NEW Stick Check Procedures!

[LaxRef]

TO confirm one point on this discussion - the scoop width dimension that will be measured is 6.5 inches at it's widest point and will be measured ONLY from the front. There will be no measurement of the back of the scoop - correct? Thanks for the confirmation in advance.

That is correct per COC bulletin. In 2009, the back will be measured and will have to be at least 6 inches, not 6.5 inches.

[Jolly Roger]

I think officials are going to have to have cheat sheets next to their scorecards early this year.

[Andy Sharp]

It could just be centripital force that is causing the pocket to look excessive - but he would be a good candidate to check out! I'm sure all of the Maroon and Gold will be up to snuff this season!

I feel like my bigger problem is that too many of my guys have no idea what is going on with a pocket and wouldn't know the first thing about how to make a deep pocket that can throw.

As a ref myself and manager of a lax gear website, it would be tough for guys to sneak by without me catching obvious attempts to stretch the head rules, but with these upcoming rules it is getting ever more important to have a skilled protractition on your bench.

I am afraid we are entering an age where any ref on a mission can punish a team 3 minutes (aka 3 goals) anytime they feel like it.

[LaxRef]

I am afraid we are entering an age where any ref on a mission can punish a team 3 minutes (aka 3 goals) anytime they feel like it.

I find it offensive that you believe officials are "out to get" certain teams.

[Jolly Roger]

If the "mission" is to eliminate advantages gained by cheating, I'm all for it.

[Sonny]

If the "mission" is to eliminate advantages gained by cheating, I'm all for it.

I thought Pirates were all about cheating.

[laxfan25]

with these upcoming rules it is getting ever more important to have a skilled protractition on your bench.

I am afraid we are entering an age where any ref on a mission can punish a team 3 minutes (aka 3 goals) anytime they feel like it.

The rules haven't changed at all - they've just increased the number of times per game that we are asked to check on it.

Your paranoia is also mis-directed. It is the COACHES that have requested this change - the refs are just asked to enforce the requirements that they have asked for. The biggest reason for this change is that the coaches know that there are a lot of illegal sticks out there - but are unwilling to ask for stick checks themselves, since it violates the unwritten code that it is unsporting to ask for checks on your opponents' equipment. So instead, the coaches have mandated the officials to do this for them. If a team's gear is legal, there should be no problem at all. Given your background, I assumed that you would be one of the ones that made sure that there weren't any penalties on your team - hence the wink after my comment.

Nothing would make me happier than to have a game where we don't have any penalty flags - for any reason.

[horn17]

I am afraid we are entering an age where any ref on a mission can punish a team 3 minutes (aka 3 goals) anytime they feel like it.

I find it offensive that you believe officials are "out to get" certain teams.

You would be suprised about the personal vendettas some refrees carry around with them.....

[murphlaxtx]

Rob, we had MANY stick checks in our game against TCU last weekend. I do not recall a single time that they checked it from the back of the stick. I hope that helps. One thing about the multiple stick checks is that it slowed the game down, which can be good or bad depending on your perspective.

[GrayBear]

I thought Pirates were all about cheating.

Although that's part of the code,

you must be a pirate for the pirate's code to apply and you're not. And thirdly, the code is more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules.

[Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl]

[Rob Graff]

Scott, Thanks for the update. Were there any 3 Min penalties, or did the players get the message?

Rob

[murphlaxtx]

We had one, the stick was measured before the game and we thought it was legal. They checked it after a goal and gave us a penalty. We asked what the problem was and they couldn't get into specifics.

[cjwilhelmi]

We had one, the stick was measured before the game and we thought it was legal. They checked it after a goal and gave us a penalty. We asked what the problem was and they couldn't get into specifics.

I complained about this last year on the boards (Sonny told me to basically shut up and quit harrasing refs) but I am going to bring it up again. I had a player who's stick was measured before the game by the head ref, found to be legal then checked mid game and found to be illegal. I asked for the ref to tell me what was wrong with it (big difference between 1 and 3 minute unreleasables) and was told that they couldn't go into it.

I honestly believe that if the head coach asks for an explanation the explanation be given. I dont know if it was just the ref that I had that game or if it is common practice not to get into stick penalties but I still feel really sore about it.

[Sonny]

I had a player who's stick was measured before the game by the head ref, found to be legal then checked mid game and found to be illegal. I asked for the ref to tell me what was wrong with it (big difference between 1 and 3 minute unreleasables) and was told that they couldn't go into it.

I honestly believe that if the head coach asks for an explanation the explanation be given. I dont know if it was just the ref that I had that game or if it is common practice not to get into stick penalties but I still feel really sore about it.

I have no problem with quickly telling a coach what is wrong with the stick (too short, head is pinched/too narrow, pocket is too deep, etc.) - but referees are instructed not to remeasure at all. That's where the problem comes in.

They should be able to "go into that" without any problem and keep the game moving along.

[murphlaxtx]

Just for clarification, I had approached the ref after the game. I am not complaining....I just didn't realize he couldn't remeasure it or anything like that at that point. Oh well, live and learn.