State of the game: Is change necessary?

[lacrossefanatic]

link:http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=119838

The most important issue regarding lacrosse has recently been the need for reforms? With the advent of new equipment (Keeping in mind the late acquisitions and partnerships) and various game play modifications numerous opinions have emerged suggesting that the sport heads in a new direction. The question is which direction?

"...Does college lacrosse need a shot clock? Are coaches strangling the pace of the game? Are equipment innovations ruining lacrosse?

...There may not be a consensus opinion on any of these topics, but the important thing is that the discussion happens now—while so much is going right for lacrosse." Inside Lacrosse, April 13, 2006

What are your thoughts?
You're answer could be printed in the next issue of Inside Lacrosse if you submit it here: http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=17&id=117087&hidecontent=yes

[lacrossefanatic]

I like the college game as it is. I don't mind when they settle the ball. It allows for the defense to get into position. For strategic plays to take place as well as interesting match ups.
I also don't think we should edit the game simply to attract the public. That would be curropting a sport for the sake of fans and money. It'll become all about money like what has happen to all other sports. The NLL for one is completly public oriented. I know its a pretty harsh thing to say but the illegal pockets, the rock music in the background, the shot clocks, and fist fight!? all of this crammed into a small field just doesn't suit my palate. Does any of that sound remotely like lacrosse to you?

[atacklax]

I say that we find ways other than a shot clock to increase the pace of the game. Add an extra attackman. Instantly, you have a fastbreak on every clear.

[ColtsLax]

I say that we find ways other than a shot clock to increase the pace of the game. Add an extra attackman. Instantly, you have a fastbreak on every clear.
if you run the clear right, you should always have a fast break. And if we have an extra attackman, does the other team get an extra pole :naughty:

Tighter rules on heads and pockets. Harsher penalties for stick modification. a deep pocket goes to 3min NR, and any pinching ir traping goes to a 1 game suspension. and really hammer the companies to make heads that are well within the legal limits

[LaxGoalie28]

If you add a shot clock(for college), things become sloppy and you wont see a good lacrosse game. Lets not turn this into the mll, one thing about college is that it doesnt have these stupid rules, which makes it fun to watch.

[LaxBoy92]

I believe shot clocks shouldn't exist. Rushing players to score makes plays not work out smoothly.

As for today's sticks, refs should be more stict on calling stick violations and maybe make the legal pocke depth not as deep. I know us TLFers like to have DEEP pockets, but it's getting a little out of hand.

[slinkyspine]

I like the college game as it is. I don't mind when they settle the ball. It allows for the defense to get into position. For strategic plays to take place as well as interesting match ups.
I also don't think we should edit the game simply to attract the public. That would be curropting a sport for the sake of fans and money. It'll become all about money like what has happen to all other sports. The NLL for one is completly public oriented. I know its a pretty harsh thing to say but the illegal pockets, the rock music in the background, the shot clocks, and fist fight!? all of this crammed into a small field just doesn't suit my palate. Does any of that sound remotely like lacrosse to you?


My god. Sounds like a great game of Box to me.

[WHEELAX2]

I can tell you that since I have played High School, I have noticed a significant change in the pace and strategy of the game. I do believe that something has to change... what exactly that is, I don't know

[stegmakk]

I originally was a proponent to the shot clock. I HATE the stall. It was a flavor of the moment and if my faded memory serves me correct was used by a few teams in the late 90s. Yet it seems most teams do not use it anymore except for when they are up and in the fourth quarter. This still ires me, but I understand it, and am grateful that at least it is not overused. I also see the point made where it won't stop the stall at all. A team will still stall then just lob the ball to the endline.
Maybe make the ruling if you are ahead...you need to get it in the box during the last 5 minutes (not 2), and that there must be a genuine attempt to score rather than just hold on to the ball. Leave it up to the refs...maybe give a team 1 minute to get a shot off. I am sorry, but it shouldn't take more than 90 seconds to set up a play and get a shot off if you are not really stalling.

As far as the sticks being ridiculous and dmen needing to rip a guys arm off in order to take the ball away...yes I see that. Coach Tierney told me his dislike for the new equipment a few years ago. I am not that opposed to it. I think it gets Dmen back into the basics of good solid defense. I would however make it mandatory that EACH stick get checked before the game starts. Not during because due to some FO or wicked checks a stick can warp...and not just a couple of players on the team...everyone. There would have to be a way to judge if players swap sticks later (I haven't figured out that one yet).
Barely legal is fine...Illegal gets stick destroyed and 3min NR.

[TheKOB]

you read my mind stegs. Don't women line up and get all the sticks checked by the ref before each game? The amount of illegal sticks in high school and especially college is appalling.

I wouldn't mind the rules committee making a few changes as to what makes a stick illegal...maybe making it so that they can't have a pinch (the sidewalls are straight to the scoop) or less of (or eliminate) the offset.

[3rdPersonPlural]

I've thought that if we forbid substitutions on the fly and after a shot goes out of bounds, the pace of the game will step up some.

Or maybe not, because some middies will get stuck on Loooonnnnggg shifts. Plus specialists with fresh legs can really light up an offense and a midfield line of d-specialists keep dodgers in check and force a more fluid, passing game.

I would oppose a shot clock. Let the refs detect stalling and ask the team to keep it in. There are times when incompetence or bad conditioning slows down an offense, and there are times that the defense is too good to allow any decent shots, and the offense is too well drilled to take any bad shots.

Maybe we should make the attack box bigger and call stalling if anyone steps out of it with the ball. loose balls would have to be brought back in in 10 seconds.

Now THERE's a good idea.....

[bee_laxer5]

i agree with enforceing rules about the stick a little bit more but other then that i think the game is good how it is.

[heyromo07]

you cant ask refs to detect stalling because then thats giving them a judgement call and that asks for so many problems

[Superman]

I like the college game as it is. I don't mind when they settle the ball. It allows for the defense to get into position. For strategic plays to take place as well as interesting match ups.
I also don't think we should edit the game simply to attract the public. That would be curropting a sport for the sake of fans and money. It'll become all about money like what has happen to all other sports. The NLL for one is completly public oriented. I know its a pretty harsh thing to say but the illegal pockets, the rock music in the background, the shot clocks, and fist fight!? all of this crammed into a small field just doesn't suit my palate. Does any of that sound remotely like lacrosse to you?

yeah it does... i think the stuff that happens in box is so much more fun to play and watch than feild. id give anything to live up in canada right now and play box instead of feild.

[WHEELAX2]

ok.. just some thoughts on the "speed" of the game in recent years...



Last night, I happened to catch a replay of Maryland at JHU... granted, Walters had an amazing game, but I was so bored watching.. I can only imagine how the 12,000 + fans at the game felt.. Maryland must have held the ball for at least 2 minutes each posession. They probably had over 8-10 different stall warnings throughout the game. Whenever Hopkins managed to turn the ball over, they threw it away on a god awful pass..

instead of the announcers talking about how great lax is, etc.. they were focused mainly on the horrid pace of the game and how lacrosse needs a "shot clock".. fans started booing MD when they posessed the ball, and Quint said, boo the rule book, not MD..

#side note.. in all the NCAA D1 lacrosse I've seen this spring, I have probably seen less than 1.5 fast breaks per game.. I think to myself, "when was the last time I saw a 4 on 3 fast break?"..

so obviously something needs to be done to speed up the game a bit....

I'm sure that shot clocks are out of the question, but what can be done?

I would suggest that the current rules shorten the field a bit.. when you have 20 seconds to clear it out of your own end, it gives the riding team a chance to set up deeper in their own zone instead of pressing the goalies and long poles..

back when you had 10 seconds to get it out of your own box area riding attackmen and middies could set up their ride further into the clearing teams own end.. this would allow for clears that would end up with unsettled fast and slow break situations.. now, defenses have a chance to sub, and get back in the hole without too much of a threat of a fast break.. rarely do offensive players get "stuck" playing defense, and on almost every clear, a middie is able to dart off the field to get a long pole, or a d mid out there..

to me, that isn't lacrosse.. it's almost like football where you turn the ball over, everyone leaves the field, then the respective offenses and defenses take the field, and resume play on a whistle..

does the game need a shot clock: no, I don't think so
does the game need stricter stalling penalties: no, I don't think so
does the game need to reinstate, or revamp clearing rules: absolutely
does the game need to get rid of the 4th long pole: something to think about
does the game need more fast breaks and unsettled situations: yes
should offensive teams retain the ball on a poor shot if they back it up: something to think about: I don't know of one sport where you throw the ball out of bounds, and you have a chance to retain posession

[Luxar]

I have something to add about your last comment, Superman, regarding the "should offensive teams retain the ball on a poor shot...".

Personally, I cannot think of a better deterrent to shooting than knowing that, if I happen to miss the shot, I will turn the ball over, no questions asked. Without the retaining possession rule, off. ball would slow down immensely because each team would be extremely hesitant to let off a shot unless it was a perfect opportunity.

[WHEELAX2]

I have something to add about your last comment, Superman, regarding the "should offensive teams retain the ball on a poor shot...".

Personally, I cannot think of a better deterrent to shooting than knowing that, if I happen to miss the shot, I will turn the ball over, no questions asked. Without the retaining possession rule, off. ball would slow down immensely because each team would be extremely hesitant to let off a shot unless it was a perfect opportunity.


makes perfect sense.. never thought of that.. but it does happen in box lax and in the NLL.. although they do have boards behind the goal