Pull string

[LaxRef]

NCAA rules.

GK B1 makes a save, clears the ball by himself, shoots, and scores a goal. Right after the goal, the officials clearly see the goalie pull a string on the head of his crosse.

Ruling?

[Sonny]

No goal. B1 serves one-minute NR foul. A1 ball.

Why would this situation be any different then a "field player" doing the same thing?

[Buc_em_up]

No way!? not that I am a goalie or i see a lot of goalies scoring, but it doesnt seem like the pull string rule should apply to a stick which no other stringing requirements apply to. Of course i have never read the rule book, but that just doesnt make sense.

[Sonny]

Of course i have never read the rule book, but that just doesnt make sense.

Perhaps you should read the rule book sometime, especially the rule changes for 2008.

[laxfan25]

I'm with Sonny on this one - there is no differentiation for goalies in the new rule this year on pulling the strings after scoring a goal, even if the stick has not been called for by the ref.
Spend some time with the rulebook, Buc-'em - especially goalkeeper privileges - you might learn some useful things!

[LaxRef]

By the letter of the law, it's clearly no goal and a 1:00 NR USC. But since the whole point of the rule is to keep players from having an illegally deep pocket, and then making it legal after scoring a goal, it seems out of line for that to apply to a GK (who can have a pocket as deep as he wants).

[laxdad03]

For what it's worth, it similarly doesn't seem too likely that a goalie would have a pull-string, for the purposes of altering his pocket, anyway; so unless he's just absent-mindedly caressing his stick in a way that violates a rule as written, hopefully this situation won't arise too often. But it does point out an interesting situation, and what LaxRef says makes a lot of sense: by application of a rule in the book, as long as it's there, it ought to be enforced evenly, but perhaps the rule could stand a bit of clarification in that case.

[BlueJaysLaxFan]

My initial reaction to this question is to call a 1mNR on the goalie because this is the rule, and after thinking about it and seeing other's responses, I would still ding the keeper for the pull string. I myself do not know why a GK would have a pull string to create an advantage, but there may be a reason that I do not know about today or in the future. I've seen some keepers who are excellent on the clear for aim, speed, and accuracy, and their crosses (that I have seen) have well placed shooter strings. Now, can a pull string make a difference? I personally do not know but the GK may think that they are creating an advantage by having one.

[LaxRef]

Keep in mind the rule that says:

Any strings or leathers used to attach the pocket to the crosse are limited to a hanging length of 2 inches. The use of pull strings to alter the depth of the pocket is illegal.

So I think it really is about altering the depth of the pocket.

[BlueJaysLaxFan]

Yes, I should have cited that the rule says altering pocket depth, and what I was visualizing was altering the pocket depth to gain some type of advantage. Again, I do not know why a keeper would gain any advantage with a pull string, but the rules are clear at this point.

[LaxRef]

Yes, I should have cited that the rule says altering pocket depth, and what I was visualizing was altering the pocket depth to gain some type of advantage. Again, I do not know why a keeper would gain any advantage with a pull string, but the rules are clear at this point.

Well, but only because no one thought of this situation when they wrote the rule.

[nhoskins]

Teams in the PNCLL were instructed this weekend to cut all strings as well as excess mesh to 2 inches or less. What do you guys think about this rule? I understand it is to combat pull strings...

[Sonny]

Teams in the PNCLL were instructed this weekend to cut all strings as well as excess mesh to 2 inches or less. What do you guys think about this rule? I understand it is to combat pull strings...

This doesn't just apply to the PNCLL teams. It's one of the new NCAA rules for 2008.

[LaxRef]

Teams in the PNCLL were instructed this weekend to cut all strings as well as excess mesh to 2 inches or less. What do you guys think about this rule? I understand it is to combat pull strings...

They should not be telling you to cut the mesh. They should be telling you to cut the strings.

[nhoskins]

Teams in the PNCLL were instructed this weekend to cut all strings as well as excess mesh to 2 inches or less. What do you guys think about this rule? I understand it is to combat pull strings...

They should not be telling you to cut the mesh. They should be telling you to cut the strings.

Not the mesh? A bit late for that now...

This doesn't just apply to the PNCLL teams. It's one of the new NCAA rules for 2008.

Yeah, I figured as much. Really mixed up the warm-up though being told 20 minutes prior to face-off that strings had to go. Then again, I suppose we should know the rules...