NCAA Proposes Stick Alterations, Rules Changes

[cjwilhelmi]

Question:

A1 and B1 are facing off. A1 goes before the whistle and using a "Pop and Go" technique kicks the ball forward 10 yards. Whistle blows but the ball is already on its way 10 yards behind B1. A1 streaks off field as B1 goes to pick up the ball. A2 comes on the field before B1 can get the ball and get back to midfield. Question - could this situation happen and thus eliminate the fast break for Team B? or is this a flag down "delay of game" against A1 even though the move was made simultaneously with the whistle (actually before)?

[Sonny]

Question:

A1 and B1 are facing off. A1 goes before the whistle and using a "Pop and Go" technique kicks the ball forward 10 yards. Whistle blows but the ball is already on its way 10 yards behind B1. A1 streaks off field as B1 goes to pick up the ball. A2 comes on the field before B1 can get the ball and get back to midfield. Question - could this situation happen and thus eliminate the fast break for Team B? or is this a flag down "delay of game" against A1 even though the move was made simultaneously with the whistle (actually before)?

Haven't seen the mechanic yet, but if the referees think the move was intentional - they can enforce a penalty (technical foul) for delay of game.

I don't think anyone knows how it will all work out until the Fall Ball games get completed.

[laxfan25]

I agree with Sonny that a lot would depend on the ref's interpretation of what caused the ball to be sent 10 yds upfield. If it was obvious that A1 knew he was getting whistled and flung it ahead I would tack on a 30 sec delay of game - no problem.
There will be LOTS of questions around this topic to be sure. What if B1 jumps early, but A1 manages to push the ball 10 yds ahead. Do we bring the ball back to the midfield before the whistle or let A1 get the 10 yd head start? (My feeling is bring it back close to the midline).
You'll certainly see a level of hustle on both sides of the ball under this rule! "Blow the whistle - blow the whistle!!"

[Rob Graff]

Any Mechanic on the F/O rule yet, O wizened minds?

Rob

[LaxRef]

Any Mechanic on the F/O rule yet, O wizened minds?

Rob

They are still changing their minds about what the rule will say. The latest I'd heard was that a wing violation will cause the face-off middie to be sent off; I pointed out that they'd better change a wing-line violation so that it is not a play-on, since that would just get messy.

We should have the new rulebook in about a month.

[Sonny]

From a few fall ball games, it has been noted that the team entitled to the ball is screaming for the restart ASAP even if the ball (or the refs) isn't ready for play.

One suggestion on how to handle is to make the offending player wait at the midfield faceoff area UNTIL the ball is gathered up for the restart - THEN blow the whistle and make said player run off the field. That would yield a true fastbreak each and every time as intended and put some teeth into the rule.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJdndYHHF6E[/youtube]

[LaxRef]

From a few fall ball games, it has been noted that the team entitled to the ball is screaming for the restart ASAP even if the ball (or the refs) isn't ready for play.

One suggestion on how to handle is to make the offending player wait at the midfield faceoff area UNTIL the ball is gathered up for the restart - THEN blow the whistle and make said player run off the field. That would yield a true fastbreak each and every time as intended and put some teeth into the rule.

I have heard they decided not to do that, but I don't believe anything until I see the final rule book.

As for the restart mechanic, I do not believe that we'll make the player awarded possession step over midfield. If he has the ball and is ready to go, we'll start play; if we make him step over midfield and stop for the restart, we'll be taking the advantage away.

Oh, and while the ball may not be ready for play, in most situations the officials should be ready for a quick restart as with most loose-ball technical fouls.

[Sonny]

It's going to be a mess... Often the ball is raked away from the Center of the field during a faceoff violation. The teams are going to be blaming the refs, either way.

[LaxRef]

It's going to be a mess... Often the ball is raked away from the Center of the field during a faceoff violation. The teams are going to be blaming the refs, either way.

Agreed. The "make the violator stand there until the whistle" method would settle that down quite a bit.

I guess the biggest problem is that it the enforcement is so radically different from everything else we do that there are going to be a lot of loopholes to sor tout.

[laxfan25]

In the couple of weekend fall ball tourneys I did (CCLA teams) most, if not all, were not even aware of the new faceoff rule. I told them what the new rule was going to be, but they elected to play the games under the old rule. There will be some major education in the spring, but hopefully we'll also have more direction from the Oracle at Delphi on how this is best administered.

[LaxRef]

In the couple of weekend fall ball tourneys I did (CCLA teams) most, if not all, were not even aware of the new faceoff rule. I told them what the new rule was going to be, but they elected to play the games under the old rule. There will be some major education in the spring, but hopefully we'll also have more direction from the Oracle at Delphi on how this is best administered.

That sounds like a silly choice on their part. It's good for everyone, and especially the officials, to get to practice under new rules even if we don't like them.

But this brings up a constant problem: coaches and players often give little thought to the rules. We'll be told that a tournament will be "running time," as if that specifies everything when in fact it just raises a ton of questions. Can you get a sideline horn in a running time game? (The answer should be no since you can use the horn as a tactic to preserve a lead.) Are penalties running time or stop time or time-and-a-half? (Take your pick.) And so on.

Similarly, for fall ball, you need to specify this year's NCAA rules or last year's NCAA rules.

[laxfan25]

In the couple of weekend fall ball tourneys I did (CCLA teams) most, if not all, were not even aware of the new faceoff rule. I told them what the new rule was going to be, but they elected to play the games under the old rule. There will be some major education in the spring, but hopefully we'll also have more direction from the Oracle at Delphi on how this is best administered.

That sounds like a silly choice on their part. It's good for everyone, and especially the officials, to get to practice under new rules even if we don't like them.

But this brings up a constant problem: coaches and players often give little thought to the rules. We'll be told that a tournament will be "running time," as if that specifies everything when in fact it just raises a ton of questions. Can you get a sideline horn in a running time game? (The answer should be no since you can use the horn as a tactic to preserve a lead.) Are penalties running time or stop time or time-and-a-half? (Take your pick.) And so on.

Similarly, for fall ball, you need to specify this year's NCAA rules or last year's NCAA rules.

I agree that they should try the new rules, but I left it up to the coaches, and since none of them had any experience or knowledge of the new changes I think it would have been a cluster...so best to just go with the past.

As for running time rules, yeah, you've gotta sort that stuff out, but since I usually have my LaxClock in the car it allows for easy stop-time penalties with a running game clock. It does work very well. Sometimes they'll have horns but last weekend it was sub on the fly only. As long as they're paying me I'm flexible and at their service.

[Rob Graff]

I guess the biggest problem is that it the enforcement is so radically different from everything else we do that there are going to be a lot of loopholes to sort out.

Bingo - Head of the class!

I think you have to have something very "cut/dried" - The closest I've seen is:

1. Get F/O men down

2. Violation, ball goes flying out via normal f/o move - these happen simultaneously, or Just Violation takes place - note violation is at f/o x only - a wing violation should be dealt with as a play on (I know this is contrary to one of the expansions of the rule,but I don't see how you are going to stop play on the f/o without a whistle if there is a wing violation).

3. Players are told to stand, Wings stay behind lines.

4. Ball awarded to non-violating party at F/O "X" - Violating F/O middy cannot leave the "X", and must return if his "natural motion" has taken him away.

5. Once Ball awarded, and violating F/O middy is at "X", whistle blown - Violator must leave, F/O w/ ball can start break, Wings can go past wing line on whistle.

[Sonny]

That is exactly what I would do Coach Graff. Otherwise, it's going to be a complete mess.

[Zeuslax]

This will become very interesting when the violating team uses a long stick at the FO-X. Until things like this get worked out I can anticipate some teams utilizing the shorties until some type of lead or hard rules are in place.