Toronto Rock vs. Minnesota Swarm

[Chamoo]

Just got back from the pre-season tilt. Rock took the game 18-12 (approx.).

The game was exciting when it was 5 on 5, however, there was very little of that during the first 3 quarters. It was 5 on 4, 4 on 3, 5 on 3. The NLL is going the way of the NHL with more powerplays, unfortunately, lacrosse powerplays arent as exciting as hockey powerplays.

The referee system needs to be worked on. Near the end of the game, 2 fights broke out and 2 refs broke up one of the fights, and the third ref (I believe he is designated to keep his eye on the benches) did his job, however, his back was to the fights. Once he turned and saw the second fight, he sat there and watched it go to the ground because he had to keep an eye on the bench. Someone could have been hurt, and he just sat there and watched.

Also, new this year, referee's throw flags, as well as raise their arm to signal a penalty. Not going to complain about it, just think it's somewhat pointless and just a plot to get American field fans to get accustomed to the action easier.

3 good fights in the game. Campbell ruined his fighting partner, forget the name. Ladouceur had a decision in his tilt with Miya****a I believe (could be wrong with the player). Cousins wasn't too happy after his fight (same stoppage) and ended up kicking a Rock helmet across the floor to the displeasure of the crowd.

Also, not sure if this happened every year, but if a team is down two players already, and receives another penalty, the player does not serve the time, it is a penalty shot instead. Happened to the Swarm twice tonight with Scherman scoring on one of his two tries.

Also, the I think they handed out five 5 Minute Major penalties tonight (asides from the fights). There needs to be a way around that, as they all weren't 5 minute major penalties. It ruins the game by have continuous powerplays, it's just much more boring. On top of that, teams on the power play just sit back and let the 30 second clock run out on offence instead of doubling the ball which just makes the powerplays that much less exciting. The NLL should either get rid of the 30 second clock while man down, or install a rule stating you can't leave a player in front of the net while a man up.

I wasn't extremely impressed by the game tonight. Hopefully there will be less penalties called when I go to the home opener on the 11th against the Swarm again. If not, it's the last game I pay money to go to.

[Bretmac]

chamoo how are the rocks new jerseys ... i guess maybe there testing things out well i hope i dont think all the penalties wll be five minute majors in the season well i update this if i go to the game against rochester in barrie

[Bretmac]

and chamoo the penalty shot rule has been around for awhile i remember when ratcliffe scored on one against the rock a couple years ago

[lax_11]

i personaly think the reffing was very inconsistent. e.g the over and back calls. i also couldn't believe all the empty seats! it was liked everyone was cramed in the middle sections of the arena. Also the new rock announcer guy wasn't that bad either," and yet another from Ryan 'I can't miss' Benesch ", was said after his 6th goal. (he had like 6 goals and 4 assists)

[Bretmac]

lax_11 man i was gonna go and buy ticks there but cause of the snowstorm i didnt my mom wouldnt drive me howd nate sanderson play

[Chamoo]

lax_11 man i was gonna go and buy ticks there but cause of the snowstorm i didnt my mom wouldnt drive me howd nate sanderson play

He didn't really stick out much, didn't notice him out there.

The call weren't consistent at all, and that stick check rule slows the game down way too much.

I like how the game was called in the last quarter. They let stuff go, they let the game be rough, and they kept it 5 on 5 for most of the quarter. They called alot of moving pics, but thats fine. It still kept it 5 on 5.

[Chamoo]

chamoo how are the rocks new jerseys

They are alright, very similar, but when I walked in, I could tell something was different, just couldn't figure it out, then I sat down a realized. Same colours, same logo. Just a little patch on the shoulder for the 10th anniversary, and a different design on the jersey itself for the colours.

[Chamoo]

Rock vs. Swarm Boxscore (Link) (http://nll.com/stats.php?ps=http://pointstreak.com/framed/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid=626938)

Check out that link, brings you to the boxscore of the game, then you'll see what I mean't by all the penalties.

[#15Roadies]

Is off-ball checking back in now? I heard some of the guys saying that there was plenty of off-ball crosschecking last night. Please - say it is so. Otherwise the NLL is fast becoming like the No Hit League.

I think the final score is interesting in that 29 goals were scored, but let's not try to make the game high scoring because of man-up play. I mean, I enjoy a good 9-8 or 12-10 tilt just as well.

[OldPtboBoy]

I like that, No Hit League. Yes it seems the Americans are dumming the game down and taking out everything that doesn't suit their default style of play. I will hit two games this year, Rochester at Toronto and Colorado at Rochester, but that will be for my son and to see a couple friends play. Following that I will wait for real lacrosse to start in the summer.

[Chamoo]

Is off-ball checking back in now? I heard some of the guys saying that there was plenty of off-ball crosschecking last night. Please - say it is so. Otherwise the NLL is fast becoming like the No Hit League.

I think the final score is interesting in that 29 goals were scored, but let's not try to make the game high scoring because of man-up play. I mean, I enjoy a good 9-8 or 12-10 tilt just as well.

Off-Ball contact was allowed. They weren't allowed to run people over constantly, but there were some good checks laid out on a loose ball.

[ChiefsLacrosse1]

The call weren't consistent at all, and that stick check rule slows the game down way too much.


care to explain to me what this rule is? please dont tell me its like the ncaa's

[Mr.Pockets19]

care to explain to me what this rule is? please dont tell me its like the ncaa's

I'm not exactly sure, but there were several instances in the game when they would take a stick from both teams( I assume, because there were always two sticks being measured) and they would measure them. I'm not sure what the purpose was, maybe just a pre-season check to make sure everyone is using legal sticks?

[#15Roadies]

What did they measure? Length or head dimensions?

[Chamoo]

What did they measure? Length or head dimensions?

It was a field lacrosse measurement so they checked width, length, pocket depth, and checked to see if the ball came out.

I assume they will do that constantly during the year (hopefully during TV Timeouts on any television broadcasts the teams come up with).

Twice a period, the referee/timekeeper in the penalty box would stop the game after a whistle, buzz the horn, and the referees would signal a timeout, and one of the referees would run over to a random player on the floor from both teams and grab their sticks. Any thing illegal had the stick removed from the game (there were 7 or 8 sticks in the penalty box by the end of the game) and a 2 minute minor penalty.

They did not measure sticks after a play where there was a delayed penalty (I assume in fear of putting the team down 2 players).

[gctales]

It was also my understanding (from discussions with people who were there) that the NLL also made this game a Ref training camp.. so they were apparently changing refs in and out on a fairly regular basis - this could account for some of the inconsistency (both training and differing refs).

I am kinda confused on the stick checks, however - unless they made major changes to the rules from last year (new rules are not available to the general public, yet, to my knowledge), the NLL stick rules are pretty loose... but who knows...

For reference, here are the 2007 rules regarding sticks and heads...

Rule 16: LACROSSE STICK DIMENSIONS
a) The lacrosse stick shall be an overall fixed length of forty (40”) to forty-six inches (46”) except the goalkeeper’s lacrosse stick.
b) The head of the lacrosse stick shall measure between four and one-half inches (4 1/2”) and seven inches (7”) at its widest point, inside measurement except for the goalkeeper’s lacrosse stick.
c) A maximum of one guard stop at the throat of the stick must be a minimum of 10 inches (10”) from the head to the nearest edge (closest to the handle) of the stop.
d) The depth of the pocket shall not exceed five inches (5”) measured from the outside edge of the head. Nothing may be added to or attached to the outside of the stick except as noted in Rule 17 immediately below.

Rule 17: LACROSSE STICK CONSTRUCTION
a) The lacrosse stick shall be made of a hollow synthetic material, with the head attached directly to the handle. The stick handle (shaft) may not be filled with any substance. Only a lacrosse stick approved by the NLL can be used. All other lacrosse sticks are ILLEGAL.
b) All stick handles (shafts) made of metal must have a plastic or rubber plug on the end or adequately taped to prevent injury.
c )The lacrosse stick shall be white or uniformly conform to the specific team colors specified by the NLL.
d) The color of the pocket shall remain consistent with the color issued by the manufacturer or sponsor of the stick and approved by the NLL. Pockets shall not be painted in an attempt to disguise the ball from the opposing team.
e) Lacrosse sticks shall not be permitted in play when the construction or stringing at the throat is designed to withhold the ball from play. The ball shall travel between the sidewall for the entire length of the head section. When the stick is turned parallel to the floor the ball must exit the stick.

[Chamoo]

e) Lacrosse sticks shall not be permitted in play when the construction or stringing at the throat is designed to withhold the ball from play. The ball shall travel between the sidewall for the entire length of the head section. When the stick is turned parallel to the floor the ball must exit the stick.

That's the one that was getting all the players. Must have been atleast 5 penalties called for that, a 1 or 2 others for length and width ect...

Your right, they were using many refs. I don't know so much if they were being trained, but, whether or not there was consistency, I just don't want so many penalties.

[Bretmac]

so your saying the nll removed the box pinch form the league with the 7" rule thats messed up.

[Chamoo]

so your saying the nll removed the box pinch form the league with the 7" rule thats messed up.

Don't know where you came up with this 7" rule. The head can be between 4 1/2 inches to 7 inches wide.

[Bretmac]

oh i misread it my bad