Definition of an Assist

[Andy Sharp]

Lacrosse Assist: Any one direct pass by a player to a teammate who then scores a goal without having to dodge or evade an opponent other than the goalkeeper who is in the crease is recorded as an assist. There can be only one assist on any goal scored.

Not that I am not happy to have this great resource from USLIA.com, but after looking at the stats listings I felt the urge to start this re-curing thread, just in case there are those out there that confuse a hockey assist (or other more liberal definition) with a lacrosse assist.

Lacrosse stat collections never seem to be a totally reliable resource due to the infinite reasons for inaccuracy, for every stat other than hopefully goals, and even those are often not even entered by all teams.

I've been around a few reputable scorers tables in my days and have heard the "3 step rule" referenced, anyone know if this was ever specified by rule books or is it just a gentleman's rule.

Anyone have thoughts on this?

an assist shall be credited to the player or players taking part in the play preceding the goal, even though the play may originate in the defensive zone; but not more than two assists can be given on any goal.

[laxfan25]

I've been around the game for a little while, but have never heard the 3-step rule. According to the definition, unless the scorer has to dodge, an assist could be credited. That said, if I give you a pass at midlfield and you run all the way down and score, is that an assist?
It's because of all the whining about "hey, I should get an assist on that goal" that they discontiinued the practice of having the refs report the assists. It is irrelevant to the score of the game, so why involve them in it. Teams can track it if they want, and I'm sure there is as much mis-reporting on this stat as there is on goalie saves. In reality, a save should only be recorded on a shot on net, not one where the goalie catches a shot that was two feet over the goal.
Because of the inconsistencies in reporting these stats, I really don't put much weight in them when I see them on the web. $0.02.

[Grant Neeley]

I think the assumption might be that if it's more than 3 steps, the scorer probably had to dodge or make some other move prior to scoring. Also, the pass to the scorer must be caught in the stick, deflected shots are credited to the last player to touch it - but no assist can be given.

[Kevin OBrien]

That said, if I give you a pass at midlfield and you run all the way down and score, is that an assist?

I'd think that would have a fair shot of being called an assist. The purpose of the assist is to have the assister place the ball in a place where the scoring of the goal is made relatively easy so that the assister contributes to the score in a pretty direct way, like making it a 1v1 with the goalie. If in a botched clear the assister picks off a pass and throws it to an attackman who is between the other team and the goal, and the scorer makes a beeline to the goal and scores, I'd call that an assist. An assist is definitely NOT the last pass before a score...

[Chris Larson]

An assist is definitely NOT the last pass before a score...

I think you want to add the word 'always' to your statement

although there's probably something weak about stating this in the particular negative form (for all you logic buff out there)

[Kevin OBrien]

oops, yeah.

Sorry, an assist is always a pass before a score, but a pass before a score is not always an assist.

Hopefully that clarified it

[Gregg Pathiakis]

I have heard the three-step rule.. I have heard the five-step rule... but you're right, the number of steps the goal scorer took means absolutely nothing. A player who receives a pass at midfield and runs down the field, not dodging anyone (in which case the defensemen should probably see a lot of time on the bench afterwards), he should get an assist.

Another point to think about is that if a player gets a pass in front, but to the side of the goal, and runs horizontally across the field to get past the goalie, there should be no assist. This player dodged the goalie.

And please please please make it clear to all stat people that a shot is ANY time the player propelled the ball in any way (with his crosse, with his foot, with his head.. whatever) towards the vicinity of the goal AND the official calls it a shot (usually raises his hand and yells shot). This is unlike hockey where they use shot on goal. A save, on the otherhand, is anything that the goalie stops or deflects a shot in any way AND that the shot would have gone in the net were it not for the goalie stopping or deflecting it.

These are my biggest pet peeves.

[Chris Larson]

Lacrosse Assist: Any one direct pass by a player to a teammate who then scores a goal without having to dodge or evade an opponent other than the goalkeeper who is in the crease is recorded as an assist. There can be only one assist on any goal scored.

Gregg,

Andy has quoted from the NCAA rulebook. Please note the underlined passage.

CL

[Gregg Pathiakis]

Lacrosse Assist: Any one direct pass by a player to a teammate who then scores a goal without having to dodge or evade an opponent other than the goalkeeper who is in the crease is recorded as an assist. There can be only one assist on any goal scored.

Gregg,

Andy has quoted from the NCAA rulebook. Please note the underlined passage.

CL

I stand corrected. I have never noticed that part. I apoligize to those I argued with over this point in St. Louis too.

[Andy Sharp]

Not that I am not happy to have this great resource from USLIA.com

Where was my logic buffness at last night when I wrote that? Damn


I think the "3 step rule" lends some standardization as to when a goal is assisted.

I look at how the rulebook writers put in the word "evade", to me that suggests that there needs to be clear separation from defensive players for the over-the-top to really be assisted.

Call me a scrooge, but in both the over-the-top example and LaxFan25's instance, if the shooter's running ability determines whether he'll score or not, is that not evading?

The thing with one-on-one's with goalies remaining assistable is that the goalie stays in the crease, if he comes out, it's no long a fake, it's a dodge.

I come back to the question, if it takes the shooter more than 3 steps to get his shot off, was he really assisted? I think it holds up.

I feel that given the wide disparity in table staff’s quality without a clear & simple "3 step rule" there will never be any legitimacy to this stat.

[laxfan25]

I think the 3-step rule would be even LESS clear! Now you're going to have people counting steps?? They can't even get all the ground balls, clears, failed clears, etc.
As far as evading, I would make the condition that the defender had to be between the ball carrier and the goal. Running ahead of someone wouldn't be a dodge or evasion in my book. I'm not trying to be evasive here!
As far as what is a shot, I do like to make the call "shot", not overly loud, just so there is no argument when the ball goes out (or less of one). However, I know that some officials frown on the practice of saying shot. In my mind, it's preventive officiating. I must say there have been some very horrible looking shots, where the ball goes flying off at a weird angle, nowhere near the goal, but waht I am judging is the intent of the player, just like sometimes a pass will go close to the goal, but you can tell that he was actually trying to feed a teammate. Lot of judgement calls by the officials - it's why we're so good!

[Andy Sharp]

I think the 3-step rule would be even LESS clear! Now you're going to have people counting steps?

I thought it had been established that what we have now doesn't work?

It needs to be easier for any stat crew to record the same numbers with less judgement calls or room for fudging.

For the table staff to remember back 3 steps is asking a lot less than the instance you brought up earlier. Once a shooter has gone more than 3 steps they don't need to remember who passed it to them anymore, it's just a goal.

Running ahead of someone wouldn't be a dodge or evasion in my book.

Synonyms for "evade" in MS Outlook: escape, elude, avoid, shirk.

I do like the soft voice game management style, cause those officials who just bark out calls like everything is crystal clear must have a few screws loose. But we're talking assists here, focus.

[laxfan25]

Which gets back to the point why the officials don't want to bother with stats like assists.
The rulebook definition of an assist that you cite makes no mention of 3-steps, so why amend it on your own? But since it is an unofficial stat, teams are free to adopt whatever policy they like.
Regarding the "soft" call, I only do that on shots because I've heard other "high-ranking" officials that don't like it (why that is so is beyond me.) Any other call is loud and clear, as it should be.

[Andy Sharp]

Which gets back to the point why the officials don't want to bother with stats like assists.

Let's leave it to those wonderful stat persons.

Oh, I thought you were a lacrosse fan, , who would've known. I agree we wouldn't their heads to explode. Oh, right, I'm an official also, damn.

[laxfan25]

I agree we wouldn't their heads to explode.

If you mean the officials, it's not that they're incapable, but as I said earlier - it doesn't affect the game, and there were way too many instances of lobbying for assists, denying that an assist was earned, that four steps were taken, etc. etc., so just leave it to the teams to award assists as they would like so the players will feel better. Now the refs just have to get the ball ready for play within 20 seconds and life is good.