Goal Crease Question

[scott68111]

Under NFHS rules...Just took the USL NFHS test on the USL site. Q 28 talks about when to disallow a goal. Option d states: After the ball enters the goal, the scoring player steps into the crease. 4-20-2 An attacking player may not be in the opponents goal crease at any time. Then 4-9-2l states: A goal is disallowed after a player in the act of shooting or his teammate touches the goalkeeper in the crease or touches any part of the goal or netting prior to the ball entering the goal. To me the book contradicts itself, help the new guy out!!! Thanks!!!

[LaxRef]

Under NFHS rules...Just took the USL NFHS test on the USL site. Q 28 talks about when to disallow a goal. Option d states: After the ball enters the goal, the scoring player steps into the crease. 4-20-2 An attacking player may not be in the opponents goal crease at any time. Then 4-9-2l states: A goal is disallowed after a player in the act of shooting or his teammate touches the goalkeeper in the crease or touches any part of the goal or netting prior to the ball entering the goal. To me the book contradicts itself, help the new guy out!!! Thanks!!!

First of all, welcome!

Second, you've hit upon a whole area that is poorly covered by the rules, and that's that there are a bunch of technical fouls that we don't call during a dead ball since there is no advantage gained by violating them. A dead-ball crease violation is one of them. So, technically, you can't be in the crease at any time, but being in there during a dead ball is not one of the conditions for disallowing a goal.

Note that if the player jumps or dives, rather than steps, it's a different story!

[scott68111]

Thanks for the welcome LR!!! So the way I take it is if the player shoots and the ball is in the goal and he walks thru the crease, no harm, no foul. However if he shoots and his momentum immediately takes him into the crease, then we have a crease violation and wave the goal off, B gets the ball in the alley.

[LaxRef]

Thanks for the welcome LR!!! So the way I take it is if the player shoots and the ball is in the goal and he walks thru the crease, no harm, no foul. However if he shoots and his momentum immediately takes him into the crease, then we have a crease violation and wave the goal off, B gets the ball in the alley.

The key is whether the player "deliberately left his feet by jumping or diving." If yes, and if he lands in the crease, no goal even if the ball is in the goal before the player lands.

If he runs, walks, or otherwise steps into the crease, the goal is disallowed only if he's in there before the ball is in the goal. In this case, it might be his momentum taking him into the crease, but if he's stepping in after the ball is in the goal, no harm, and no foul.

[scott68111]

Thanks for the explanation, really helps out!!! Transplanted football official getting a start in LAX, so far it is great. I am a district rules intrepreter for football, now I know how our new guys feel AGAIN!!! I know there will be more questions to follow. Really looking forward to getting out on the field!!!

[3rdPersonPlural]

Hi Scott! Welcome to the adult table here at TLF. I showed up as a brand new ref 3 years ago and I'm still learning. There is no such thing as a stupid question here, and even the odious Cardinal Puff is civil to you until you get better than he is. ::grin::

I thought about giving you all sorts of unsolicited advice, but instead I realized that as the season is almost upon us, there'll be lots of new refs like you poking their heads in here, so I started a thread dedicated to unsolicited but nonetheless useful advice for 'new to lacrosse' officials.

[scott68111]

3PP, Thanks for the welcome!!! I totally understand about still learning!!! I have 22 yrs doing football and still learn a thing or two now!!! I was a bit skeptical about doing it last yr, we are VERY short of officials in my part of SC, first assignment was a HS varsity game, talk about baptism by fire, but I love it and really looking forward to this yr!!! Actually got to get into the rules alot more this yr than I had a chance to last yr. Feel much more comfortable going into the season. Looking forward to learning from everyone this yr!!!

[Woodenstick]

Jumping in as a varsity official in your first game - I guess SC IS shorthanded. That really is baptism by fire. In my section of NY you are not supposed to get varsity games until your third year at the earliest. I worked about 150 youth and lower level high school games before my first varsity game. Good luck out there!

[scott68111]

REally hurting for LAX officials down here!!! In football most guys get on the field for Fri nights midway thru their 2nd yr. I tried to get with as many people that knew something about the game to watch me and let me know what they thought. Lots of talking with my partners both on and off the field. Would have loved to work a bunch of lower level games prior to that day but other than teh scrimmages we did as part fo the training, it was on the field. Really looking forward to it this year though!!! Have a great season and I appreciate all the help from TLF and crew!!!