What procedure should be used for equipment checks?

[LaxRef]

I've been thinking about the enforcement of the rules for illegal crosses and equipment. Right now, the coaches can request that a player's equipment be inspected by an official. We also do crosse checks (NCAA) and full equipment checks (NFHS) at the end of the first and third periods, when everyone who's intentionaly trying to cheat has already removed their illegal equipment from the field since they know the check is coming.

I know some people think this issue should be entirely on the coaches: if you think it's illegal, then request an inspection. (To some extent, I understand this perspective, and I think right now we catch a lot of people who unintentionally have illegal crosses--they still deserve penalties, but in my mind not as much as the people who are intentionally cheating and know how to beat the system most of the time.) However, there's a large faction of coaches who think it's somehow dirty to ask for an inspection and won't do it for that reason or won't do it because they fear the other coaches will ostracize them if they do.

The other end of the spectrum is to inspect everyone and everything before the game starts (which I believe the women's officials do). While this would catch a lot of problems before the game and get them corrected, it would take a lot of time, interfere with warmups, occasionally delay the start of games, and seems to say "You can't be trusted, you big bunch of cheaters!"

What, in your opinion, should be the inspection procedure?

[tamu33]

I believe it is an understood rule that coaches follow, most of the time. Now as soon as one of them breaks that rule, then it is open season. I remember a few years back, in the NCAA final four one coach had a crosse checked but it was legal and the other coach during the next play challenged a stick and it was illegal. It was like a slap in the face after someone tried to slap you.

As far as equipment checking, it is pretty easy to use the rules to your advantage as long as you know them. An extra check is available in the rules if the coach feels its necessary to use it. So I say let them do it, but beware of karma.

As far as checking everyone before the game, I see it as tedious but, I believe that is the coaches job because before each game I ask "Are all your players legally equipped by rule?" If they say yes, then technically we shouldn't have to have a pre-game check.

[LaxRef]

I believe it is an understood rule that coaches follow, most of the time. Now as soon as one of them breaks that rule, then it is open season. I remember a few years back, in the NCAA final four one coach had a crosse checked but it was legal and the other coach during the next play challenged a stick and it was illegal. It was like a slap in the face after someone tried to slap you.

I agree that coaches are not so smart if they call for an equipment check when they have illegal equipment on their own players.

As far as equipment checking, it is pretty easy to use the rules to your advantage as long as you know them.

This, to me, is the problem: people are cheating intentionally and getting away with it far too often. That, to me, says the system is unfair and needs to be fixed.

As far as checking everyone before the game, I see it as tedious but, I believe that is the coaches job because before each game I ask "Are all your players legally equipped by rule?" If they say yes, then technically we shouldn't have to have a pre-game check.

If you think anyone believes the coaches can be trusted to be telling the truth here, why do you think any stick ever needs to be checked, even at a coach's request? I mean, the coach already said the players all have legal equipment, so there couldn't possibly be any illegal equipment on in the game, right? The fact that we still find illegal equipment proves that the coach's answer to this question isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

[laxfan25]

We could do like the girl's do, where part of the pre-game is to have both teams line up to have their stick and mouthguard checked for legality...
I'm fine with the procedures we have now, although I also think we have the right to check anyone's stick we want during the game, it doesn't just have to be at the 1st and 3rd period breaks.

[LaxRef]

I'm fine with the procedures we have now, although I also think we have the right to check anyone's stick we want during the game, it doesn't just have to be at the 1st and 3rd period breaks.

A few years ago (4?) we not only had the option, but we were told to occasionally--and very obviously--check random players' equipment in view of the coaches. These were not full service checks, but we were supposed to check at least some aspects of the equipment, like real quickly measuring the head width and length. We were also supposed to do a full stick check on each of the faceoff men before the opening faceoff. This was all in response to the feeling that players and coaches knew enough to get the illegal gear off the field before the between-period checks.

The next year, they told us not to do any of this. So, while we can technically do it if we want to, it's certainly not the mechanic.

While it would add a few minutes to the length of the game, the "check every crosse after it scores a goal" method would sure get rid of the illegal sticks in a hurry.

[Lax_Stats]

Checking sticks between the 1st and 2nd period and 3rd & 4th period is so predictable that it makes it way too easy to use illegal equipment and get it out of the game before the anticipated stick check between those periods.

Checking sticks and other equipment before the game seems to be more for preventative maintenance for players who want to makes sure their equipment is actually legal and not for those who may want to be intentionally cheating.

I doubt we will ever be checking crosses after every goal, but it sure would eliminate the illegal sticks in a hurry now, wouldn't it!

[laxfan25]

Checking sticks between the 1st and 2nd period and 3rd & 4th period is so predictable that it makes it way too easy to use illegal equipment and get it out of the game before the anticipated stick check between those periods.

Checking sticks and other equipment before the game seems to be more for preventative maintenance for players who want to makes sure their equipment is actually legal and not for those who may want to be intentionally cheating.

I doubt we will ever be checking crosses after every goal, but it sure would eliminate the illegal sticks in a hurry now, wouldn't it!

What is your opinion on the referee calling for an occasional random check? During the game you notice a guy's stick has a pocket that looks very deep, or the head looks very narrow. Why not, at a dead ball, ask for his stick and do a quick check? You could get it done in 20 seconds with your partner. I actually thought we had that right - was that something they specifically removed?

[Lax_Stats]

I don't like that idea really because it holds up the game and puts the entire focus on the referee and what he is doing. If the stick is found to be illegal, it could give the appearance that there might be a personal issue between the official and that player. Referee's should be as invisible as possible and I think that mechanic would put way too much focus on the officials. At least if a coach calls for a random check, they are the ones who have asked for it and the officials are simply complying with his request. If each stick was checked after it was used to score a goal, you already have 20 or 30 seconds that the ball will be dead in which to check the stick. Of course the down side to this mechanic is when the referee's start taking away goals left and right for illegal sticks. And, imagine the position you put yourself in by doing this in an overtime game!? can you imagine a team winning in overtime, checking the stick of the player who just scored the game winning goal only to find it illegal and take the goal away and then the other team subsequently then scores to win the game in OT? I sure would hope there would be security to walk the officials off the field in that game!!!

[laxfan25]

And, imagine the position you put yourself in by doing this in an overtime game!? can you imagine a team winning in overtime, checking the stick of the player who just scored the game winning goal only to find it illegal and take the goal away and then the other team subsequently then scores to win the game in OT? I sure would hope there would be security to walk the officials off the field in that game!!!

The only saving grace here is that in an overtime game, the game is over when the winning goal is signalled. No stick checks after that goal, even from a coach's request. (Guido, Nikko! Get me to my car!)