Legal lacrosse field issues

[laxfan25]

As we get ready to head into the new season, I just wanted to remind all teams about requirements for field markings.
As Sonny has pointed out in other posts, the proper field markings are illustrated in the 2005 NCAA rule book.
There are certain elements of the field marking rules that can be waived by mutual consent of the competing institutions. These include field dimensions, goal design, outside field markings (boxes, spectator lines, etc.). However, if the visiting team decides to be pricklers about it, they can refuse to agree to waive the rule. It is then incumbent on the coach of the home team to 1) correct before gametime with no penalty 2) correct, but delay the start of the game - in which case the visitors would start with possession, or 3) if unable or unwilling to correct, it is a 3-minute non-releaseable penalty to start!

Last year, for the first time ever in 36 years of lacrosse, I had two different visiting teams call for the 3 minutes, because the field was too short or too narrow. It is certainly their perogative to do so, so be forewarned! (Incidentally, both teams that called for the penalty ended up losing the games, so I guess you could call it poetic justice! I come from the school of thought where I would rather beat you fair and square on the field of play, rather than by invoking technicalities -but that's just me.)
Has anyone else ever had that penalty called on them, or called it on another team? I'm just curious...

[bste_lax]

Any Iowa home game last year minus our last one when our new goals finally came in, we started the game 3 minutes down. Stupid school losing our old goals that were flat bottomed.

[Larsen]

We got penalized last year. The Club sports department lined the field for us and it was correctly done. The problem was that the game was the first day of our spring break and the field maintenance crews, assuming the fields would be unused over the break, applied a 'top dressing' of sand to the field, completely obscuring the lines. a trip to walmart and 14 cans of orange field paint later we had the field ready to go but were hit with a delay of game...

[TexOle]

In the UMLL many times teams will play games at other school's facilities. Last year one team was playing the day before on the St. Olaf field. They were informed that the goals were illegal, but the visiting team that day decided to waive the rule. There was another field issue, but that was fixed an hour before the game. The next day the home team from the day before was the visiting team against Olaf. They made sure the officials knew the goals were illegal and had the penalty enforced. The visiting team got slaughtered that day. It should also be noted that the team who had the penalty enforced caused a delay of their first game, but that penalty was also waived for them.

The team that chose not to have the penalty enforced had to play a playoff game at Olaf. Olaf made lots of accomodations to have the game played at their field. They did borrow Carleton's goals. As soon as the other team got off their vans they told the officials to check to see if the goals were legal. The leadership in the UMLL told the officials that they were to assume the goals were legal.

When the goals were purchased years ago the team was told they were legal for play. Now the team is told the goals are illegal. There are times that teams should be thankful they have a place to play. It is one thing if a field is not fit for play, but if it is something minor let it go.

[John Paul]

Unfortunately, some things can't be let go. We play by NCAA rules with no exceptions. There are some rules in the rule book that are adjustable if both coaches agree (field dimensions, length of quarters, etc. - see the rule book at http://www2.ncaa.org/media_and_events/ncaa_publications/playing_rules/), and there are some things that are not waivable, like goals, uniforms, etc. Officials are not allowed to make exceptions. It's each team's responsibility to know the rule book and if they have some things that need to be addressed to take care of them in advance.

[TexOle]

I definitely understand the issues with some aspects. The goals were illegal, but it was not a significant. The rule issue with the goals was the bottom pipes come in a little instead of going straight back or out like the rule book requires. The object of this rule is to prevent a ball from bouncing out of the goal. I guess we should just tell our Club Sports director that we need in ground goals and cement those bad boys in the ground. I am sure every other team would love that.

St. Olaf put an injured player as the in house that game so he served the penalty. He just suited up for the game for that very reason. He started the game in the box. I do not remember that player actually stepping on the field.

I will admit that I saw 5 different players on the team that called Olaf for the illegal goals playing with illegal equipment. St. Olaf was nice to let them play with their illegal equipment. If the game ever got close Olaf was ready to put every player they had with illegal equipment in the box.

Let the team that has never had any illegal field or equipment throw the first stone in these games.

[Danny Hogan]

the in-home has to be a dressed starting attackman.

[Gary Robinson]

Its supposed to be the first attackman listed in the scorebook I believe.

[TexOle]

Where in the rule book does it say that he must be fit for play? I cannot find anything in the rule book that says he cannot be injured. Now if he had a huge cast on his leg that would be one issue, but this player had no signs of a major injury. He was the first attack listed in the book. All rules were met.

[Kyle Berggren]

My favorite violations are fashion violations. The undershirt rules can be good, but my favorite, was when we were called for having numbers 1/2 inch too short on the front. This was while I was playing years ago, but still funny now that I look back on it....

[John Paul]

Tex,

Rule 2, section 1. He must be an attack, listed first in the book if you list attack at the top, or last in the book if you list attack at the bottom. He must be a starter in the game. (A.R. 2)

[TexOle]

All he has to do is start. In this case he starts the game in the sin bin. If the other team had commented on whether he was fit for play then Olaf would have put him on the field for a few short shifts. There is no definition with regards to playing time. We are liberal arts students who tend to think too much.

On a side note it is nice to see someone who actually reads the rule book. When you start reading it you learn how to make the rules work in your benefit. I still remember a HS coach in a game that I was officiating who needed a timeout, but did not have one. He used his equipment check for that timeout.

[laxfan25]

If the player that Tex was referring to was dressed for the game, able to come out for the lineup and then went to the penalty box to serve the 3 min penalty and never actually entered the game, I would call that a legal play. (Assuming of course that he was identified by the coach as the in-home. I don't know too many refs that have then checked the scorebook to see if he is listed first. As long as he is a starting attackman is good enough for me.)

[laxfan25]

In reply to John Paul, there are certain parts of the field setup that are very important, and goals are a big one. I just am troubled by someone being called for not having all of the outside markings in place, or someone playing on an artificial turf football field that is 53 yds wide rather than 60 and getting dinged if the opponent wants to play hardball..

[John Paul]

Agreed laxfan. Those are adjustable rules in the rule book for a reason. You would hope an opposing coach would not penalize a team for a rule that is allowed to be altered. A lot of teams, varsity and club (us included), play on fields that are a little narrow or permanently lined a certain way.

As to the issue of getting around the rules, but still technically following them - that's an ethical question. Everyone has to decide for themselves what their personal ethics are, and what lessons they want to teach their own players. Not to pass judgement - I've weaved through the rules myself of course.