NCAA Championships

[LaxRef]

I just got back last night from the NCAA championships in Philadelphia. I got to meet THE eme, but missed out on meeting CoachRob and ploaref.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to go on Sunday for the DII and DIII championships since I was in town for just under 3 days and wanted to spend a little time with my family, who lives in the area. We also ended up having to leave the second semifinal game on Saturday during the thunderstorm delay since my friend needed to pick up his daughter, but it didn't sound like we missed a good ending or anything. :banghead:

I thought the officiating was fantastic. There were, of course, a few things that I would have called that they didn't, but nothing that I wouldn't have called that they did.

Almost every time (I can only think of one exception) that I thought, "There should be a stalling warning pretty soon," there was a warning given shortly after that unless the team in possession turned the ball over or got a shot.

I don't know what the USC on Virginia was with 3 seconds left in the first half on Saturday, but in a game like that I'm confident that the flag wouldn't have been thrown in a game like that unless it was well deserved. I also didn't expect to see a flag on the slash--just because they seem to let a lot of that kind of stuff go at that level--at midfield by John Christmas, but I thought it was an excellent call. Considering that they gave up 3 goals on those two penalties, I thought stupidity cost them the game.

There were two or three goals waved off for crease violations or goalie interference, all good calls. On one, the officials had to work together to get the call right, but that's why you have more than one official.

Only once did I see two flags down on the same play, and that was late in the championship game with Hopkins in possession and Duke desperate to get the ball back, which is exactly the kind of situation where you expect to see a lot of fouls.

There were a number of times (three or four) over the weekend when there was a penalty call made where everyone said "What!?" (I can think of a holding call in particular that I didn't see.) While many of the people around me groused that it was a phantom call, I politely explained that it was probably a call made off the ball, and you could almost see a little light go on as people realized that they weren't seeing everything on the field when they were watching.

It was amusing to hear people's take on the rules, like how they have 10 seconds to get across the DCL and how the one goal should have stood--even though the player was lying flat on the ground in the crease when the ball entered the goal--because he was pushed in.

The stadium was first-rate, and they set an attendance record, which will hopefully silence the people who said that the event should have a permanent home in Baltimore because there's no way Philadelphia could attract as many fans as Baltimore did.

The officials did a good job of keeping the game moving, but ESPN did their best to slow them down. I think every game started late, and I think timeouts and intermissions were all doubled.

Anyway, it was a fun weekend, and I'm glad I went even though I had to contend with the stress of traveling with a 1-year-old.

[umasslaxref]

Quote: "I don't know what the USC on Virginia was with 3 seconds left in the first half on Saturday, but in a game like that I'm confident that the flag wouldn't have been thrown in a game like that unless it was well deserved."

I watched the game on TV and you could hear the official who threw the flag say that the player in question directed an "F-bomb" at him. Must have been pretty loud....

[LaxRef]

Quote: "I don't know what the USC on Virginia was with 3 seconds left in the first half on Saturday, but in a game like that I'm confident that the flag wouldn't have been thrown in a game like that unless it was well deserved."

I watched the game on TV and you could hear the official who threw the flag say that the player in question directed an "F-bomb" at him. Must have been pretty loud....

If it was indeed "at" the official, it needn't have been loud at all; I'd flag a guy if he whispered something like that at me. If he just said it because he was frustrated, the volume might have been a factor.

[CoachRob]

I agree that the officiating was excellent. The prolonged time outs for ESPN were necessary. If we want lax to get more exposure, we need to get it on TV, which requires adverting time. I think they inserted them at reasonable times (after goals, during TO's, between periods) and while it lengthened the games, it did provide home viewers a chance to see a game they otherwise might not have had an interest in. I thought he camera in the South goal was bit funky, what with a light going on every few seconds, but it was more an oddity than anything else.

[LaxRef]

I agree that the officiating was excellent. The prolonged time outs for ESPN were necessary. If we want lax to get more exposure, we need to get it on TV, which requires adverting time. I think they inserted them at reasonable times (after goals, during TO's, between periods) and while it lengthened the games, it did provide home viewers a chance to see a game they otherwise might not have had an interest in. I thought he camera in the South goal was bit funky, what with a light going on every few seconds, but it was more an oddity than anything else.

Yeah, I didn't really have a problem with the prolonged timeouts once I remembered that's what was taking so long. However, I would have preferred if they'd said and 11:40 start time instead of 11:30 if that's what TV was going to require. Similarly, the second game started at 2:20 instead of 2:00, and I don't think it's because the first game took too long.

You must have had better seats than I did to see the camera in the goal.

I forgot to mention the one negative: there were some very drunk Virginia fans behind us, with a constant stream of profanities and observations that could only be considered insightful if you were hammered.

[CoachRob]

We also ended up having to leave the second semifinal game on Saturday during the thunderstorm delay since my friend needed to pick up his daughter, but it didn't sound like we missed a good ending or anything. :banghead:

What? You consider two goals within 15 seconds, the second goal coming with exactly one second left, exciting? And overtime going down to the final 50 seconds?

BORING............

Actually, I left because with the rain, I figured we'd have at least an hour delay and we were expected for dinner. Boy, was I ticked. :bawling:

[LaxRef]

What? You consider two goals within 15 seconds, the second goal coming with exactly one second left, exciting? And overtime going down to the final 50 seconds?

BORING............

Actually, I left because with the rain, I figured we'd have at least an hour delay and we were expected for dinner. Boy, was I ticked. :bawling:

I'm not sure what you mean by "the final 50 seconds," since they play until someone wins.

[CoachRob]

I mean JHU scored with about 50 seconds left in the overtime period. Naturally it would have gone to another period had nobody scored in sudden victory.

I was impressed with how demonstrative the officials were with their calls. When they signalled slash, they were about to chop their arms off. When they pointed to the ground, they were trying to bury their fingers. I don't know if it was adrenaline or what, but their arms were busier than a prison escapee in a house of ill repute!

Even eme was flailing away. No wonder why he has so many typos in his posts!!

[Snake~eyes]

I don't know what the USC on Virginia was with 3 seconds left in the first half on Saturday, but in a game like that I'm confident that the flag wouldn't have been thrown in a game like that unless it was well deserved. I also didn't expect to see a flag on the slash--just because they seem to let a lot of that kind of stuff go at that level--at midfield by John Christmas, but I thought it was an excellent call. Considering that they gave up 3 goals on those two penalties, I thought stupidity cost them the game.
As eme said it was for the 'f-bomb' which I was still some what suprised, it must have been really loud?

Also I was suprised about the slash they called on Christmas, I didn't really think it was consistent with the way they were calling the game. But I did like the call.

There were two or three goals waved off for crease violations or goalie interference, all good calls. On one, the officials had to work together to get the call right, but that's why you have more than one official.

The crease violation calls were good and I already mentioned the goal/nogoal signal in the other thread. Although I still don't think the player was pushed into the crease, but what do I know.

There were a number of times (three or four) over the weekend when there was a penalty call made where everyone said "What!?" (I can think of a holding call in particular that I didn't see.) While many of the people around me groused that it was a phantom call, I politely explained that it was probably a call made off the ball, and you could almost see a little light go on as people realized that they weren't seeing everything on the field when they were watching.

But I thought they were calling holds in several situations instead of something like a slash. Same thing with trip, there was one time where it looked like a trip to me and they called push instead.

What? You consider two goals within 15 seconds, the second goal coming with exactly one second left, exciting? And overtime going down to the final 50 seconds?

BORING............

Actually, I left because with the rain, I figured we'd have at least an hour delay and we were expected for dinner. Boy, was I ticked. :bawling:
I watched the whole game on TV, you didn't miss much.

[Lax_Lurker]

Any thoughts on having the officials "miked" for the tv viewers. As an official i didn't like it at first fearing something would be caught that only the crew wanted between themselves or themselves and the coaches. But nothing really came out that hurt them. In fact it was great to hear their responses to the coaches complaints.

[CoachRob]

Do the NCAA coaches seem to know the rules better than high school coaches? Or are they clueless?

[Snake~eyes]

Any thoughts on having the officials "miked" for the tv viewers. As an official i didn't like it at first fearing something would be caught that only the crew wanted between themselves or themselves and the coaches. But nothing really came out that hurt them. In fact it was great to hear their responses to the coaches complaints.
It wouldn't suprises me if there was some type of screener. But I think its good, especially when explanations were given. Helps teach the fans the rules and allows TV viewers to know what has been called.

[eme]

1. 7-second delay on tv for the mikes. In the ref's locker room we had the live tv...seven seconds behind the action out on the field...so when a play was developing on our screen in the lockerroom, we often heard a roar before we saw the goal on television.

2. Refs demonstrative due to adrenaline/noise.
If you saw a big windup on a point by the refs it was because he was looking for the goalie to ascertain which way to point. Sometimes we don't know know which way "white" is going...but if you look back at the goalie (who never moves) you can figure out in mid-point with a big windup which way white is going....
neat, huh?

[LaxRef]

2. Refs demonstrative due to adrenaline/noise.
If you saw a big windup on a point by the refs it was because he was looking for the goalie to ascertain which way to point. Sometimes we don't know know which way "white" is going...but if you look back at the goalie (who never moves) you can figure out in mid-point with a big windup which way white is going....
neat, huh?

Once again, you make me feel better knowing I'm not the only idiot out there who doesn't instinctively know which team is going which direction!

I've sometimes had teams try to let their goalie play without a jersey since they figure it doesn't matter, but it sure matters to me. I want that guy wearing the right color!

[gfink]

The 'USC' was indeed an F-Bomb. Directed at the lead official for calling the loose ball push on the endline with 2 secs left in the half.

[CoachRob]

I guess you miss some good stuff sitting in the stands!

[laxfan25]

Once again, you make me feel better knowing I'm not the only idiot out there who doesn't instinctively know which team is going which direction!

I've sometimes had teams try to let their goalie play without a jersey since they figure it doesn't matter, but it sure matters to me. I want that guy wearing the right color!

Add me to the list of those that look at the goalie! I was just steered to this site by my esteemed colleague LaxRef. It's great to have a site with an official's forum! I'll have to go home and read through all these great threads.

Along the lines of looking at the goalie, on occasion I've had a play on on a ground ball push. After a short scrum I'll whistle it dead, and then realize I've forgotten who pushed whom! Sometimesd by the reactions I'll know I've got it wrong and correct, but any suggestions for helping to note which team violated/ Or is it just early onset Ahlzheimer's? (Maybe not so early anymore!)

[LaxRef]

Along the lines of looking at the goalie, on occasion I've had a play on on a ground ball push. After a short scrum I'll whistle it dead, and then realize I've forgotten who pushed whom! Sometimesd by the reactions I'll know I've got it wrong and correct, but any suggestions for helping to note which team violated/ Or is it just early onset Ahlzheimer's? (Maybe not so early anymore!)

No, it happens to me, too. The key rule of thumb is to not let the play-on go on too long so you'll have less time to forget.

The other thing is that if you forget who pushed whom and the ball gets picked up, well then it must have been a push by the other team!

[Snake~eyes]

No, it happens to me, too. The key rule of thumb is to not let the play-on go on too long so you'll have less time to forget.

The other thing is that if you forget who pushed whom and the ball gets picked up, well then it must have been a push by the other team!
I end mine pretty quick, if they don't pick it up right away then TWEET away.

[rilax]

1. 7-second delay on tv for the mikes. In the ref's locker room we had the live tv...seven seconds behind the action out on the field...so when a play was developing on our screen in the lockerroom, we often heard a roar before we saw the goal on television.



Was there a way to turn them off if need be and/or were there times that they killed the mikes such as half time? Would seem to me that there would be times where you would want to talk about situations that you would not want going out to the world.

[zebra618]

We had our State Championships on Saturday and had the games on TV. Those officials who were at the championships all loved having the Officials miked. We especially liked the comments during face-offs ... "balls loose, balls loose, find the ball, etc."

[LaxRef]

We had our State Championships on Saturday and had the games on TV. Those officials who were at the championships all loved having the Officials miked. We especially liked the comments during face-offs ... "balls loose, balls loose, find the ball, etc."

Is lacrosse sanctioned by the state HS league in Washington? Even if it is, I'm surprised it's on TV out there.

ESPN announced during the telecasts this weekend that lacrosse had been added as a boys' sanctioned sport in a bunch of states lately, but they were wrong when they said Minnesota, which lost a recent vote.

[zebra618]

Sorry for the misunderstanding - During the State HS games ( at Qwest field), we had access to the ESPN2 broadcasts of the NCAA games.

Lacrosse is still a "club" sport in Washington state. It is not sanctioned by the WIAA (equivalent of MSHSL).