USL COC Newsletter for 2/14/07

[Sonny]

US LACROSSE COLLEGIATE OFFICIALS COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER 2/14/07

FROM CHUCK WINTERS, NCAA RULES SECRETARY AND WARREN KIMBER, NCAA NCO:

If a head coach sends over half of his team before the game to have their sticks checked, notify him that you will do only a maximum of four (4) stick checks before the game. Coaches need to be reminded that they certify before the game that ALL of the equipment used by their team meets rulebook specifications.

Before the game, notify the head coach that if any of his players adjusts the strings of his crosse after an official asks for the crosse and a goal is scored, there will be an immediate flag, loss of goal, one (1) minute penalty and loss of ball.

After a goal is scored the head official conducts a random check of A1's crosse. A1 pulls his strings before handing his crosse to the lead official. The lead should immediately throw his flag and this will be the only penalty assessed. The trail and single side officials should delay a second to see if the lead has a penalty for pulling strings. At that time they would hand the crosse they were going to inspect back to the player and move to midfield for the restart.

A1 scores a goal and the lead official asks for his crosse to do a random check. At the same time, the crosse of B1 is checked and both crosses are found to be illegal, (tampered with). RULING: Goal is disallowed, A1 and B1 serve three (3) minute non-releasable penalties. The penalties are simultaneous so you go to alternate possession (AP). The ball is awarded to team by AP, twenty (20) yards laterally from the goal.

A1 scores a goal and the lead official asks for his crosse to do a random check. At the same time, the crosse of B1 is checked and both crosses are found to be illegal. A1 for a tampered crosse and B1 for a deep pocket. RULING: Goal is disallowed, the ball is awarded to B twenty (20) yards laterally from the goal due to less penalty time being served by B1.

It is strongly suggested that six (6) stick checks be conducted throughout the game and the last one (1) to be completed before the middle of the fourth (4) quarter. Remember the coach always has the right to request a stick check in addition to those you conduct.

The stick checks are to be random. They are to be done during the game without interfering with the flow or the momentum of the game. Appropriate intervals: team time out, TV time outs (when applicable) injury time outs, between periods and just before the start of the second half. The officiating crew is to decide the times during the game when they plan to do the stick checks in their pre-game meeting.

U-19 Try-Outs
1. Location - UMBC.
2. When: July 12-15, 2007
3. Fee: $200
4. Send Al Blau resume ASAP

Eric Evans
COC Secretary

[shrekjr]

Two major changes I see...

1- only a maximum of four (4) stick checks (per team) before the game

2- After a goal is scored the head official conducts a random check of A1's crosse. A1 pulls his strings before handing his crosse to the lead official. The lead should immediately throw his flag and this will be the only penalty assessed. The trail and single side officials should delay a second to see if the lead has a penalty for pulling strings. At that time they would hand the crosse they were going to inspect back to the player and move to midfield for the restart.

And even though not specified, I have to assume that jamming the stick into the ground is still equivalent to pulling the strings, as before.

[Andy Sharp]

After a goal is scored the head official conducts a random check of A1's crosse. A1 pulls his strings before handing his crosse to the lead official. The lead should immediately throw his flag and this will be the only penalty assessed. The trail and single side officials should delay a second to see if the lead has a penalty for pulling strings. At that time they would hand the crosse they were going to inspect back to the player and move to midfield for the restart.

Can I get further explanation of this part? It's not making complete sense at this late hour.

Are they saying that if a player pulls his strings after being asked for his stick, he will get a 1 minute penalty and his stick would not be checked further and therefore vulnerable to a 3 minute NR? Let off easy?

Or, are they trying to say that if a goal scorer adjusts his strings after a goal it is an automatic 1 minute personal, even if other players' sticks were in the process of being checked.

If a head coach sends over half of his team before the game to have their sticks checked, notify him that you will do only a maximum of four (4) stick checks before the game.

This would suggest I could send 15 of my 32, but if I sent 16 they would be sent back? I've had trouble counting to 3 or 4 on offside calls, I know I'm not alone, this rule creates a serious barrier to entry or cause for early retirement.

[LaxRef]

After a goal is scored the head official conducts a random check of A1's crosse. A1 pulls his strings before handing his crosse to the lead official. The lead should immediately throw his flag and this will be the only penalty assessed. The trail and single side officials should delay a second to see if the lead has a penalty for pulling strings. At that time they would hand the crosse they were going to inspect back to the player and move to midfield for the restart.

Can I get further explanation of this part? It's not making complete sense at this late hour.

Are they saying that if a player pulls his strings after being asked for his stick, he will get a 1 minute penalty and his stick would not be checked further and therefore vulnerable to a 3 minute NR? Let off easy?

That appears to be exactly what they're saying, in contradiction of Rule 5 A.R. 5

Or, are they trying to say that if a goal scorer adjusts his strings after a goal it is an automatic 1 minute personal, even if other players' sticks were in the process of being checked.

Nope. There can be no foul for adjusting unless the adjusting occurs after the official requests the stick.

If a head coach sends over half of his team before the game to have their sticks checked, notify him that you will do only a maximum of four (4) stick checks before the game.

This would suggest I could send 15 of my 32, but if I sent 16 they would be sent back? I've had trouble counting to 3 or 4 on offside calls, I know I'm not alone, this rule creates a serious barrier to entry or cause for early retirement.

I find your reading of this to be quite amusing, yet entirely logically correct!

[laxref53]

So--

I score a goal. The ref calls for my stick. I know if my stick is illegal I lose my goal and stick-- or I can touch the head, take the 1-minute penalty and keep the stick as well as the goal.

Brilliant!!

[LaxRef]

So--

I score a goal. The ref calls for my stick. I know if my stick is illegal I lose my goal and stick-- or I can touch the head, take the 1-minute penalty and keep the stick as well as the goal.

Brilliant!!

Yeah, this makes no sense. Although keeping the stick is no great benefit, since it will still be illegal and put you in the same quandry the next time you score. And if the officials don't pick you for a random check when you score again, the opposing coach would have to be on horse tranquilizers to not request a check.

Hmmm. . . . horse tranquilizers for coaches? I can think of a few who could use them.

[laxfan25]

So--

I score a goal. The ref calls for my stick. I know if my stick is illegal I lose my goal and stick-- or I can touch the head, take the 1-minute penalty and keep the stick as well as the goal.

Brilliant!!

Not so brilliant. If you scored a goal and touch the head after being called for a stick check, the goal is coming off the board regardless of whether the stick is measured to be legal.

[LaxRef]

So--

I score a goal. The ref calls for my stick. I know if my stick is illegal I lose my goal and stick-- or I can touch the head, take the 1-minute penalty and keep the stick as well as the goal.

Brilliant!!

Not so brilliant. If you scored a goal and touch the head after being called for a stick check, the goal is coming off the board regardless of whether the stick is measured to be legal.

Oh, I missed the part where he thought he saved the goal. But I don't understand why they're trying to give people a way to save 2:00 of penalty time on an illegal stick.

BTW, if this happens and you don't check a defensive player, I would assume that the does not count toward the mandate of checking 6 players from each team since you'd have inspected Team A six times and Team B only 5 times by the end of the game.

[laxref53]

My mistake on the loss of goal. That's covered by A.R. 5 on page 62 of the NCAA book. However, much of that A.R. is now wrong given the Newsletter-- or am I missing something again?

[LaxRef]

My mistake on the loss of goal. That's covered by A.R. 5 on page 62 of the NCAA book. However, much of that A.R. is now wrong given the Newsletter-- or am I missing something again?

I am told that there will be a clarification to the clarification out soon. You're right: this contradicts Rule 5 A.R. 5. The NCAA can do that, of course, but it's unclear if that's what they intended.

[Vox]

Is the intent of the new stick check process to catch the cheaters. If so, please consider:

The type of player most likely to knowingly use illegal crosse:
a. The “dodgers” who aren’t hesitant to take on an opponent
b. The are also the “go to” players on their team
c. The “long pole” who is nearly always the first outlet pass on a clear
d. The “scooper” who always seems to come up with the ground balls

When will a player knowingly using an illegal crosse likely use it:
a. First time on the field
b. During man-up or man-down situations
c. When he substitutes on-the-fly
d. Near the end of the game when tied or 1 goal down
e. At the end of 1st and 3rd periods when they think we won’t check.
f. After we’ve done the 6th stick check of the game
g. In overtime

Players knowingly using an illegal crosse are likely to quickly sub out, in both special and regular substitution situations.

The COC newsletter guidance provides significant restrictions on the official's use of judgement and observation to catch the cheaters.

Reliance on a coaches challenge in the last part of the game puts some of the responsibility on them in a close game. Not a bad idea.

Consider the OT game. By AR123 on page 59, the coach can't challenge the legality of the crosse of the scorer. If we'd deny the goal over a less egregious infraction (e.g., team A is off side when A1 scores in OT), why wouldn't we want to check the crosse? Or permit the coach to request it?

Again, the premise is that we're to catch the cheaters.

[laxfan25]

Consider the OT game. By AR123 on page 59, the coach can't challenge the legality of the crosse of the scorer. If we'd deny the goal over a less egregious infraction (e.g., team A is off side when A1 scores in OT), why wouldn't we want to check the crosse? Or permit the coach to request it?

By rule, once a goal is scored in OT the game is over, and the officials crew is quickly exiting to the locker room/parking lot. No time for a stick check. (unless they decide to re-write that portion of the rules - in which case we would be happy to conduct the check).

[shrekjr]

(unless they decide to re-write that portion of the rules - in which case we would be happy to conduct the check).

In which case we'd be checking every scoring stick in every OT game.

[Vox]

So, to belabor the point, in an OT game, the cheater gets to win.

By rule, we can't check his stick after the goal.

By procedure in the newsletter, we're not check his stick even if we see it obviously illegal when he brings it on the field.

And the coaches wanted this procedure?

[LaxRef]

So, to belabor the point, in an OT game, the cheater gets to win.

By rule, we can't check his stick after the goal.

By procedure in the newsletter, we're not check his stick even if we see it obviously illegal when he brings it on the field.

And the coaches wanted this procedure?

If the stick is obviously illegal, the head coach can request the stick be inspected before he scores with it. In principle, the advantage gained by playing with an illegal stick in overtime could be negated by the opposing coach calling for an equipment check: if you score before you get checked, you win the game, but if you get checked first, you probably lose the game.