Face-Off Mechanic Enforcement

[Kyle Berggren]

I'm watching the Hofstra Princeton game (DVR), & as I'm going through it the face-off mechanics are driving me nuts. In the PNCLL, the officials have been very particular about keeping players vertical, & butt ends off of the line. Forget the fact that there isn't a 4" box, a 4" line in the middle, & they're facing off on each side of the logo. I've really liked the new mechanic, I think it's made the face-off X an even playing field.

With all of the advantages to be made at the X, & I'm curious if we're just focusing on the wrong thing. It seems like something easy to keep an eye on, & one of the most important areas of the game. Is this not as heavily watched/enforced in other areas? I know I always watch it happen when lacrosse is on TV, & I'm not sure why it's driving me nuts today...

[LaxRef]

I'm watching the Hofstra Princeton game (DVR), & as I'm going through it the face-off mechanics are driving me nuts. In the PNCLL, the officials have been very particular about keeping players vertical, & butt ends off of the line. Forget the fact that there isn't a 4" box, a 4" line in the middle, & they're facing off on each side of the logo. I've really liked the new mechanic, I think it's made the face-off X an even playing field.

With all of the advantages to be made at the X, & I'm curious if we're just focusing on the wrong thing. It seems like something easy to keep an eye on, & one of the most important areas of the game. Is this not as heavily watched/enforced in other areas? I know I always watch it happen when lacrosse is on TV, & I'm not sure why it's driving me nuts today...

I guess I have no idea what you're objecting to.

[Kyle Berggren]

Looks like I shouldn't have said mechanic, but what I'm noticing is that players are not typically going down to a vertical position. With the fast starts, that's very difficult to tell, but butt-ends are on the midfield line... I'm wondering if this is a rule that we focus on out here that isn't as strictly enforced across the country?

[John Paul]

If you're seeing a lot of cheating going on when you watch a D1 game on TV, then there's your answer. I agree that officials in our regions are doing a better job enforcing faceoff rules, but as last week's lax.com photo of Delaware's Alex Smith (probably the best faceoff guy in the country right now) shows, cheating still happens. (Lax.com story on Delaware vs. Georgetown from March 10, if you haven't seen the picture of Smith using the claw technique.) Like you, I'm amazed at how often top level guys get away with sticks not parallel to the line or heads aligned differently to the ball or most often heads tilted over the ball before the whistle. You would think that with the number of televised games now providing direct evidence it would be corrected, but so far that doesn't seem to be the case.

[Steno]

Oh wow. Check it.

http://www.lax.com/bimages/1784/3

[cjwilhelmi]

Honestly, I applaud his use of the claw. Its a hard move to pull off without getting caught.

I know I'm a cheater, I admit it... I'm going to meetings. I believe that Joe (Beta) is attending as well.