New Rules for '06

[slider]

What does everyone think of the rules that made it into the books for '06? Although I've heard it's been doing okay in practice, the new faceoff rule concerns me. I don't see how it's really going to cut down on FO infractions. Also, the rule about flag down situations could potentially slow down the game (which is precisely what the committee does not want to do). I can easily see a scenario where the flag goes down and the offensive team subs their best offensive players onto the field to run a play. Essentially, the offense gets a completely free possession and can get the "right" guys on the field to run a play. I think they might have made a mistake on this one. This also was a rule before and was taken out of the books, so I don't see why it's made a come back. Anyway, that's my two cents. Any thoughts?

[Kyle Berggren]

The faceoff rule has been great. No jockeying for position, just down, whistle. Violations are few and far between when the official doesn't wait 30 seconds like he was going to say "Set." Overall I've really liked the new rules, except for the flag down/ball down rule. Sadly, I'm sure we'll end up scoring more because of it than being scored on, but I don't like how it can absolutley change the tempo of the game. At one point in practice our offense decided to torment the d when the flag was down (just a loose fall scrimmage). About 8 minutes later they shot, and it was cleared. Now we did man-up and it just deflated the d.

I was glad that it happened now, because it will happen again. Our guys can be ready for that let down and not shocked by it.

[LaxRef]

I don't have strong feelings about either of the rule changes mentioned above. However, nothing is going to fix the faceoffs as long as the coaches don't really want it fixed (they change the mechanics repeatedly, they tell the officials we have to call the violations or we'll lose playoff assignments, they change the mechanics again, they change the rules . . . . but as long as the coaches freak out when the officials make the right illegal procedure calls, the NCAA officials aren't going to call it).

However, overall this version of the rulebook is fantastic. They've clarified a lot of gray areas, tightened up vague wording, and made other improvements.

[wheelz33]

for those of us that are too lazy to go through the rulebook and figure out what the new rules are, could somebody summarize them? whats the new flag down rule? thanks...

[beckner11]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but it is that if a flag goes down, play doesn't stop until the defense gets posession, the ball goes out of bounds or the player leaves the box. Also, if I LOOSE BALL push is committed, it will now be a 30 second technical as well that way defensemen can't just knock the ball down then commit a push to stop play. It forces the defense to actually control when things are stopped rather than an offensive error.

[laxfan25]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but it is that if a flag goes down, play doesn't stop until the defense gets posession, the ball goes out of bounds or the player leaves the box. Also, if I LOOSE BALL push is committed, it will now be a 30 second technical as well that way defensemen can't just knock the ball down then commit a push to stop play. It forces the defense to actually control when things are stopped rather than an offensive error.

That is correct, that technical fouls during the flag-down are time-serving, even if the ball is loose.

[LaxRef]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but it is that if a flag goes down, play doesn't stop until the defense gets posession, the ball goes out of bounds or the player leaves the box. Also, if I LOOSE BALL push is committed, it will now be a 30 second technical as well that way defensemen can't just knock the ball down then commit a push to stop play. It forces the defense to actually control when things are stopped rather than an offensive error.

That is correct, that technical fouls during the flag-down are time-serving, even if the ball is loose.

Only technical fouls by the defense are time serving, though.

[laxfan25]

Only technical fouls by the defense are time serving, though.

Yes, a technical on the attack would simply kill the slow-whistle.