Football: New rules go on trial

THE throw-in is likely to become a thing of the past following the decision by world football's law-makers to replace it with an experimental 'kick-in' in youth tournaments.

Uefa will be first to experiment with kick-ins at its under-16 championships in Turkey in May, and Fifa will test them at its world under-17 tournament in Japan in August. The experiment could then be taken to senior level in the Hungarian League next season. It seems likely, however, that the 1996 European Championship finals in England could be the first major tournament to encorporate a kick-in rule.

The International Football Association Board meeting - attended by the four home associations - in Hertfordshire on Saturday also granted permission for 'sudden death' extra time to be used in the world under-19 championships in Australia next week.

The first team to score in extra time will be deemed the winners in Australia, but if there are no goals after the additional 30 minutes, games will be decided by penalties.

The board passed new legislation on touchline coaching, which is currently banned. From next season a nominated coach will be allowed to convey tactical instructions from a 'defined area' provided 'he conducts himself in a responsible manner'.

Sepp Blatter, the general-secretary of Fifa, said there was no chance of any new legislation coming into general use until after the 1994 World Cup finals in the United States. That will give at least temporary relief to the managers in England, who fear that kicking the ball back into play rather than throwing it will lead to an even stronger accent on the long-ball game.

'My opinion is that kick-ins could give more space on the field and open up the areas of play,' Blatter said.