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NCAA supports new dimensions for lacrosse sticks
Changes would encourage better passing
By Kevin Van Valkenburg
Sun reporter
Originally published September 8, 2006

If the NCAA proceeds with proposed rule changes setting new guidelines for lacrosse sticks, you might see fewer flashy moves in traffic and more ground balls, but possibly also better passing.

Citing concerns that the ball no longer dislodges often enough from a player's stick upon contact, the sport's rules committee has recommended that lacrosse sticks return to a design that is bigger, more triangular, and more traditional in shape.

The recommendations - which must be approved by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel before they become official, and would not be enforced until 2009 - were made public yesterday after being recommended last month.

"Our major concern is that the ball is not coming out of the stick as easily as it should," said Willie Scroggs, senior associate athletics director at North Carolina, who is chairman of the rules committee. "These specifications will reign in the sticks while still allowing manufacturers plenty of time to adjust."

For the 2006 season, the rules committee voted to encourage officials to make more frequent stick checks, especially at times when players do not expect them.

The hands and arms have always been considered as part of the stick on an offensive player in possession of the ball but the legs and back have never been.

SDSULAX wrote:If they keep it up we could end up with a game that consists of 4 quarters each 15 minutes long in a game that lasts 4 hours.

Starting with the 2009 season, the lacrosse stick will have the following dimensions, in addition to the current specifications:
The measurement at the widest part of the crosse shall be a minimum of 6 1/2 inches measured at the inside front of the crosse and a minimum of 6 inches on the back of the crosse;
The measurement up from the stop to the 5-inch mark may not be less than 4 1/4 inches at the front and back of the crosse;
The measurement up from the stop to the 3-inch mark may not be less than 3 1/4 inches at the front and back of the crosse; and
The measurement up from the stop to the 1 1/4-inch mark may not be less than 2 3/4inches at the front and back of the crosse.

Additionally, the committee voted to eliminate the ball stop as a required part of the stick.

SDSULAX wrote:I don't feel that it is part of the referee's job to add any additional time to the game or to delay or disrupt the flow of the game. But, that is just my opinion.

SDSULAX wrote:If we didn't want the rules enforced it would be easy, there would be no referees, right now the rules are clear about stick checks and when they can occur,

SDSULAX wrote:it seems as the rules committee is adding a device that can be misused to change the flow of the game which I feel is a mistake. I also am totally against players playing with illegal equipment.

Jester wrote:Looks like Warrior bought a company with a just to have to end up redesigning two complete stick lines. I walked through the measurements, and I'm pretty sure my unpinched, unwarped original Razor is not going to be legal for long. As far as the new sticks go, the Razor is huge, too, but it's too narrow at the 3 inch mark.

Anybody else try this? Are my readings of the proposed rules wrong, or is my Proton the only legal stick out there anymore?