Odd Tournament Rules.

[JohnB-6]

Now that the summer tournaments are underway, I was wondering what odd rules you guys have seen set up by the directors.

This weekend I did a tournament with 25 minute running halves. Each team got two timeouts, but the clock did not stop for timeouts. So, if a coach was up by a few goals he would use both timeouts at the end of the period to deny the other team any chance of coming back. People were angry, but thats the way the directors set up the rules. Im trying to remember other rules, but my brain is baked after 13 varsity games.

[BlueJaysLaxFan]

I've seen 1 one minute TO per half with a running clock at all times, but the TO cannot be used in the last 2 minutes of the game. Another official told me that a coach went hyper in this tournament when the opposing coach called the TO with 2:05 left in the game. But, this was a tournament with no awards or trophies at stake, plus we didn't have line-ups or coin-tosses at the beginning of each game.

[ColtsLax]

you mean besides the club rules like no limit poles, not stick checks, and no shoulder pads? We had one game where we had 9 poles on the field at once, totally sweet

[LaxRef]

I've seen 1 one minute TO per half with a running clock at all times, but the TO cannot be used in the last 2 minutes of the game. Another official told me that a coach went hyper in this tournament when the opposing coach called the TO with 2:05 left in the game. But, this was a tournament with no awards or trophies at stake, plus we didn't have line-ups or coin-tosses at the beginning of each game.

I heard about a coach calling for an equipment check at a similar summer camp game. Some coaches just need to win every game a little too much . . . .

[shrekjr]

I've seen 1 one minute TO per half with a running clock at all times, but the TO cannot be used in the last 2 minutes of the game. Another official told me that a coach went hyper in this tournament when the opposing coach called the TO with 2:05 left in the game. But, this was a tournament with no awards or trophies at stake, plus we didn't have line-ups or coin-tosses at the beginning of each game.
We do this here in the summer league, but a timeout called before 2:00 still ends at 2:00.

[LaxRef]

We do this here in the summer league, but a timeout called before 2:00 still ends at 2:00.

That just shifts it so the leading coach calls TO at 3:00 remaining, but it makes more sense to do it that way, I guess. Keep in mind that the running clock is all about keeping a schedule and not at all about making the game fair.

[Lax Fan26]

I heard about a coach calling for an equipment check at a similar summer camp game. Some coaches just need to win every game a little too much . . . .

What if we make a rule for Summer that there can be no coaches! :clap:

[shrekjr]

What if we make a rule for Summer that there can be no coaches! :clap:I would like to say that in our men's summer league, that is already true. However, I think the more accurate statement would be that we actually have 20 coaches all in uniform!

[CardinalPuff]

working the u15 tournament in Vail....do the math: games are scheduled on the hour (9, 10, 11 etc)....25 minute running halfs, 5 minute haltime, 2 stop-time 1 minute timeouts per team per half.....if you can get teams in and out of the huddle in 1 minute that allows for 63 minutes of gametime.....how do you stay on schedule?

[RockStar]

..........how do you stay on schedule?
If a game takes 63 minutes and you're starting games every hour, well, the only way to keep things on time is to get more fields, officials, and timekeepers as needed!

Tournament organizers need to pull their heads out of their arses on some of these. If you're going to allow timeouts, and actually have a bigger halftime than is needed for the goalies to get water and switch ends, 22 minute halves is a little more realistic than 25. Chop it to one timeout per team per half, and you'd even have time for an on-field handshake.

[CardinalPuff]

If a game takes 63 minutes and you're starting games every hour, well, the only way to keep things on time is to get more fields, officials, and timekeepers as needed!

Tournament organizers need to pull their heads out of their arses on some of these. If you're going to allow timeouts, and actually have a bigger halftime than is needed for the goalies to get water and switch ends, 22 minute halves is a little more realistic than 25. Chop it to one timeout per team per half, and you'd even have time for an on-field handshake.
consulting with the coaches (but not tourny organizers) i went 23 minutes and 1 time out per half/team.....after 4 games my partner and i were slightly (2 minutes) behind.....when we switched fields, the games were already 45 minutes behind schedule....this caused tournament organizers to move one of our remaining 3 games to another field (we were compensated anyway:thumbsup:).....

[JohnB-6]

So Vail doesnt work off a central horn? In these tournaments, I always try to get the first game started early, and tell the coaches that we are only doing 23 minute halves instead of 25. I keep game time on the field, so there are rarely objections.

And the important thing is, I NEVER say the word 'timeout'. If a coach forgets he has them at his disposal, that sucks, but Im not going to remind him that he has two per half. Its bad enough when I have to stop the game for an injury and the kid lays on the ground for 10 minutes with a hurt wrist. Kid, its your arm, you can walk off the field. Get up! (but I never ever say anything like that, I just bite my lip and then vent to you guys)

[OldLaxer]

I'm not sure why they don't allow a T/O in the last two minutes. Any ideas?
Also, when the time is kept on the far side of the field and there is no two minute call, and the near side ref allows a time out when in fact it is just under two minutes remaining do you feel that warrants a delay of game?
If not how do you handle it?

[LaxRef]

I'm not sure why they don't allow a T/O in the last two minutes. Any ideas?

Team A is up by 1 with 2:00 left and possession in the alley. A1 calls timeout. Team A gets their minute, play restarts with 0:59 seconds left. A1 calls timeout. Game over.

Fair?

[OldLaxer]

I was thinking about start stop time under two minutes I guess. Too many tournaments, too many rules. :imparied:
I guess that's why they pay you the big bucks!

[CardinalPuff]

it may be odd to some but this one is more of a "throwback" rule:

in Vail, in what i like to call the "upper" divisions (masters, super masters and grandmasters), tournament rules allow a team that is a man down to release their own penalty by getting the ball into their attack box....just like in the days of yore...

as an official, it keeps you on your toes.....not only watching to release the penalty but also for those occasion infractions that you may want to upgrade to USC to make them unreleasable...

as a change of pace i really enjoy it.....one time a year anyway...