Early release on faceoff technical

[LaxRef]

On a faceoff technical foul, players are not released from behind the restraining lines until the whistle blows to restart play. The best way to deal with this as an official is to get the team that's been awarded the ball to pick it up quickly and blow the whistle to start play, since then the defensemen and attackmen don't have time to release early, but this doesn't always work.

I usually yell "No release!" in this situation to try to keep the players from leaving early, but last night two players on the defensive team ignored me and kept runnig up the field before the whistle blew. I ended up throwing a flag since it was illegal procedure with possession.

However, I'm thinking that a better way to handle it might have been if I had immediately started a 5-second count and kept yelling "No release!" If they got beack in the box within 5 seconds, I could have let it go, but if they took more than 5 seconds then I could call it illegal procedure--delay of game.

Incidentally, I'll *always* start a 5-second count if the team that is due the ball isn't making an effort to pick it up and/or making an effort to get to the appropriate spot (e.g., I'm yelling "outside the box" and pointing and they stand there looking stupid.

[michaeldwilson]

I'm embarrassed to say, I have no idea what you mean by "faceoff technical foul." Can you point me to the rule
number, so I don't embarrass myself on the field?

Thanks,

Mike

[LaxRef]

From rule 4-3:

(4) If a player moves his crosse or any part of his body after the referee says “set” and thereby gains an advantage, the ball shall be awarded to the offended team with all previous restrictions behind the defensive-area lines remaining in force.

This means that you can't release until the whistle blows to start play. However, re-reading this, it makes it look like this only applies for ealy movement after set, not for, say, an illegal faceoff position, a wingline violation, or a loose-ball push before possession is called. But everyone I've worked with has callled this for *all* pre-possession technical fouls. I'll have to look into this more.

[michaeldwilson]

I see what you are saying. Yeah, I usually toss the ball the the offended team, get him five yards, and go. I'll need to remember to get everyone back behind the defensive lines.

I haven't done many five counts for the delay of game for the high school teams because lots of times they really don't know what's going on. Sometimes when the guy is walking behind the goal to pick up a ball after a shot, I'll yet "Let's play the game."

Mike

[spenny]

we had that happen this weekned. the ref just blew the play dead, explained to them that they werent released and restarted the play.

i think players from both teams went over the line, and there may be a difference for the youth rules.

wouldnt the rules of TPOAD say the flag was excessive?

[Snake~eyes]

Laxref, that's a rough call to make them serve time for that. I usually have no problem getting them to go back in the box, was he just not listening?

[LaxRef]

Originally posted by Snake~eyes
Laxref, that's a rough call to make them serve time for that. I usually have no problem getting them to go back in the box, was he just not listening?

Neither one was listening to me or to their teammate (the one who knew to stay behind the retraining line).