Rule Changes for the '08 season

[laxfan25]

It seems like a good time to summarize some of the major changes for the '08 NCAA rules, starting with the biggest:

Faceoff rules: On any pre-whistle faceoff violations (including wing players or attack or D-men being over the line as the whistle is blown - that is considered pre-whistle) the offending team's face-off middie has to be substituted for, while the ref will give a prompt restart to the offended team.
* If the ball rolls away from the faceoff area it is the player's responsibility to chase down the ball - not the ref's. If it rolls toward the defensive end the ref will wait for the player to get to the midline before blowing the whistle, but they don't need to come to a complete stop - so you can get a rolling start. If it is pushed towards the attack end you'll need to come back towards the midline before the restart - no 5-10 yard headstart.
* If the ball does roll away it will be the ref's judgement as to whether it was part of the play or if the player intentionally did it to delay the game. If they feel it is intentional it would be a 30 sec. delay of game penalty.
* Wing players are released on the violation call but the restrained players have to stay behind the line until the whistle. If there is a delay of game penalty then they are released.
* The face-off player must sub off, but then can be subbed back on immediately- the players do need to exit and come onto the field in both cases.
* A team could burn a timeout after a faceoff violation in order to prevent the other team's fast break, but you've used a valuable timeout to do so.
* We were also told that the coaches were concerned that the faceoff had become one continuous motion, so whereas last season we were instructed to be very uniform in our whistle timing, this year there may be a slight variance in cadence, in order to assure that players are waiting for the whistle.

10-second counts: As soon as the ball exits the attack area and hits the ground or a player, the 10-second count starts, and continues until the defense gains possession or the attack brings it back into the box.
* Previously the count didn't start until the attack regained possession, now there is incentive for the defense to go and actively contest the loose ball.
* If the ball leaves the box and crosses the midline before being picked up by the attack, it is still a 10 count and not a 20, even if it goes out of bounds. (Such as on a hard shot that bounces all the way across the midline and the shooting team is closer).
* If there is a play-on it will be a very quick whistle. If it is against the defense the attack will get a new 10-count on the whistle.
* On a clear, if a loose ball crosses the midline the 10 second count starts as soon as it crosses the line.
*In summary, there will always be a count of some sort going on if the ball is out of the attack areas.

Stick Changes:
* Ball stops are no longer required. Multiple stops would be an illegal stick.
* All hanging strings must be 2" or less. If longer, the ref will instruct the player to take the stick out of the game until corrected - no penalty unless he continues to play with the stick with long strings after the warning.
* If a scoring player touches the strings after scoring a goal, the goal is disallowed and a 1 min. NR penalty is served. This is true whether the official has called for a stick check or not! If the official calls for a stick check you can't touch any part of the head or jam the stick in the ground, same as before.

Other Equipment Changes:
* "Grippy" balls are allowed, but only if both coaches agree. similar to using differnt colored balls other than white.
* Gloves manufactured (such as Gait) with cutouts in the palms or fingers are illegal, per the NCAA. For those involved with HS teams that play under NFHS rules they are allowed this season (likely under threat of lawsuit by the mfrs) but will almost assuredly be written out of the NFHS rules next season.

I think this is a pretty comprehensive summary of the big rule changes for the coming season, and how the mechanics will work in the games. If I've overlooked anything or if you have any questions - respond away!

[Sonny]

Great post laxfan25. Should be an interesting year on the college scene, especially early on as these things get ironed out.

[Sonny]

One thing to note about the counts - The only time there won't be a count going on is prior to a possession call on a faceoff.

Otherwise, there will always be either a 20 second defensive clearing count to midfield line or 10 sec. offensive (get it back into the attack area) count ongoing.

[Zeuslax]

A lot of tired right arms out there this year.

[LaxRef]

A lot of tired right arms out there this year.

We'll all be doing our best John Travolta impersonations out there this year.

I know an official that rewired a 20-second timer to do the 10-second count. He was told by TPTB to knock it off and use an arm count.

Speaking of innovation, the same official told me about working with a new partner. There was a flag-down situation, and everyone started to laugh. He looks back and discovers that his partner had tied his flag to some fishing line and hooked it onto his belt, so the flag was following the official downfield. He said he did that so he wouldn't have to run back to get it. He, also, was told to knock it off.

[Zeuslax]

We'll all be doing our best John Travolta impersonations out there this year.

Laxfan usually refers to it as his Tellatubby impersonation, but who knows

I know an official that rewired a 20-second timer to do the 10-second count. He was told by TPTB to knock it off and use an arm count.

I saw a rigged timer once that had a push button on the top and one on the bottom. The top button would initiate the 20 second count and the bottom was for the 10 second count. It was used for training and to help new refs in the fall. This was years ago in Baltimore. The frequency with which the 10 second count is going to be used will increase in most circumstances. I'm not sure how much additional pressure or extra contested arrant passes/GB’s we'll see with the new rule. I don't think we’ll see much effect, if any at all.

[LaxRef]

I'm not sure how much additional pressure or extra contested arrant passes/GB’s we'll see with the new rule. I don't think we’ll see much effect, if any at all.

I think it's a huge advantage to the defense. Now if there's a loose ball on the ground in the attack area, the defense can kick the ball out and get a 10-count started. Now they don't have to try to pick it up, they just have to keep the offense from picking it up. Every chance they get, they kick or push the ball further away from the attack area, so that if the offense does pick it up they have almost no time to get it back in the attack area.

A well-coached team could use this to get a few extra possessions in a game, making it have potentially more impact than the new face-off rule.

[ntierney]

Are these rules that are being added also being added to the NCAA?

[Dan Wishengrad]

Are these rules that are being added also being added to the NCAA?

We play by the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Rules, Nick, these are not MCLA-unique rules changes. And I'm a little curious why you are even interested, given your status as a non-rostered player this season -- you won't be taking any faceoffs for the Huskies anyway, unfortunately. Or are you contemplating a transfer to a varsity program?

[RopeNoRope]

The MCLA follows all of the same rules of the NCAA, so I believe the answer would be yes, all of these rules are also being incorporated into the NCAA.

[laxfan25]

Correct, fellows. These ARE the NCAA rules changes for '08, which is the rulebook used for the MCLA.

[LaxRef]

So, a few weeks into the season, what do people think about the impact of the new rules?

[byualum]

So, a few weeks into the season, what do people think about the impact of the new rules?

I was at the North Carolina/Denver game last Saturday and there was only one face-off violation. The poles from UNC got into the hole so fast there was no chance of a break.