Mesh

[Cheez-it]

If mesh is ripped, but ball is still sits in pocket legally, i.e the ball is not fully exposed beneath the plastic, is it legal?

[scooterstyx]

i dont see why not, as long as the stick passes all the tests still

[Trilax03]

it sounds ok, but mayb post a picture so laxref or sum1 can check it out for you...you don't want to get caught in a game w/o a legal stick

[LaxRef]

If mesh is ripped, but ball is still sits in pocket legally, i.e the ball is not fully exposed beneath the plastic, is it legal?


This is a tricky question. The rules say you cannot play with a broken crosse. They also say:

A.R. 26. If the head of the crosse is broken so that a player is prevented from performing the normal functions of cradling, shooting and passing, the crosse is considered broken. This includes a head that is completely broken away from the handle of the crosse or any part of
the head that is separated from the remainder of the head, even though it is still attached by the weaving. The player must obtain another crosse from his bench or table area. For exception, see Rule 4-19-e.

The list says "includes," so this list does not in any way rule out calling torn mesh a broken crosse. It's up to the judgment of the official what constitutes broken.

However--and this is the important part--a broken crosse is not an illegal crosse! That is, there is not a 1:00 NR or 3:00 NR penalty associated with a broken crosse. Instead, playing with a broken crosse is a technical foul, which gives the opponent's possession if the ball was loose or if your team had the ball and which sends you to the box for 30 seconds releasable if the other team had possession.

Some officials are confused on this and send off any broken crosse for 3:00 NR, which is quite a large error! Thus, you should make sure that you don't get screwed (your coach can challenge an incorrect rules application under NFHS rules).

[laxfan25]

I would say if the tear in the mesh doesn't preclude you from cradling, shooting or passing, and it passes the other pocket tests, it would be your choice if you want to chance playing with it. There is much more concern with the head being broken, which could be a more dangerous situation.
I've had sticks where a piece of the mesh was torn (almost like the goal net with a string broken) and played with them. If the tear gets so big that the ball passes through when you try to catch the pass, you might want to consider new mesh!