New Stick-Check rules

[TheNino57]

I had my first experience this weekend with the new stick check rules for this season. Six times during the game (at random stoppages of play) two sticks are checked. I found this to be distracting and the checks became "free" time-outs. This is good news for teams with smaller rosters and bad news for teams hoping to exploit a team's smaller roster. I was hoping to get some opinions from others around the league. What do you guys think about it?

[danza]

a. you shouldn't have to exploit a teams smaller roster to win.
b. you shoulldn't play with any illegal sticks
c. stop whining and just play the game

[TheBearcatHimself]

c. stop whining and just play the game

Well that's a little harsh, yeesh.

Well I would say that this new rule was at the very least distracting and extremely time consuming. Often momentum off of goals is immediately erased. And here is the clincher for me: a stick that was checked three times and declared legal in a game was subsequently found to be illegal on the fourth check. It was a muddy rainy game and it's not like there was an oven baking sticks on the sideline, but I mean come on. I don't like it, but I really don't know what to do about it.

I will say this, it is a great idea to check d-poles. For a long time d-poles were just assumed to not be checked. I assume this is where the idea for this rule came from which is good. But after every goal?? Maybe just during team called timeouts and during quarter/half breaks? I think this rule should be debated, simply saying "don't whine" is quite rude and not the point. If we can't debate the rules in place how will we ever be happy with the game? I believe referees want our feedback. I hope they agree.

[woulax23]

i could not agree less with Danza. I had no idea that there even were new stick check rules, but if it involves that kind of stoppage of play i am against them. Lacrosse is supposed to be known for its fast pace and new fans and old will not be too impressed with stick checks like this stopping play. Does anyone have some details on these new rules?

[warri0rlax22]

i had my first experience with the new stick check rules this weekend. I dont think we could have had a better result. The two refs handled the situation perfectly and lined up both teams 5 minutes before the game and explained everything. Afterwards the game went on very quickly and the stick checks didnt effect the games speed or anything.

[Hi-Line Lax]

I haven't played with this rule yet, but I watched it today during the WWU/Westminster game and I thought it detracted from the game. It really hurt some of the momentum runs. I also spoke to some of the Albertson players about the rule...it doesn't seem right to be able to check a kids stick 3 times in a game and have it become illegal by the third check, this is unnecessary. So many of the heads that people play with now are manufactured right on the edge, many start games as legal sticks only to become illegal by the end (especially in the conditions of the game that I saw). This rule just seems like too much interference from the officals. If you think someone is playing with an illegal stick you can always tell your coach to ask for a check.

[Car RamRod21]

Personally, I don't like the new rules. The stoppage of play does nothing but kill momentum, and as TheNino said, gives teams with smaller roster sizes a few extra chances to catch their wind! I think that 6 checks per game is a bit too much, but the intentions of the new rules are only good. I hope to see the number of checks go down in the years to come, because it does take away from the fast pace of the game.

[scooter]

Personally, I don't like the new rules. The stoppage of play does nothing but kill momentum, and as TheNino said, gives teams with smaller roster sizes a few extra chances to catch their wind! I think that 6 checks per game is a bit too much, but the intentions of the new rules are only good. I hope to see the number of checks go down in the years to come, because it does take away from the fast pace of the game.

well said

[Dan Wishengrad]

Folks there is a long, existing thread over in "Rules & Officiating" on this subject, which doesn't really need to be re-created here. But since it is..

Remember that the refs did not make this stuff up, they just are asked to enforce the rule that the COACHES (who serve on the NCAA Rules Committee) vote in. Yes, it is a pain for everyone INCLUDING the refs, who did a pretty good job this weekend handling it in our two games.

There was one illegal stick called this weekend -- against Oregon State today -- which wiped out a goal for them and gave us a nice man-up opportunity, so today I don't mind the new rules so much. Of course the game seemed to take about six hours with all the goals scored (31), the umpteen penalties, the increased stick checks (at least six, maybe more), but that's the way it is. We just have to be more diligent about checking our sticks regularly.

I found quite a few illegal sticks when I started checking my team's sticks, and I'm sure all the Huskies hate me calling their name out at practice while I clutch a ball and a tape measure. One of our top players keeps dropping the ball with his brand new stick and was shut out of the scoring column today. This was probably MY fault for convincing him recently that his treasured wand "had to go".

Let's blame the manufacturers! After all THEY are the ones who make these stick heads so damn close on length and width tolerance to the rules that the things just shrink and become illegal over time. Unfortunately, sometimes "time" is defined as delivery from the manufacturer into the player's hand.

[The Hammer]

Let's blame the manufacturers!

Typical, Lets try and blame someone else. How about the players take some responsibility, They are the ones buying the sticks. I don't agree with the new rule, if anything a stick should only be checked once during the "random" checks. Once it's deemed legal, it should not be checked again during the game.

[Jolly Roger]

The problem with checking the same stick multiple times comes about from the mechanics the officials are instructed to use. They're asked to get the checks completed basically in the first 3 quarters. They are encouraged to check the goal scorer (and a random defender) or before faceoffs.

If a team has a dominant scorer or run the same principle face off team, it's likely they will encounter multiple checks of the same stick. The officials argument will be that they have no idea if a player switched sticks during the course of the game. I know a lot of players who would switch to their legal stick just prior to the end of the 1st and 3rd quarters or go and get their back up measured before the game and then compete with their illegal one.

Now, there's nothing wrong with a player measuing his own stick during the game and, if it's close, switching to his backup which he knows to be legal.

In my opinion, this rule will be modified either midseason or before the start of next year. I doubt they'll eliminate random checks, but will reduce the number required.

[SMorrison]

I don't think the number of stick checks performed will change this year or even next. What will change is the efficiency and the timing of the stick checks. This is new for the refs too and I'm sure some of the awkwardness will be eleviated as they become more efficient in measuring at inconspicuous times

[laxfan25]

As Dan W pointed out - this change is at the behest of the coaches, not the refs. One major reason is that the coaches don't want to violate "the code" by calling for a stick check on their own (which for some reason is seen as bad sportsmanship by many), but they also realize the number of bad sticks seemed to be increasing, so the new mechanic was put in.
Did my first game Saturday night -we checked after the first goals by each team and at the two timeouts that were called in the first half. Did two more after goals in the second half. We tried to be quick and efficient, and think we succeeded pretty well. No illegal sticks were found.
The biggest delay was when the lights went off midway through the first quarter! Took about 25 minutes to get them turned on and re-heated to where we could restart the game.

[stickdoctor]

Let's blame the manufacturers!

Typical, Lets try and blame someone else. How about the players take some responsibility, They are the ones buying the sticks. I don't agree with the new rule, if anything a stick should only be checked once during the "random" checks. Once it's deemed legal, it should not be checked again during the game.

Nice idea in theory and it's how things would work in the past whether it be unofficially or officially.

However, in practice, once a player had been checked, out would come the illegal stick because he could be sure he wouldn't be checked again....

A previous poster has it right - blame the manufacturers. Today's sticks are so close to the specs in the rules that there is no tolerance for errors, and the head warpage that typically results from ground balls, poke checks, faceoffs and slap checks often renders a head illegal.

[cjwilhelmi]

I don't think the number of stick checks performed will change this year or even next. What will change is the efficiency and the timing of the stick checks. This is new for the refs too and I'm sure some of the awkwardness will be eleviated as they become more efficient in measuring at inconspicuous times

I agree completely. It really seems that the main complaint is the amount of time that it takes. If you have competent refs then the time is very minimal. I watched a game saturday where there were numerous stick checks (4 found illegal) but it never detracted from the speed of the game. It went very smoothly and quickly. As the refs get it down it will get faster and faster.

Wow - Sonny, Laxref mark this down. It might be the very first time I have ever backed a ref.... I'm getting old.