LaxTV Forums | A Forum About The MCLA

In a fall ball game yesterday, a player of mine had his stick checked at the midfield line. He was on one side and the stick landed on other (out of reach). For him to get his stick he would've had to go offsides. The ball ended up going out of bounds resulting in a horn, so it was a non-issue.

Does anyone know what one would have to do in a live situation? Would a teammate have to give the player back his stick? Would someone have to crossover so that he could get the stick himself? If the ball was away, could the player step over and grab it and not be called offsides?

In the live ball situation, he would have to wait for a teammate to come back so he could go over and get his stick, or a teammate could get it and give it back, or he could tippy-toe over and try to grab it before the ref spots him, at which time the opponents would be raising a ruckus trying to get the refs' attention. Or just wait for a dead ball.
Question for all; what if his stick was checked out of his hands, and one of the opponents kicked it over the line so he couldn't retrieve it without going offsides. You've got the whistle - what's your call?

Offsides is a technical penalty. The ruling depends partially on who has the ball. If the other team has the ball then we have a flag down. If the ball is loose then it is a play on. If you have possession then you turn it over. I guess you could also make a case for playing without proper equipment. In all honesty if the play is on the other half of the field and this player makes no attempt to join in the play I don't think it is worth calling him offsides, because he went to pick up his stick. I often think that it is better to not make a call when the play is not affected. Neither team has gained or lost the advantage so why penalize one team. I know this might not be what a lot of people want to hear, but I feel there are times there are times where avoiding the issue is better than instigating. Yes, the player is offsides, but there is no reason to penalize him if he did not affect the play. I think a lot of officials would tell you that offsides away from the play might be the most missed call in lacrosse so you can always tell the coach you were watching the play of the game and you missed it, but you will look for it. My final argument is a loose stick on the field presents some concerns for injuries so I would want it off. I have seen one official toss the stick back over. This is a tough call, but I like the no call. Also tell your player that you look really like a fool when you lose your stick.

LaxTchr wrote:In a fall ball game yesterday, a player of mine had his stick checked at the midfield line. He was on one side and the stick landed on other (out of reach). For him to get his stick he would've had to go offsides. The ball ended up going out of bounds resulting in a horn, so it was a non-issue.

Does anyone know what one would have to do in a live situation? Would a teammate have to give the player back his stick? Would someone have to crossover so that he could get the stick himself? If the ball was away, could the player step over and grab it and not be called offsides?

The rules address this directly. Well, sort of. They say:

NCAA Rule 6-6 wrote:b. Illegal actions with crosse—A player shall not:
(1) Throw his crosse under any circumstances.
(2) Take part in the play of the game in any manner without his crosse, except for substitution.
Should a player lose his crosse in any legal way, so that repossession of the crosse would cause him to violate a rule, the slow whistle (7-8) shall be employed by an official.

Should the crosse be in the crease so as to possibly interfere with the goalkeeper’s play of an attempted shot at the goal, play shall be suspended immediately.

I'm not sure exactly what that bold part means. It sounds like you're supposed to wait to blow the whistle until. . . until. . .I don't know when. But I don't think the guy gets to go across midfield to get it. He can certainly run to the sideline to get a new one, or sub out, as long as he doesn't interfere with the play. Of course, if offsides is an issue, chances are the play is at the other end of the field anyway.

If a teammate is not in proximity to the loose stick to kick it back over, the player who lost the stick should sprint to the bench for a subsitute or stick exchange. Once he goes over, it is offsides and the penalty enforcement will be depending upon the nature of the ball when the penalty is called.