DALTON, Ga. — If you head out to watch the Dalton High School girls soccer team play this season, you may see something that will make you look again.

Gigi Robertson, a junior forward for the Lady Catamounts, uses her extraordinary ability on throw-ins to give her team an advantage that most high school teams, boys or girls, don’t possess. When Dalton has a throw-in in the attacking third of the field, Robertson uses a flip throw in which she hurls herself over the ball which is planted on the ground, and flings the ball nearly 30 yards in the air inside the penalty area of the opposing team.

Her background in another sport led to her remarkable ability on the soccer pitch.

“I did gymnastics for 13 years,” Robertson said. “I don’t remember who taught me, I just started trying it out in middle school but we weren’t allowed to do them in games back then.”

About midway through this season, Dalton coach Jose Almodova decided to utilize Robertson’s capability more often. The long throw strategy, which essentially works as an alternate to a long free kick or corner kick, gives Dalton’s opponents something else to think about altogether.

“We’re lucky to have a player that can do stuff like that,” Almodova said. “We’d always like to score more, but it’s definitely a weapon for us. You don’t see it every day, that’s for sure.”

What stands out about Robertson’s throw-ins isn’t simply her ability to pull them off, but the level at which she is able to execute the maneuver. The consistency and accuracy with which the diminutive Robertson is able to launch a ball is something to behold, likely worthy of a viral video in today’s social media-driven society. It isn’t a gimmick, however, but instead a calculated and highly-repeatable strategy.

Like most teams, the Lady Catamounts call out specific plays on corner kicks, but the team uses similar strategies on Robertson’s throw-ins as well. In Dalton’s most recent game, a 10-3 victory over Coahulla Creek, Monse Hernandez scored off a long throw-in by Robertson, and the approach has resulted in more goals this season for the Lady Catamounts.

Robertson said the question she’s most often asked is whether she becomes dizzy as a result of her flips and flings, but she is quick to laugh off the suggestion. A 13-year run in gymnastics will do that. As far as where the ball will go once she releases it, she is confident about that, too.

“I’ll call for my teammates to be ready for it, and they know it’s coming,” Robertson said. “I have a general idea of where it’s going when I let it go.”

Robertson quit gymnastics a few years ago, and this past summer made the decision to play soccer for Dalton. She grew up playing soccer in addition to participating in gymnastics, and knew Almodova from her years in middle school where he was the soccer coach at the time. She didn’t play for the Lady Catamounts her first two years at Dalton, and knowing a talented player was sitting in the bleachers was difficult at times for Almodova.

“We were definitely glad to get her back out here with us,” Almodova said. “I knew she was a good player from when I coached her before, and I think she finally gave in and came out for the team. I’m glad she did and I hope she comes back again next year.”

The Lady Catamounts (7-3, 4-2) have two remaining region games and currently sit in the fourth and final playoff spot for Region 6-6A. Dalton girls soccer has not made the playoffs since 2014 and after narrowly missing the playoffs last season, Almodova hopes to use his new influx of talent to challenge opponents in the postseason.

If Robertson has the chance to use her tumbling lobs to help Dalton return to the postseason, there won’t be any hesitation.

“I would just sit there in the stands last year, it was hard,” Robertson said. “I always wanted to play for a school team, and I’m glad I decided to come out.”