View Full Version : NCAA Stick Dimensions for 2010
Pages 108-109 of the 2008 NCAA book give the details of the new stick dimensions that will take effect in Jan. 1, 2010. My guess is that players will use the "old" sticks in 2008 and 2009 and then switch en masse after Memorial Day, 2009.
Keep in mind that ever since there has been a NFHS Lacrosse Rulebook (since 2000) the stick dimensions therein have been exactly the same as those in the NCAA book (present 2008 pull string length notwithstanding).
Between now and the 2010, what should the NFHS do?
1. Get in line with the NCAA and have the exact same dimensions required for 2010? Thus the 2009 NFHS Rulebook would "warn" or "alert" that these new dimensions are coming in 2010 and hope that the mechanic for measuring a stick is worked out in the next two years.
2. Have a transition year, 2010, where sticks of both old and new dimensions are allowed?
3. Continue with the old dimensions?
My guess is stick manufacturers are going to throw out the "old" stick dimension molds after 2009...thus making buying "old" sticks more and more difficult. Thus, I would favor option #1 above. Current USL Youth Rules say they also follow current NCAA/NFHS stick head measurements.
LaxRef
12-12-2007, 01:38 PM
I would vote for (1).
shrekjr
12-12-2007, 09:06 PM
I vote for #1.
BlueJaysLaxFan
12-13-2007, 05:33 AM
Modified #1 of implentation by 2011 because this spring's freshmen are the class of 2011. They can make the transition most easily in the least amount of time, since they are not likely to be playing at the JV or Varsity levels in 2008 (of course there are exceptions).
massref
12-13-2007, 08:06 AM
I would go with #1
nwzebra
12-13-2007, 10:19 AM
While I, too, would like to see uniformity in all code with regards to equipment rules, my gut reaction is that the powers that be in NFHS don't see the same problems with the stick that NCAA saw and don't believe that such a complicated solution is needed.
I hope I'm wrong, but I think we'll end up with #3, which will cause havoc in the college game if both sticks are available.
The NFHS will see a problem if the "old style" pre-2010 sticks are not being made after Jan. 2010.
LaxRef
12-13-2007, 10:54 AM
The NFHS will see a problem if the "old style" pre-2010 sticks are not being made after Jan. 2010.
Am I missing something? Won't the sticks satisfying the new NCAA rules still meet NFHS specs since the new NCAA specs are more stringent?
BINGO! It may not be a problem after all.
PlayOn
12-13-2007, 05:44 PM
I am going with 1. A transition year will only postpone the inevitable and piss off players. Fall in line with ncaa. Players should not be financially penalized to play in college.
laxattackMAN15
07-21-2008, 09:29 PM
yea lets forget this whole stick dimension thing its warrior mainly most sticks become pinched during game play checks,face offs, and etc especially the evo pro that stick was made to become illegal.
Bretmac
07-21-2008, 09:36 PM
yea lets forget this whole stick dimension thing its warrior mainly most sticks become pinched during game play checks,face offs, and etc especially the evo pro that stick was made to become illegal.
yes its all warrior fault
Woodenstick
07-22-2008, 07:49 AM
If NFHS announces a rule change today, any player who bought a new head after the 2008 season will only get one year of play (2009) before having to get another new head. In fairness to players and programs with limited funds, I would think at least one extra transition year should be given before the NFHS changeover. At minimum, there should be an extra transition year for levels below varsity.
For youth, most leagues have limited or no stick checks, so the old sticks will linger even if the rules change. Also, for youth, the cost of buying all new sticks would create a major problem for many teams. Therefore I would hope that youth leagues (and the USL model youth rules) would have a substantial transition period.
No changes in NFHS rules for 2009 on stick head measurements (i.e
making them identical to NCAA specs for 2010.)
Yes, cost and a transition period will be an integral part of any NFHS discussion regarding changing the current requirements.
Do not forget that 2010 NCAA stick head measurements comply with current and 2009 NFHS rules.
laxzeeb
07-22-2008, 04:59 PM
I totally concur with Woodenstick's comments regarding youth leagues and an extended transition period. It is hard enough already to encourage participation with the cost of equipment. New players often use hand me down equipment by necessity. If it were an equipment safety issue it would be different. Most youth leagues limit checking and physical contact already.
As far as the NFHS, I'm for #1 but wonder if it will matter much. I expect the manufacturers to start taking care of this themselves. As eme says, they will toss out their old molds and start marketing new heads which meet the NCAA spec. We all know the reasons the change was made, but they'll still hype the new heads as the latest and greatest.
fairfieldlax12
07-22-2008, 06:53 PM
eme that makes no sense because if the 2010 messuments are current with the 2009 nfhs rules then every one is playing with illigal sticks
What I am saying is that the new proposed NCAA stick head measurements for 2010 are legal under current NFHS rules.
laxstarr2
07-22-2008, 10:08 PM
seriously, they should just keep the rules... i mean think about it. EVERY SINGLE HEAD EVER MADE IS ILLEGAL...think about HOW MANY heads are going to be worthless when they change the rules. most people who play the game have more than one head, too. changing the rules would waste soooo much money (and plastic)....
now, with what SHOULD happen...IF THIS RULE HAS TO AND IS GOING TO BE ENFORCED
i know for a fact that everyone loves to get new equiptment and new sticks and heads...so, ncaa and nfhs should make all the head manufacturers make all of their new heads "2010 legal". this way, when kids get really excited to buy new stuff, they will be buying all of the legal heads of the future. over a span of around five or more years, all the kids will be trading and buying and selling "2010 legal" heads. so basically, sell the "2010 legal" heads for so long that everyone has them and that everyone will not care for the "illegal" heads.
thank you for reading this. anyone else agree with me?
think about HOW MANY heads are going to be worthless
I dont agree - send the heads to canada or across the pond here to the UK, or anywhere else in the world where they play lax under (nearly) ILF rules and not NCAA
laxstarr2
07-24-2008, 07:51 PM
I dont agree - send the heads to canada or across the pond here to the UK, or anywhere else in the world where they play lax under (nearly) ILF rules and not NCAA
no one is going to pay that money to ship a head to another country
chimineslax
07-24-2008, 08:00 PM
I dont care i just dont want the rule in effect
mtnsldr
07-24-2008, 08:12 PM
I see a phase out of the majority of the old heads, keeping a select few (read one or two per manufacturer) for leagues other than those that will adopt 2010 standards.
The problem is that nearly everyone in the US goes with NCAA standards. The 30 plus league I play in does. NFHS currently does, and I think that eventually they will adopt the changes, simply because you will have to prepare kids to play in the NCAA, and to keep the older standards would promote certain bad habits that would be difficult to break (IMO).
I see Warrior holding on to classics like Evo, Revo and maybe Razer, Brine keeping Clutch, E3 and maybe Swerve around, STX will keep Xcalibur, Proton Power, maybe profile or Proton +. All other minor head makers will likely abandon their current production heads, except Gait may keep the Torque. All in all, IFL or other leagues that keep rules in place to play with the old style heads will likely have some options.
RedmondLonghorn
07-24-2008, 09:35 PM
What is the "problem" exactly at the HS level? I have seen HS games and it isn't as if most offensive players are able to run through a gang of defenders without the ball becoming dislodged. The defensive play doesn't seem any more physical than when I played either. If anything, the game seems less physical too me. So I don't really see why the NFHS would feel the need to change at all. Why have a governing body at all if they are just going to let another governing body make all the major decisions?
While I disagree with the rule change at the NCAA level, I can at least understand the rationale behind it.
Dizzle
07-24-2008, 10:38 PM
yeah but it says your from the "great northwest" theres def more dominate players in new england and maryland benefiting a tonnn from pinched heads
RedmondLonghorn
07-24-2008, 11:20 PM
yeah but it says your from the "great northwest" theres def more dominate players in new england and maryland benefiting a tonnn from pinched heads
I would think there would also be better defensive players too.
But here is the thing, there is this invention called the television and it is possible to watch games on it. Like the UA All Star game, NCAA tourney, etc..
The Northwest also recently hosted the U-19 tournament and I attended that as well. And the U-19 tournament was played under ILF rules, which allow even more pinched heads than the current NCAA regs do.
Sorry, I just don't see what all the fuss is about. And I think moving even further away from the rules used in International competition is kind of dumb.
If the NCAA wants to change it's rules, great. The NCAA has a long tradition of making senseless and even stupid decisions. Hell, it is pretty much SOP for them.
But there is no reason that the NFHS needs to follow suit. Frankly, I think a rule change like this is a pretty stupid thing to even contemplate at the High School and youth level when the sport is in the midst of its best period of sustained growth ever. Ever heard the saying: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"?
wolfenburg
07-25-2008, 03:51 AM
Well ILF makes changes only for the World games, and the next ones are 2010. Most likely the old heads will be legal there , so the new rules will become an ILF rule in 2014.....
Brad51992
07-25-2008, 07:11 AM
im not a big fan of this rule change, yea sure i dont mind the wider stick cuz i can play with one no doubt but they got to look at it from all views. i mean what happens when a ref checks a fogo's stick ? im sure that wont be legal after a while of facing. also this rule will also make other things uncompatible. whip , lenght of the stick is a factor. but really i dont care to be honest let them make their decisions.
RockStar
07-25-2008, 07:53 AM
........The Northwest also recently hosted the U-19 tournament and I attended that as well. And the U-19 tournament was played under ILF rules, which allow even more pinched heads than the current NCAA regs do.
Sorry, I just don't see what all the fuss is about. And I think moving even further away from the rules used in International competition is kind of dumb...........
I believe ILF allows 4" wide heads. Pocket depth rule is similar to American field ball. Know what? There were still plenty of loose balls and take away checks when the men played in 2008.
I've often made the argument that if the ball's not coming loose, you're just not hitting hard enough. For some reason, it just doesn't go over well with most of the folks that read these pages.
Anyway, screw it. With the new rules, the college game may be played more on the ground than it is now. Some think this is better. I'll wait and see.