NCAA Proposes Stick Alterations, Rules Changes

[Sonny]

INDIANAPOLIS --The NCAA Men's Lacrosse Rules Committee capped a year-long discussion and study period by proposing changes to the dimensions of the lacrosse stick, effective January 1, 2010. The committee also approved several minor rules proposals to address concerns about the faceoff and the pace of play.

The committee's actions must be considered by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel before final implementation. The Playing Rules Oversight Panel is scheduled to meet August 29.

In addressing the specifications of the stick, the committee considered a multitude of information provided by coaches, stick manufacturers and other outside sources. The group decided on specifications that it hopes will allow the free dislodgement of the ball, while allowing manufacturers flexibility in their designs. Additionally, by extending the effective date to 2010, the committee's intent is to allow time for the adjustment.

"We considered a wide variety of options and ultimately have specifications that we believe will improve the game," said Willie Scroggs, senior associate athletics director at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and chair of the committee.

The committee is proposing specifications to require the crosse to be at least three inches wide at any point when measured 1¼ inches from the throat of the crosse. At the five-inch point, the crosse must be four inches when measured on the front of the crosse and 3½ inches when measured on the back. The specification at the widest point of the crosse remains the same at 6½ inches on the front and six inches on the back.

"It has become clear that the sticks are creating more physical play that is a concern," Scroggs said. "Additionally, the crosse has become a large determining factor in faceoffs and these new specifications will bring the skill back to the faceoff."

To address the use of "pull strings" in the game, the group added an approved ruling to penalize tactics that alter the depth of the pocket at any time during the game. The committee also will limit the length of the strings hanging from the stick to two inches. The previous allowance was six inches.

"Pull strings and pocket depth are major issues along with the specifications of the crosse," Scroggs said. "We want all players to use a crosse that would ensure the integrity of the game."

The committee approved two other proposals to address faceoff violations and the pace of play in general. First, when a faceoff violation occurs before the whistle to start play, the offending team's faceoff player must leave the field and a substitute must replace him. Second, the committee voted that, once the ball is in the attack area, if it leaves for any reason, a new 10-second count will start for the offensive team to return the ball to the attack area unless possession is gained by the defensive team.

"In both of these situations, we are addressing the pace of play and hopefully creating some additional action in the game," Scroggs said.

[Champ]

Pull strings are most useful for quick adjustments, instead of having to untie and retie knots.

[shrekjr]

First, when a faceoff violation occurs before the whistle to start play, the offending team's faceoff player must leave the field and a substitute must replace him...."In both of these situations, we are addressing the pace of play and hopefully creating some additional action in the game," Scroggs said.

Hmmm, sending a player off and waiting for his replacement will speed up the pace, NOT. Do they get 20 seconds to make the substitution? And of course, the smart coach will have his faceoff man pushing the timing of the whistle because the worst thing that can happen is the faceoff man jumps early and now were going to give them time to bring on a defender. Do we have to give him time to get into place too?

[Sonny]

First, when a faceoff violation occurs before the whistle to start play, the offending team's faceoff player must leave the field and a substitute must replace him...."In both of these situations, we are addressing the pace of play and hopefully creating some additional action in the game," Scroggs said.

Hmmm, sending a player off and waiting for his replacement will speed up the pace, NOT. Do they get 20 seconds to make the substitution? And of course, the smart coach will have his faceoff man pushing the timing of the whistle because the worst thing that can happen is the faceoff man jumps early and now were going to give them time to bring on a defender. Do we have to give him time to get into place too?

I thought the same exact thing.

Maybe it will be like International Rules Penalty Enforcement. The new player can't come on the field until the old player is off the field.

[Rob Graff]

First, when a faceoff violation occurs before the whistle to start play, the offending team's faceoff player must leave the field and a substitute must replace him...."In both of these situations, we are addressing the pace of play and hopefully creating some additional action in the game," Scroggs said.

Hmmm, sending a player off and waiting for his replacement will speed up the pace, NOT. Do they get 20 seconds to make the substitution? And of course, the smart coach will have his faceoff man pushing the timing of the whistle because the worst thing that can happen is the faceoff man jumps early and now were going to give them time to bring on a defender. Do we have to give him time to get into place too?

I thought the same exact thing.

Maybe it will be like International Rules Penalty Enforcement. The new player can't come on the field until the old player is off the field.

I concur with both of you!

So, try to win the f/o, but if you cannot, Try to jump, if you don't get it, you don't get punished - you get rewarded. Thanks Rule Board! Think about how this would have worked in the JHU/UDel game - JHU negated Smith by jumping the whistle - at worst they have a set situation instead of Smith going on a Fast break. NOW - not only do they prevent the FB, they also get to put in another defensive middie. I just don't get this change. Do you think the intent is that that player gets sent off - and then you still do the f/o with the new player for the violating team?

And delaying the new stick dimension is blatant kow-towing to the manufacturers.

I agree with the pull string rule.

[dtrain34]

I'm pretty sure that once the face-off player has been called for the violation, he must leave the field. Once the other player picks up the ball, the field is ready. This will create an odd-man situation for 5-10 seconds.

That is a great adjustment to the game. I like the 10 second one as well.

[cjwilhelmi]

For the first (and hopefully only time) I agree with DTrain. I think the rule is intended to say that they player must leave the field but play still continues. That would definently get me to have my guys not jump the whistle.

[Andy Sharp]

Previous 2009 Rules

[laxfan25]

There are several things that are unclear from the press release. On the faceoff violation, my first reaction was the same as Shrek and Sonny - huh?? How does giving a substituion speed up the game, especially since most face-off guys that lose the faceoff are streaking to the sideline already. Now, if the guy has to leave and there is an immediate whistle, that would be great. (One problem though is the utter lack of enforcement of positioning violations now, this will lessen them even more).
When the pull-string rule was first proposed last year, it wasn't put in, primarily because it is very difficult to determine what a pull string is. It'll be interesting to see the A.R that they mention - are they saying that you can't pull on your strings at all during play of the game? That doesn't seem fair, there were often times when I would give a tug on the leather shooters (I used a trad pocket) not because I had an illegal pocket and had scored a goal, just to adjust the stick.

On the 10 second count, is this meant to apply when there is a flag down -where leaving the box now causes a whistle?

I do like the stick widening though. Now if we would just get back to enforcing "no hand up on the plastic" you might actually see stick checks that pop the ball out.

I'm sure there will be much more to come on these changes.

Rob, as for kow-towing to the manufacturers, I'm sure that US Lacrosse and the NCAA are well aware of how much money they feed into the game (to sell more product of course) and those dead presidents speak very loudly!

[Steno]

does anyone have a list of heads that comply with the 2010 changes?

[scooter]

does anyone have a list of heads that comply with the 2010 changes?

most warrior heads fail. If you can get your hands on an old Proton or X2 from STX, or a Wizard from debeer, you should be ok

[grinderpete]

One question I have about the new 10 second count is on the face off. The new rule talks about as soon as it touches the ground, the 10 second count starts. Does this apply to faceoffs?
Example:
Player A1 wins the draw backwards to his own goal. The ball is on the ground for 10 seconds. Is the ball awarded to team A.
or.
Player A1 wins the face off and moves the ball to the offensive side of the field. The ball remains on the ground for 10 seconds. Is the ball then awarded to Team B?

[Jolly Roger]

As I understand it, the new 10 second count only applies to the counts initiated after the ball has entered the attack area in possession of an offensive player.

[grinderpete]

As I understand it, the new 10 second count only applies to the counts initiated after the ball has entered the attack area in possession of an offensive player.

I just re read the new rules and they changed the Rule at 4-13-c to "A loose ball touches the ground on or across the midfield line"

[laxfan25]

2007 NCAA MEN’S LACROSSE RULES COMMITTEE

Major Rules Changes

Rule 1-17, Ball Stop.
The committee decided to add to the language to this rule dealing with the ball stop: “The ball stop is not required. If a ball stop is used, only one may be used and the dimensions may be a maximum of 2 inches in length, 1 ½ inches in width and ¼-inch in thickness.”

Rationale: The group believes that it needs to address many areas of the stick dimensions. Putting a limitation on the ball stop’s size is a continued effort to allow for the free dislodgement of the ball.

Rule 1-17, Crosse-Dimensions.
Effective January 1, 2010, all sticks must meet the following specifications to be legal for NCAA competition:

Measurement from throat (inches) Minimum distance between narrowest point of head
1.25 3.0 (all measurements)
3.0 3.0 (all measurements)
5.0 4.0 on the front/3.5 on the back
Widest point 6.5 on the front/6.0 on the back

To be as clear as possible, from the 1.25 measurement to the top of the crosse must be at least three inches wide between the sidewalls of the crosse.

Rationale: After considerable discussion and meetings with manufacturers and coaches, the committee decided on these minimum dimensions for sticks to address several issues. First and foremost, the committee believes the current sticks do not allow the ball to come out of the stick easily enough. This has created a game with more slashing and cross-checking to attempt to dislodge the ball. This creates a potential safety issue that the committee is concerned about and is attempting to deal with before it becomes a larger issue. The current specifications also allow a faceoff player to pin the ball on the back of the stick. The committee does not believe this type of tactic should be allowed and therefore is widening the bottom portion of the stick.

Rule 1-19, Crosse Prohibitions.
A major issue the committee has with current sticks is the use of pull strings. The committee took the following action to address this:

The rule proposals reads: “That any strings or leathers used to attach the pocket to the crosse are limited to a hanging length of two six inches. The use of pull strings to alter the depth of the pocket is illegal.”

Rationale: To severely hamper the use of pull strings, which are used to make an illegal deep pocket momentarily legal before a stick check can be administered.

Rule 4-13-c, Advancing the Ball Beyond the Center Line.
The committee altered this rule to read: “A loose ball touches the ground on or across the midfield line.”

Rationale: To make this rule consistent with the new 10 second count rule so officials will be consistent throughout their counts.

Rule 4-14, Advancing the Ball into the Attack Area.
Once in the attack area, a new 10-second count starts when the ball touches outside the attack area in any manner. A new 10-second count is started when the offensive team takes the ball out of the attack area in possession (or if a loose ball comes out of the attack area and touches the ground or another player).

Rationale: To consistently apply the 10-second count and force additional action, particularly when the offensive team mistakenly throws the ball out of the box.

Rule 4-3, Facing Off.
The following general concept was passed: “When a faceoff violation occurs before the whistle, the offending team’s faceoff player must leave the field and be substituted for through the substitution area.”

Note: Several areas of this rule and officiating mechanics must be altered to incorporate this change.

Rationale: This proposal has two intended end results. First, the committee hopes this will discourage false starts and other illegal acts by increasing the penalty for an infraction. Second, the group believes this will create a quick restart where the non-offending team has an advantage and may create a scoring opportunity.

Rule 5-5, New AR. Player A1 scores a goal. After scoring, A1 pulls the strings on his crosse to alter the pocket. RULING: No goal, one-minute non-releasable penalty on A1. This action is clearly against the intent of the crosse rules.

Rationale: This approved ruling was added to clarify for officials that the use of pull strings to alter the pocket is illegal.

The ball touching the midline kills the 20 sec. clearing count and starts the 10 sec to get it into the box. Once in the box, if the ball comes out without a defensive possession (which would start a 20 count) a 10 sec count starts as soon as the ball touches the gorund or a playere outside the box.

On the faceoff, if there is a violation by either the FOGO or a wing middie the FOGO has to leave the field and as soon as the other team gets possession there is a restart whistle. Should create more fast-break opportunities and should definitely discourage faceoff violations (and hopefully not discourage calling them).