top 5 European leagues, set-piece data shows:
- Goals per long throw. ~3-5% conversion rate — comparable to a corner kick.
- xG per long throw. ~0.04-0.07 xG per delivery — slightly lower than a typical corner but volume matters.
- Goals scored from long throws by long-throw specialist teams. Stoke 2008-13 averaged 8-12 long throws per match; Sheffield United 2019-20 averaged 6-9.
- Combined with set-pieces. Teams with a long-thrower + set-piece coach (Brentford under Thomas Frank) post the highest set-piece xG per match in elite leagues.
Famous long-throw practitioners
The history of the long throw includes some recognisable names:
- Rory Delap (Stoke City, 2008-13). The defining modern long-thrower. Delap's throws hit the penalty area from 38-42 metres. Stoke scored 50+ goals from his throws across five seasons.
- Joe Hodge (Wolves academy, 2024-25). Modern long-throw specialist. 40m+ range. Brentford-coached.
- Tony Pulis's teams (multiple clubs). Pulis built squads around long-throw specialists wherever he managed.
- Kim Källström (Arsenal, 2014). Threw long during a brief loan spell — was identified as a long-throw target despite never being known for it.
- Vinny Jones (Wimbledon, 1980s-90s). A pre-modern long-thrower; the original "Crazy Gang" tactical innovation.
- Jose Salomon Rondon (West Brom, 2015-18). Used a long-throw routine that produced multiple goals.
How to defend a long throw
Three defensive principles:
- Match the height in the back-line. A defender shorter than the long-thrower's target striker is a guaranteed conceded contact.
- Goalkeeper command. The goalkeeper must claim or punch crosses aggressively — staying on the line is a goal conceded.
- Block the wind-up. Some teams allow a single defender to obstruct the throw-in itself (legal under Law 15) to disrupt the throw-distance.
- Mark the second ball. The first ball is contested by the back-line; the second ball is a midfielder's job. Teams that lose long-throw goals usually lose them on the second ball.
How to coach a long-thrower
Three principles:
- Strength training. Long throws come from full-body extension — back, hip, shoulder. The thrower must train pull-up strength, lat development, and rotational core power.
- Run-up consistency. Most long-throwers use a 4-8 step run-up. Inconsistency in the run-up produces erratic distance.
- Targeting practice. Drill landing the ball at specific zones (near-post, far-post, six-yard box) repeatedly. Throwing far is half; throwing accurately is the other half.
Modern revival of the long throw
Around 2018-22, several Premier League sides re-discovered the long throw as a tactical weapon. The Brentford set-piece coaching renaissance under Thomas Frank explicitly trained the technique. By 2024-25, more than 8 Premier League sides had a designated long-throw specialist on the team-sheet — a return to a tactic that had been dormant since the Stoke years.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a long throw-in in football?
- A long throw-in is a throw-in delivered from 30-40 metres, typically into the opposition penalty area. It follows the same IFAB Law 15 rules as any throw-in — both feet behind the touchline, both hands on the ball, delivered over the head — but with specialist technique and strength to achieve unusual distance. It functions as a set-piece equivalent to a corner kick.
- Why is the long throw effective?
- Three structural advantages: no offside (attackers can position anywhere), flatter and faster delivery than a typical cross (harder for goalkeepers to claim), and second-ball value in a crowded box. Conversion rates are similar to corner kicks (3-5%), but specialist teams add an extra 5-12 long throws per match to their set-piece volume.
- Who is the most famous long-throw specialist?
- Rory Delap of Stoke City (2008-13) is the defining modern long-thrower. His throws regularly hit the penalty area from 38-42 metres. Stoke scored more than 50 goals from Delap's throws across five Premier League seasons under Tony Pulis — the most famous tactical use of the long throw in the Premier League era.
- How do you defend a long throw?
- Match height in the back-line (a shorter defender against the target striker is a conceded duel), aggressive goalkeeper command (claim or punch the cross — never stay on the line), legally obstruct the wind-up where possible, and prioritise marking the second ball (most long-throw goals come from second-ball winners, not the initial contact).
References
- Set-Piece Goal Distribution Data — StatsBomb
- IFAB Laws of the Game — Law 15: The Throw-In — IFAB
- Rory Delap and the Stoke Long-Throw Era — The Athletic
- The Modern Set-Piece Coaching Renaissance — The Analyst
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