Slash to the head vs slash to the ribs

[OldLaxer]

Is is just me or do too many ref's quickly call a slash when the stick even "tings" the helmet, but will let the hits to the ribs and/or arms go without a call. I watched a high school game and the riding attackman hit the clearing d-man in the ribs three times without even a hint of getting stick or glove...,right in front of the ref...no call. Later in the game a very innocuous brush of the helmet gets the flag.
Same thing happend yesterday at the youth level. Two very hard hits to the ribs and no call. It seems to me that the reasoning behind the slash call is to protect the player. Shouldn't the ribs/stomach/back be protected as well?

[Snake~eyes]

Is is just me or do too many ref's quickly call a slash when the stick even "tings" the helmet, but will let the hits to the ribs and/or arms go without a call. I watched a high school game and the riding attackman hit the clearing d-man in the ribs three times without even a hint of getting stick or glove...,right in front of the ref...no call. Later in the game a very innocuous brush of the helmet gets the flag.
Same thing happend yesterday at the youth level. Two very hard hits to the ribs and no call. It seems to me that the reasoning behind the slash call is to protect the player. Shouldn't the ribs/stomach/back be protected as well?
Simple answer: Yes.

[3rdPersonPlural]

As a former d-man with calcium deposits on my ribcage to prove that this method of checking a clearing defender is not a new concept, I try to mention in my pregame lineup intro that one handed checks had better get stick and nothing but stick. That tends to keep these well modulated.

On the other hand, controlled slap checks that are aimed at a glove or the stick and connect with trunk or arm because the attacker moved the former thereby exposing the latter are part of the game IMO.

[3rdPersonPlural]

And I should add that 'controlled' is a difficult concept to sell when both hands are not on the crosse.

[OldLaxer]

As a former d-man with calcium deposits on my ribcage to prove that this method of checking a clearing defender is not a new concept, I try to mention in my pregame lineup intro that one handed checks had better get stick and nothing but stick. That tends to keep these well modulated.

On the other hand, controlled slap checks that are aimed at a glove or the stick and connect with trunk or arm because the attacker moved the former thereby exposing the latter are part of the game IMO.

One missed slap check, no problem, two in a row...starting to have a problem. Three...flag. I guess my whole point is that it seems that the less senior ref's miss so many of the slashes to the body which in my opinion are often times more dangerous and painful than to the very well protected head.

[Snake~eyes]

One missed slap check, no problem, two in a row...starting to have a problem. Three...flag. I guess my whole point is that it seems that the less senior ref's miss so many of the slashes to the body which in my opinion are often times more dangerous and painful than to the very well protected head.
You make a pretty good point, I agree that is probably one of our weaknesses we as officials have. I have no problem flagging someone who repeatedly beats on the free arm, back or ribs. I called a slash the other day in a youth game because some kid baseball swung right into a guys ribs. Easy call in my opinion but the player didn't agree.

[3rdPersonPlural]

I called a slash the other day in a youth game because some kid baseball swung right into a guys ribs. Easy call in my opinion but the player didn't agree.

I called a slash the other day in a youth game because some kid baseball swung right AT a guys ribs. But he missed.

The kid was apoplectic, but the coach was on my side and somewhere in the rule book it says that a blatantly illegal check is a foul even if it fails to connect.

[RockStar]

Incidental, minor contact to the helmet is not a big deal.

(I'm talking like when a slap hits its target and then bounces off the helmet, fairly lightly).

If the stick gets nothing but head, or if it was a vicious slap that ricocheted off the helmet after first hitting the stick or gloves, you probably have to call it.

[3rdPersonPlural]

Incidental, minor contact to the helmet is not a big deal.



Amen, RockStar! New-ish defensemen have the same problem navigating their sticks around helmets in a crowded crease as my wife has navigating her rear view mirrors around a parking lot.

Lots of inadvertant contact.

[OldLaxer]

Amen, RockStar! New-ish defensemen have the same problem navigating their sticks around helmets in a crowded crease as my wife has navigating her rear view mirrors around a parking lot.

Lots of inadvertant contact.

Too funny!

[GCHSLax04]

This came up in my tournament yesterday, playing at crease I went to lift the attackmen at X's bottom hand and he decided to move it while I was executing the lift, I manage to slow it down but I gave his helmet a love tap- Flag down-1 minute. The next game we played I was clearing the ball down the field and the attackmen couldn't catch me so his solution was to start taking one handed lumberjacks at me, not my stick but at me in general, the first hit my glove by pure luck, the second hit my hip and the third got a nice large chunk of my ribs. I have a 6 inch bruise on the side of my ribs and it STILL hurts to breath-No flag, no penalty, nothing. I think that slashs to the ribs are waaaay undercalled.

My personal belief is that a ref should *if he can* try and guage the hit before he calls a penalty. A lot of the time at practice I'll go for that lift and the bottom hand will dissappear leaving me to get body. Or when a defenseman is bringing his stick over the top of the attackmen and manages to brush the helmet. I see these get called A LOT.

[3rdPersonPlural]

#4, the problem with d-men is that they ignore the sabre hacks (machismo?) and a lot of refs figure 'no harm, no foul'.

The solution is to verbally acknowledge the blows. DO NOT holler 'Hey, ref, he's slashing!' Because refs don't like to have players explain the rules to them. Just bleat like an innocent schoolboy getting pummeled by the local bully. Trust that the ref's parental or filial instinct will be keyed and the next blow will gain the yellow flag of recognition it deserves.

You never heard this from me......

[michaeldwilson]

#4, the problem with d-men is that they ignore the sabre hacks (machismo?) and a lot of refs figure 'no harm, no foul'.

The solution is to verbally acknowledge the blows. DO NOT holler 'Hey, ref, he's slashing!' Because refs don't like to have players explain the rules to them. Just bleat like an innocent schoolboy getting pummeled by the local bully. Trust that the ref's parental or filial instinct will be keyed and the next blow will gain the yellow flag of recognition it deserves.

You never heard this from me......

Sir Pronoun,

This is pretty good stuff.

m.

[laxfan25]

I agree that slashes to other parts of the body don't get called frequently enough, and if you do, it usually elicits howls of protest. But let someone just touch the head and they're screaming for the flag. My latest tactic is to tell the complaining coach/player - "If you hit them that hard in the head would it be a slash?" The back, legs and ribs merit almost as much protection. I especially watch for the attackman's Ole slash as the defenseman is going by and there's no chance he can reach the stick.
This is just one of the incongruities I see out there. D-men and middies will play cross-check hold defense all game, and cry if you call it, but let an attackman move his arm at all (even when their arm is OVER the defenders stick and they're just removing it) and cries of Ward, Ward! come descending down. I often joke that I feel like Mr. Cleaver in some games! :chuckle:

[3rdPersonPlural]

My latest tactic is to tell the complaining coach/player - "If you hit them that hard in the head would it be a slash?" The back, legs and ribs merit almost as much protection. I especially watch for the attackman's 'Ole' slash as the defenseman is going by and there's no chance he can reach the stick.

I used the same comment to satisfactory effect at one point, except I said 'helmet' rather than 'head'. I've also taken to including the following text in my pre-game monologue: "I'm as appreciative of a magnificent check as the next guy, but if you wind up like you're chopping wood you're halfway to a slash, and if you elect to deliver a stick check with one hand, you're halfway to a slash. If that check subsequently fails to connect PRIMARILY with glove or stick, you've completed the matrix and will have a minute to mull over my warning."