NCAA vs. NFHS rules differences

[LaxRef]

So, Stripes #6 is done and today is the day for doing the NCAA vs. NFHS rules differences sheets. eme has given me a great head start, and I have some notes put together, but if you have any new ones that you've noticed or old ones that went away, please let me know now so I can get them in there.

I'll try to post a draft later today. I want to have it done by tonight so I can pass some out at the convention.

[LaxRef]

Here's the draft! Please critique, and be sure to quote the text of what you're talking about (or at least reference the number). Also, please vote for the top 25 most important rule differences.

# Category ---- Rule ---- NFHS ---- NCAA

1. Counts and stalling ---- Stalling when ball is in attack area ---- Warning can be issued at any time ---- Team B must play ball before warning is issued to Team A.

2. Counts and stalling ---- Stall warning in last 2:00 of fourth quarter when score is tied ---- No mention ---- Team can be warned for stalling

3. Counts and stalling ---- Offensive 10-second count for Team A ---- Starts with: (1) Team A possession in Zone 3 or (2) after the ball exits Zone 4 while loose, A1 gains possession outside of Zone 4 ---- Starts when ball or player in possession: (1) leaves Zone 4 and touches something outside of Zone 4 or (2) touches something on or over midfield to end 20-second count

4. Counts and stalling ---- Team A is warned for stalling (not in the last 2:00); there is a flag down, and B1 gains possession ---- When play restarts, the stall warning will not be in effect ---- When play restarts, the stall warning will be in effect

5. Equipment ---- Mouth guard ---- Must cover all upper or all lower teeth ---- Must cover all upper teeth

6. Equipment ---- Lime-green balls ---- Prohibited ---- Permitted

7. Equipment ---- Legal balls ---- Must bear NFHS authenticating mark ---- No specific markings required

8. Equipment ---- Slightly textured ball ---- Not permitted ---- Permitted if coaches agree

9. Equipment ---- Metal cap on shaft butt end ---- Cap must be wood or plastic or be taped to prevent injury; unclear if metal cap can be taped ---- Explicitly prohibited

10. Equipment ---- Ball stop ---- Not required but may be used ---- Not required but may be used if no larger than 2" x 1.5" x 0.25"

11. Equipment ---- Crosse with 2 ball stops ---- 3:00 NR penalty ---- No mention, but must pass rollout test

12. Equipment ---- Hole cut in mesh designed to snare ball during face-off ---- 3:00 NR penalty ---- No mention; could be covered by NCAA Rule 1-18 Note 1

13. Equipment ---- Jersey color/numbers ---- Must be solid color (plus trim) with numbers at least 8 inches high on front and 12 inches on back ---- Recommend numbers at least 10/12 inches (front/back) by 2009; currently require 6/8 inches; need not be solid color

14. Equipment ---- Jersey trademark ---- Limited to 2.25-inch square; can also have US flag and commemorative patch ---- No mention

15. Equipment ---- Jersey length ---- Must reach shorts; must be tucked in if jersey extends below waistband ---- Need not reach shorts

16. Equipment ---- Jersey colors conflict ---- Visiting team responsible, but officials may request that home team change ---- Home team must change colors

17. Equipment ---- Visible compression shorts ---- Everyone on team must wear same solid color ---- Everyone must wear same solid color (white, gray, or team color)

18. Equipment ---- Sweat pants ---- Everyone on team must wear same solid color ---- Everyone on team must wear same solid color (white, gray, or dominant team color)

19. Equipment ---- Hard substances (e.g., casts) ---- Must be covered with one-half-inch of high-density foam and have doctor's note ---- Officials' discretion

20. Equipment ---- Helmets ---- Must be same color or colors; all decals issued by school ---- Everyone must wear helmets that are same dominant team color

21. Equipment ---- Eye shield ---- Must be clear by rule; cannot be tinted even with medical approval. No penalty for first violation ---- Must be clear (or tinted with medical approval)

22. Equipment ---- Glove color ---- No mention ---- Non-GK players must wear same team color

23. Equipment ---- Mouthpiece violation ---- 1-minute NR Personal foul ---- Technical foul

24. Equipment ---- Equipment check each half ---- All equipment inspected ---- Only stick inspected

25. Equipment ---- Equipment inspections requests ---- No limit on number per dead ball ---- One per team per dead ball

26. Equipment ---- Jewelry ---- Prohibited (exception: religious/medical, which must be taped to body); 1:00 NR ---- Permitted unless deemed dangerous by officials

27. Equipment ---- Uniform violations ---- One technical foul is assessed prior to the start of the game to cover all violations ---- Each time a player enters the game with one or more uniform violations it is a separate technical foul

28. Equipment ---- Shoulder pads ---- No Velcro portion may be removed if attached when pads are removed from orignal package; pads may not be cut or altered. ---- Pads may not be cut or altered.

29. Equipment ---- Multiple equipment violations other than the crosse ---- One non-releasable personal foul ---- Unclear (but common interpretation of Rule 5 A.R. 13 is that one non-releasable personal foul is assessed)

30. Equipment ---- Multi-colored mesh ---- No mention ---- Illegal; 3:00 USC penalty for trying to mislead opponent with ball painted in mesh

31. Equipment ---- Length of hanging strings ---- Limited to 6" ---- Limited to 2"

32. Equipment ---- Cleats ---- Extensive list of technical specifications ---- Cleats no longer than 0.5 inches

33. Errors ---- Inadvertant whistles ---- Ball awarded to team in possession; if loose, AP (unless in crease; then ball goes to defense) ---- Ball awarded to team in possession or entitled to possesion; otherwise, alternate possession (unless in crease; then ball goes to defense)

34. Errors ---- Inadvertent flags/horns ---- Ball awarded to team in possession when flag is thrown; if loose, AP (no mention of horn) ---- Award possession or face off depending on the result of the play. (7-13)

35. Errors ---- Mistakes by officials ---- No mention ---- Addressed in 7-12

36. Errors ---- Challenging the application of a rule by head coach ---- Permitted; if appeal denied, coach is charged TO (or technical) and may use remainder of TO ---- No mention; can speak with officials only during halftime

37. Face-off ---- Face-off position ---- Sticks within 4-inch-wide center line ---- Sticks and gloves outside 4-inch-wide center line

38. Face-off ---- Start of face-off ---- Official tells players "Down," then "Set," then blows whistle ---- Official tells players "Down," then blows whistle when players are in position.

39. Face-off ---- Violation during face-off, after whistle but before possession ---- Possible play-on; if ball is awarded it starts one step over center X ---- Possible play-on; if ball is awarded, it starts at the spot where the ball was or outside box

40. Face-off ---- Penalty expires before possession during face-off ---- Player may return to field provided the wing area was left vacant for face-off ---- Player must wait for possession even if wing area is left vacant

41. Face-off ---- Wing-line violations on a face-off ---- Play-on (but ignore if there was a pre-whistle violation by one of the face-off men) ---- Immediate whistle (but ignore if there was a pre-whistle violation by one of the face-off men)

42. Face-off ---- Pre-whistle face-off violation ---- Offended team awarded possession just past midfield ---- Offending team's face-off man must exit field through sub area, play begins immediately with offended team in possession

43. Pre-game ---- Field width ---- Field may be 53 1⁄3 to 60 yds wide (attack area must be 35 yds by 40 yds) ---- Variations in alterable dimensions must be agreed to in writing prior to game day

44. Pre-game ---- Line-marking material ---- Must be non-toxic and non-caustic ---- No mention

45. Pre-game ---- No spectator lines ---- No penalty ---- Penalty

46. Pre-game ---- Center of field ---- Center X ---- Contrasting-color 4-inch square

47. Pre-game ---- Illegal field or goals ---- No penalty for field; 3:00 for illegal goals ---- 3:00 NR penalty plus possession

48. Penalty enforcement ---- Simultaneous technicals (or personals with total penalty time equal) with face-off pending ---- Alternate possession ---- Face-off

49. Penalty enforcement ---- Period ends with A1 serving a penalty and a flag down for a foul by B1 ---- Team A starts next period with possession ---- Since the flag-down creates and even situation, the next period starts with a face-off

50. Penalty enforcement ---- Technical foul while ball is in flight, then ball is caught by passer's teammate ---- Flag down, time-serving technical foul ---- Play-on when foul occurs; play-on ends when ball is caught

51. Penalty enforcement ---- Multiple penalties ---- Any number of players from one team may be in the penalty area ---- Penalties “stack”; a team is never down more than 3 men at once

52. Penalty enforcement ---- Player deliberately leaves penalty area early; goal is scored by opponent ---- Unexpired time wiped out for releasable penalty, but player must serve new 30 seconds; unclear on face-off ---- Unexpired time wiped out for releasable penalty and new foul cancelled by goal

53. Penalty enforcement ---- Flag down procedure ---- Whistle blows when ball touches ground (not on a shot) or a shot is completed ---- Once ball enters the attack area, play continues until one of a number of conditions is met

54. Penalty enforcement ---- Play suspended after a foul with ball in the attack area ---- Move the ball to the closest point outside the attack area ---- Move the ball into the alley

55. Penalty enforcement ---- Shot during flag down hits GK or goal, rebounds, hits something other than GK, then goes in goal ---- No goal if rebound hits official or any player other than GK ---- Goal (whistle does not blow under NCAA procedure when ball becomes loose inside the attack area)

56. Penalty enforcement ---- Penalty on B1 is released or waived off by a goal, then a goal by A1 is disallowed because A1's crosse is illegal ---- B1 must serve remainder of penalty ---- No mention

57. Personal and technical fouls ---- Tripping foul if player "stumbles" ---- No mention ---- Tripping may be called even if player doesn't fall

58. Personal and technical fouls ---- Body check during "buddy pass" ---- Specifically addressed as unnecessary roughness ---- Not specifically mentioned, but can be construed as unnecessary roughness

59. Personal and technical fouls ---- Player takes a dive or feigns receiving a foul ---- No mention ---- Illegal procedure

60. Personal and technical fouls ---- Body check ---- Allows the concept of an "unavoidable" body check ---- Players must be in control; all body checks are considered avoidable

61. Personal and technical fouls ---- Player kicks dropped crosse, with or without ball in it ---- No mention ---- Specifically addressed in Rule 6 A.R. 43 and A.R. 44

62. Personal and technical fouls ---- Second NR USC foul against same player or coach ---- Expulsion and 3:00 NR penalty ---- Usual penalty is assessed

63. Personal and technical fouls ---- Goalie interference while there is a flag down ---- No mention ---- Time-serving technical foul

64. Play of the game ---- Out of bounds player establishing himself back in ---- No mention ---- When he no longer touches out of bounds and touches in bounds with some body part

65. Play of the game ---- Player partly in bounds and partly out touching ball ---- No mention ---- Ball is out on that player regardless of whether it touches part of him or his crosse in or OOB

66. Play of the game ---- Offsides ---- Ball awarded just over center X ---- Restarts at the spot or outside the attack area.

67. Play of the game ---- Player loses required equipment without being guarded, shoots and scores ---- Goal is allowed ---- Goal disallowed (player who loses equip. must get rid of ball immediately or is guilty of illegal procedure)

68. Play of the game ---- Play stopped for injured player ---- Player must leave game until the next allowable point of substitution; team may not call TO to keep player in the game ---- Not explicitly mentioned; common interpretation is that the team may call a timeout to keep the player in the game

69. Play of the game ---- Airborne player ---- No general rule ---- Player is where he left from (except attack area for purposes of 10-count)

70. Play of the game ---- Attacking player touches goal or net with crosse (not as part of a shot) while playing loose ball ---- No mention ---- Explicitly legal

71. Play of the game ---- Dislodged or broken goalie equipment (other than stick) or broken goalie stick ---- Suspend play immediately for broken equipment; technical foul if goalie plays on after losing equipment ---- Play suspended immediately for broken or dislodge equipment (other than dropped crosse) (exception: allow shot in flight to come to conclustion)

72. Play of the game ---- GK intentionally loses or breaks equipment to try to stop play ---- No mention ---- Two-minute non-releasable USC penalty

73. Play of the game ---- Coach-requested equipment checks ---- No penalty for second or subsequent requests during a charged timeout or between periods ---- No exceptions to the "one 'free' check" rule

74. Play of the game ---- Penalty for railure to have a legally-equipped goalie on the field ---- No mention ---- Illegal procedure

75. Play of the game ---- Goalie in crease contacts covering attackman on follow-through after a clearing pass ---- No mention ---- Goalie intereference against the attackman if follow-through is legitimate

76. Play of the game ---- Goalie out of crease when play stops ---- Allow a maximum of 5 seconds for goalie to get back ---- Allow at least 5 seconds for goalie to get back

77. Procedure ---- Failure to give 24-hour notice to opponent of event that could delay start of game or 2nd half ---- No mention ---- Illegal procedure

78. Procedure ---- Forfeits ---- Procedures determined by state or local associations ---- NCAA authority; score is 1-0. If team does not show up, a "no contest" is recorded

79. Procedure ---- Electronic equipment used for coaching during game ---- Audiotape allowed; computer, film, television, and video prohibited ---- No mention

80. Procedure ---- Phones and headsets ---- May be used by coaches but not players ---- Cannot use to communicate with field players

81. Procedure ---- Coaches' Certification ---- Full version required ---- Brief version permitted

82. Procedure ---- Artificial limbs ---- State associations may authorize if limbs are not dangerous and confer no advantage ---- No mention

83. Procedure ---- Hearing instruments ---- State associations may authorize if medically prescribed and not dangerous ---- No mention

84. Procedure ---- Meeting with officials during halftime ---- No mention ---- Permitted; each team must be allowed to have a representative present.

85. Procedure ---- Chief bench official ---- May be used ---- No mention

86. Procedure ---- Sportsmanship ---- Officials should address coaches and players before the game ---- No mention.

87. Procedure ---- Unconscious player ---- Needs written clearance from MD or DO to return ---- May return to game

88. Procedure ---- Procedure for high heat and humidity ---- Additional officials' timeouts to allow players to cool off and get extra water ---- No mention

89. Procedure ---- Warm-up when replacing goalkeeper ---- Penalized or injured goalie is permitted 1:00 warmup; otherwise must call TO ---- Timeout required to warm up; be "reasonably lenient" for time to switch

90. Procedure ---- Team A refuses to put a legally-equipped goalkeeper on the field ---- No mention ---- Team A forfeits

91. Procedure ---- Expelled player ---- Adults leave premises. Minors leave premises with school official; otherwise confined to bench ---- Must leave premises

92. Procedure ---- Suspensions for expulsions ---- Per league policy; assignor must notify player's school of expulsion ---- Mandatory

93. Substitution ---- Regular substitution ---- Horn required on sideline out of bounds, goal, or time-serving penalty ---- Horn required on sideline out of bounds

94. Substitution ---- Special sub. while play is suspended for equip. violations ---- Prohibited ---- Permitted

95. Substitution ---- Substitute deliberately violating rules for entering field of play ---- Releasable1:00 USC foul ---- Illegal procedure

96. Substitution ---- Delayed substitution ---- Releasable1:00 USC foul if deliberate; illegal procedure otherwise ---- Silent play-on, with technical foul called if sub gets involved in play; offside rules still apply

97. Substitution ---- During regular substitution, 20-second timer goes off with Team A having too many or too few players ---- Illegal procedure technical foul on Team A ---- Illegal procedure for too many men; no mention of too few men

98. Timeouts ---- Head coach/field player from team in poss. calls live ball TO ---- Permitted no matter where the ball is on the field ---- Permitted with player in possession in contact with ground past offensive restraining line

99. Timeouts ---- Endline timeout ---- Play starts outside the attack area except on a shot out of bounds ---- Play restarts with ball inside the attack area

100. Pre-game ---- Timer and scorer at game site ---- No mention ---- Twenty minutes before the game

101. Pre-game ---- Required timer/scorer equipment ---- Working horn; illegal procedure if not provided ---- Working horn, table, scorebook, and working clock; illegal procedure if not provided

102. Pre-game ---- Team roster in scorebook ---- Must be complete and correct before game starts; if players are added later, team is assessed one technical foul. ---- No mention about when roster needs to be complete

103. Timing ---- Quarters ---- 12 minutes stop time ---- 15 minutes stop time

104. Timing ---- Variations in playing time ---- Not permitted (unless game is interrupted) ---- Shorter periods permitted if both teams agree

105. Timing ---- Mercy rule ---- Running time in 2nd half if lead is 12 or more ---- None

106. Timing ---- Interruption of game because of events beyond the control of game authorities ---- By agreement of head coaches and referee, game may be terminated or shortened (unless league rules apply) ---- Game will be continued unless the teams agree otherwise (or unless other league rules apply)

[eme]

#15. Can't find any mention in NFHS about length of jerseys or requirement to tuck them in.

#33. Inadvertent misspelled.

#66. Offsides. Restart for Fed. is not always at center X.

#74. Misspelled failure. In NFHS this would be IP (same as NCAA) as per page 63 6.5 Situation B

#90. I feel this would be a forfeit as well in NFHS even though not explcit because it is explicit there must be a properly equipped designated keeper on the field at all times. You could drop this as a difference.

#96. Need to distinguish here between a regular subbing situation (after a horn) and a special subbing situation (on the fly)....because then #97 makes more sense in NFHS, etc.

[LaxRef]

#15. Can't find any mention in NFHS about length of jerseys or requirement to tuck them in.

They apparently deleted that when they put the new jersey rule in.

#33. Inadvertent misspelled.

Good catch.

#66. Offsides. Restart for Fed. is not always at center X.

That was a new clarification this year; is this accurate:

"Ball awarded just over center X unless it was already in the offended team’s offensive end"

#74. Misspelled failure. In NFHS this would be IP (same as NCAA) as per page 63 6.5 Situation B

Changed to "States that it is “illegal” without specifying a penalty"; remember that one of the purposes of this list is to keep track of what should be addressed in future rules revisions, so I think we want to note this until it's explicitly listed as IP in NFHS. This won't go on the "top 25" list.

#90. I feel this would be a forfeit as well in NFHS even though not explcit because it is explicit there must be a properly equipped designated keeper on the field at all times. You could drop this as a difference.

This is similar to the last one: not a top 25, but worth keeping track of.

#96. Need to distinguish here between a regular subbing situation (after a horn) and a special subbing situation (on the fly)....because then #97 makes more sense in NFHS, etc.

An excellent point! As usual, thanks!

[eme]

On #56 "Offsides" in NFHS, go to page 34 and see 4-12 Articles 4 and 5. and page 45 4.12 Situation A

In NCAA offsides is a technical foul. Turn-over. Award at the spot...just like we do with every other technical foul violation by the team that had possession.
Why we have this NFHS difference is beyond me...

But here is what is accurate

"Ball awarded as per other technical fouls except when team in possession is over midfield and then goes offsides: award to other Team at Center X."

[jrb]

# 49 "and even situation" should read "an even situation"

# 76 Not sure why this is a difference. NCAA 4-18 d) states goalkeeper shall be given up to 5 seconds. ???

How about adding "Only the head coach will communicate will officials" NCAA rule 2-4 (4th paragraph) ? I have not found a similar statement in Federation rule book. Am I missing something here?

[eme]

Yes...page 22 of Fed. book. Last sentence on the page.

[LaxRef]

# 49 "and even situation" should read "an even situation"

# 76 Not sure why this is a difference. NCAA 4-18 d) states goalkeeper shall be given up to 5 seconds. ???

How about adding "Only the head coach will communicate will officials" NCAA rule 2-4 (4th paragraph) ? I have not found a similar statement in Federation rule book. Am I missing something here?

Thanks for the help!

I swear I read "at least 5 seconds" in an NCAA rule book, but now I can't find it! I know they pulled out some A.R.s on this at one point, but maybe I'm just losing it!

[Tehb2]

#17 - visible compression shorts

I always sorta chuckle when I see this rule. As a HS player I have never seen a ref worry about this, nor do I expect to. I can understand if the main jersey and shorts aren't the same there might be some discussion, but compression shorts?

[shrekjr]

On #56 "Offsides" in NFHS, go to page 34 and see 4-12 Articles 4 and 5. and page 45 4.12 Situation A

In NCAA offsides is a technical foul. Turn-over. Award at the spot...just like we do with every other technical foul violation by the team that had possession.
Why we have this NFHS difference is beyond me...

But here is what is accurate

"Ball awarded as per other technical fouls except when team in possession is over midfield and then goes offsides: award to other Team at Center X."
And why does Texas play by NCAA rules with this NFHS exception?

[LaxRef]

#17 - visible compression shorts

I always sorta chuckle when I see this rule. As a HS player I have never seen a ref worry about this, nor do I expect to. I can understand if the main jersey and shorts aren't the same there might be some discussion, but compression shorts?

Stranger still is the fact that until this year it's been a penalty to have non-matching underwear (compression shorts) but the game shorts didn't have to match.

[CelticLaxer]

I saw no mention of factory-made palmless gloves (such as those produced by Gait this year. I know that the NCAA went out of its way to ban them, but has the NFHS stated anything? If not, then they should be legal based on the rule as stated from previous years, correct?

[eme]

Factory-made palm-less glove, like the Gait model is expressly illegal in NCAA.
Legal in NFHS.

[BlueJaysLaxFan]

During the NFHS clinic on Friday the Gait glove was brought up and after asking for the answer to be repeated 3 times we clearly heard (as eme stated) that the rules committee is ruling that the Gait glove is LEGAL. I also heard discussions that the NFHS rules committee may not allow this to last too long after this season with a rule change next year.

[pboyd]

Please consider the following corrections/suggestions to the following citations:
#8: There is nothing in the NFHS Rules that prohibits a "slightly textured" ball as long as it is NOCSAE approved with an NFHS Authenticating Mark.
#17: NFHS Rules indicate same color not same "solid" color.
#18: NCAA Rules indicate white, grey, or team color not "dominant" team color.
#52: NFHS Rules never mention "Down."
#66. NFHS Rules 6-5-2-j and 6.5.B indicate that playing without legally equipped goalie is Illegal Procedure (Rule 6-5).
#81: NFHS Rule 4-30-1.a indicates one player inspected per dead ball. However, NFHS allows multiple "free" inspections during TO and between periods.

[LaxRef]

Please consider the following corrections/suggestions to the following citations:
#8: There is nothing in the NFHS Rules that prohibits a "slightly textured" ball as long as it is NOCSAE approved with an NFHS Authenticating Mark.

Good catch; they lost the word "smooth" at some point.

#17: NFHS Rules indicate same color not same "solid" color.

I'll pick nits here and point out that since they use "color" not "colors" then it must be a single color, which must hence be solid.


#18: NCAA Rules indicate white, grey, or team color not "dominant" team color.

Good catch. Dominant color is for helmets, gloves, and shorts, I guess.


#52: NFHS Rules never mention "Down."

True. But I would submit that saying "down" is the mechanic that we use to satisfy the clause that says:

"The official shall indicate to both players to assume their respective positions at the same time."


#66. NFHS Rules 6-5-2-j and 6.5.B indicate that playing without legally equipped goalie is Illegal Procedure (Rule 6-5).

This is a creative way to try to argue for what we all know should be the correct ruling. However, I believe there's a reason that it's explicitly listed as IP in the NCAA rule book.

This, coupled with the fact that the NFHS rules have historically had a number of "just get them to fix it with no penalty assessed" indicates that it's worth keeping on the long list. It clearly is not worth including on the short list.


#81: NFHS Rule 4-30-1.a indicates one player inspected per dead ball. However, NFHS allows multiple "free" inspections during TO and between periods.

Ah, but it says one inspection per request. It does not say that you can't make more than one request during the same dead ball.

Thanks for what was obviously a very careful reading! You have some good points.

[massref]

Thanks for the help!

I swear I read "at least 5 seconds" in an NCAA rule book, but now I can't find it! I know they pulled out some A.R.s on this at one point, but maybe I'm just losing it!

Rule 4-18,d (p.48)
d. The goalkeeper shall be given up to five seconds to re-enter the crease
on any restart.

[LaxRef]

Rule 4-18,d (p.48)
d. The goalkeeper shall be given up to five seconds to re-enter the crease
on any restart.

I know that's what it says now. But I'm sure I saw "at least" somewhere, somewhen. Maybe it was in a mechanics manual or something.

In any case, it's no longer a rules difference if it ever was.

[BBMF]

Is there a printer friendly copy of the rule differences?

[CardinalPuff]

Is there a printer friendly copy of the rule differences?
you could copy and paste to a notepad....

btw, welcome to the board and nice avatar....who's that devilishly handsome fellow on the left?

[flagman]

There is a printer friendly copy somewhere. I'll find it and send the reference site or email me at timaigh@yahoo.com and I'll email a copy back.

[flagman]

Here is a printer friendly version...

http://www.lacrosse.org/mens_div/pdf/NCAAvsNFHS-08full.pdf

[LaxRef]

Is there a printer friendly copy of the rule differences?

Check out the FAQ; there's a link to the MDOC resources page, which has the rule difference plus a lot of other great stuff.

[vman12]

I always heard that if you hit 2 pipes it was an automatic goal I was told today that is a long standing myth> can someone please verify>

[3rdPersonPlural]

I always heard that if you hit 2 pipes it was an automatic goal I was told today that is a long standing myth> can someone please verify>

Myth. Geometry proves that two pipes and out could NEVER have crossed the plane of the cage.

[spenny]

it has to fully cross, right? even 3 pipes wouldnt satisfy that.

[flagman]

NFHS 4-8 Goal scored:
"A goal is scored when a loose ball passes from the front, completely through the imaginary plane formed by the rear edges of the goal line, the goal posts and the crossbar of the goal, regardless of wh supplied the impetus"

However, like all good things in life their are exceptions as outlined in NFHS 4-9.

[massref]

Other Mythical Rules:

http://whale.wheelock.edu/Lax/Mythical-Rules-Williamson2.ppt

[BlueJaysLaxFan]

I am not going to search for the thread, but we had a pretty detailed and scientific discussion debunking the 3 pipe goal myth. Hey MassRef, how about doing your seminar on an episode of "Mythbusters: Lax Myths Exposed!"