Goalie Facing off

[brindledawg]

I noticed that in NCAA 2008 rulebook, Rule 4, AR 24 is now gone; as opposed to 2007 rules where the AR allowed goalies to F/O if man-down. Does that now mean that goalies are not allowed to face off under any circumstances? (being required to be behind the defensive restraining line for all F/O's)

Thanks!

[eme]

Page 36 NCAA 2008 book: the goalie restriction on an all-even FO is still there, but not in AR form. Rule 4-4 -a: "When a team has all its players on the field, it shall confine its keeper and 3 other players behind the defensive-area line..."

Perhaps the AR from the NCAA 2007 book was dropped because the 4-4-A was so explicit.

[brindledawg]

Rule 4-4-a appears unchanged between '07 and '08 so by dropping the AR in the '08 rules now eliminates ANY F/O by the goalie... Right? I am okay with it, just going through my notes.

Thanks!

[Woodenstick]

To restate what eme wrote above, there is no rule against a goalie facing off when his team is man down. Eliminating the explicit permission in the AR does not change this. The AR may have been eliminated in an attempt at housecleaning and not to change the rule on man-down face-offs. If the rules committee actually wanted to change this obscure rule, they should have changed the language of 4-4a as well as eliminate the ruling, because right now there is nothing in the rules saying a goalie cannot face off when his team is man down.

[LaxRef]

I asked that the A.R. be removed because it was redundant; I think while we're adding stuff to the rules we should be equally diligent about removing stuff we don't need in there so the rulebook doesn't get unwieldly.

Just because you remove an A.R. doesn't mean that the thing that it covered has been made illegal. Remember, playing rules generally tell you what's illegal, and if it's not specifically covered it's probably legal unless it runs afoul of the "any other act considered unsportsmanlike by the officials" clause.

[brindledawg]

Thanks, I think I was not focusing on your point, as is demonstrated by the phrase "When a team has all its players on the field..."

I appreciate the help.

[avo]

NFHS still has 4.4.B and 4.4.C which allows goalies to face if their team is not full-strength. With recent emphasis on player safety (i.e. blow play dead if goalie loses/breaks equipment so another player does not step into crease to cover goal) I do not understand why this is still in the book - either an oversight by our wise rule gurus or someone feeling the need to cover the situation where the team is down 6 or more players......In any case, I would probably disallow (except if 6 men down) in name of player safety.

[LaxRef]

NFHS still has 4.4.B and 4.4.C which allows goalies to face if their team is not full-strength. With recent emphasis on player safety (i.e. blow play dead if goalie loses/breaks equipment so another player does not step into crease to cover goal) I do not understand why this is still in the book - either an oversight by our wise rule gurus or someone feeling the need to cover the situation where the team is down 6 or more players......In any case, I would probably disallow (except if 6 men down) in name of player safety.

I don't think I'd go that far. If it's that unsafe, then you probably should never let the GK out of the crease.

Has anyone ever seen a team try this? What's the point.