The rise of the long throw as a football weapon

The resurgence of the long throw in English football

Long throw-ins have increasingly become a potent tactical weapon in English football, evolving from a niche skill into a strategic asset. Once epitomised by Stoke City's Rory Delap between 2008 and 2012, who terrorised defences with his exceptional throws, the long throw is now experiencing a renaissance across the Premier League under modern coaches like Thomas Frank and Thomas Tuchel.

Delap's throws were so impactful that Arsenal's Arsene Wenger controversially likened them to rugby, highlighting how this tactic blurred traditional football boundaries. More recently, data from Opta reveals a substantial rise in long throws: on the opening weekend of the current Premier League season, 11 of the 20 teams attempted long throws into the penalty area, up from just four last season. This shift signals a renewed appreciation for this set-piece alternative as a way to break down tight defences.

How throw-in coaching is changing the game

One of the key drivers behind the long throw's revival is specialised coaching. Thomas Gronnemark, a Danish expert and world record holder for the longest throw-in (51.33 metres), became Liverpool's first dedicated throw-in coach in 2018. Under his guidance, Liverpool's possession retention from throw-ins jumped dramatically from 45.4% to 68.4%, ranking them top in the league for this metric.

Gronnemark’s influence extends beyond Liverpool; he now works with Brentford, a club that has thrived on utilising long throws effectively. Last season, Brentford scored five goals from throw-ins and created 48 chances with an expected goals (xG) value of 7.2 from these situations. Such statistics highlight the tangible benefits of mastering this seemingly overlooked facet of the game.

Premier League trends: increasing long throw attempts and goals

The Premier League has witnessed an increase in long throw frequency and effectiveness. Throws exceeding 20 metres into the opposition box have risen from an average of 0.9 per game in the 2020-21 season to 1.5 per game in 2024-25. Correspondingly, goals directly resulting from long throws, although still rare, have increased more than tenfold—from 0.03% to 0.38% of matches.

Tottenham Hotspur exemplify this trend. After making only six long throws into the penalty area last season, they have already made eight this term under Thomas Frank’s management, who brought his Brentford experience and tactical approach to Spurs. This tactical shift reflects a wider Premier League movement towards exploiting every possible advantage.

The academic insight: Anthony Barry’s throw-in research

England’s assistant coach, Anthony Barry, brings a scholarly angle to the subject. In his university dissertation, Barry analysed over 16,000 throw-ins from the 2018-19 Premier League season. One key finding was that lateral or backward throws resulted in higher success rates than throwing forward, with top-ranked teams employing this approach more frequently. This research underscores that throw-in strategy is not just about distance but also placement and team positioning.

Implications for England’s World Cup preparation

Thomas Tuchel recently expressed interest in using the long throw as a weapon for England’s national team ahead of the World Cup. With limited preparation time, utilising set-piece strategies like long throws is a pragmatic way to add unpredictability and potency to England’s attacking options.

Gronnemark supports this approach, emphasising that while long throws should not be overused, they can be a game-changing tool when deployed effectively. "If England could occasionally use long throws as a dangerous weapon, it would add a valuable dimension to their play," he stated.

How to incorporate long throws into your football tactics

For teams and coaches looking to harness the power of the long throw, several key factors come into play:

• Specialised training: Developing players' throwing technique and accuracy is essential. This includes strengthening the upper body and refining the throwing motion for distance and precision.
• Strategic positioning: Players must time their runs and positioning in the penalty area to capitalise on the delivery, similar to set-piece routines for corners and free-kicks.
• Game situation awareness: Knowing when to use long throws—such as during late-game pressure or when facing compact defences—maximises their effectiveness.
• Video analysis and data: Leveraging match footage and analytics to identify opportunities and refine tactics can help teams gain an edge.

Long throws in British football culture and future outlook

The long throw’s resurgence reflects a broader trend in British football towards innovative, data-driven approaches. It challenges the traditional view that throw-ins are merely restarts rather than attacking opportunities.

With clubs like Brentford and Tottenham leading the way, and experts like Gronnemark and Barry pushing the boundaries of coaching and analysis, the long throw is set to become a staple weapon in the tactical arsenal of English teams.

As the 2024-25 Premier League season progresses and the World Cup approaches, it will be fascinating to see how this evolving tactic influences outcomes on the pitch, adding excitement and unpredictability to the beautiful game.