Most adults would soon collapse under such a pace, but it is routinely required of U-10s with much shorter legs and smaller lungs. All too often, when a ball is knocked out of bounds upfield, a quick-thinking forward prepares to toss it back in play, only to be halted by her coach. Only the midfielders take throws. By the time a weary designated thrower lumbers 40 yards to pick up the ball, the entire defense falls back and the numerical advantage for the attacking team is gone. The overworked midfielder then spends an eternity peering at a swarming defense and play stagnates while coaches and parents scream at her to throw the ball in 10 different directions.
Some coaches waste valuable practice time to work on basketball or American football style restarts.
Inevitably, these carefully choreographed throw-ins usually exceed the 70 percent failure rate when put to test in a game situation. While a quick throw may lead to a great scoring chance or two, the impact of this tactic goes far beyond the won-loss column. In age groups where games may last only 50 or 60 minutes, too much time is wasted just putting the ball back in to play. For young players to develop, they must touch the ball as much as possible. Coaches who emphasize quick throws also play an important role in teaching tactical awareness to their opponents.