Neutral Zone on Faceoffs?

[Blue]

I faceoff for my team and in a last tournament, a ref called me for illegal procedure for being in the neutral zone on a faceoff. This was the first time in my three years of facing off to be called on this. The question that i have is where does the nuetral zone start and where does it end? It was very embarrasing for this to happen to me and i wish to correct my problem so that it doesnt happen again. Please reply!

[dram183]

maybe the line? as a faceoff mid you have to stay off the line dont you?

[LoyolaMiddie878]

you can't have any part of your body/stick crossing the midline onto the other player's side

[JohnB-6]

"you can't have any part of your body/stick crossing the midline onto the other player's side"

False.

Your can lean over your stick onto the other side of the field all you want.

There is a neutral zone between the two heads. You have to keep your entire body to the LEFT of the head of your stick. This includes your gloves (dont grab too high), elbow, helmet, and the one that I am constantly calling it on, especially from kids coming to tournaments from developing areas, your FOOT.

So, when the ref says down, come down together at the same time, both gloves have to be touching the ground, dont move until the whistle, and keep your entire body to the left of the head of your stick. Oh, and keep your stick parallel to the line and dont plunger the ball after the whistle.

Now you should be good to go.

[LoyolaMiddie878]

"you can't have any part of your body/stick crossing the midline onto the other player's side"

False.

Your can lean over your stick onto the other side of the field all you want.


seriously??? i've been doing faceoffs for 2 years and i have always been told by refs/coaches/players that you can't.

are you going by NHFS rules?

[Blue]

im pretty sure that you cant have anything past the midline when facing off. i may be wrong though.

[laxfan25]

im pretty sure that you cant have anything past the midline when facing off. i may be wrong though.
Your body can be in the air over the midfield line, but your hands and feet have to be behind the line. Your hands, of course, will be wrapped around your stick with both hands on the ground, with the stick parallel to the midline.
I'm sure the violation you were called for was likely a 'neutral zone' violation, which as John B-6 pointed out, is the space where the two head are back to back. Every part of your body has to be to the left of the head of your stick - this is what the ref is looking for and what I frequently call for a violation on. Players will have their foot, knee, elbow or head leaning into that space. Sometimes a ref may let it slide a little, if both guys are just a little bit in. In your case it sounds like you tripped the wire.

[LaxRef]

im pretty sure that you cant have anything past the midline when facing off. i may be wrong though.

Welcome to the Lacrosse Forums, Blue. Coming here will quickly help clear up those pesky rules misconceptions!

The official shall place the ball on the ground in the center of the 4- inch-wide line. The players shall stand on the same side of the field as the goal each is defending. The official shall indicate to both players to assume their respective positions at the same time by saying “down.” The crosses and gloves shall rest on the ground along the center line, parallel to each other up to, but not touching, the center line.

The official shall make certain that the reverse surfaces of the crosses match evenly and are perpendicular to the ground. Each player must have both hands wrapped around the handle of his own crosse, touching the ground. The right hand may not touch any part of the head of the crosse. The player's feet may not touch his crosse. Both hands and feet of each player must be to the left of the throat of his crosse. Each player must be positioned so his entire body is to the left of the throat of his crosse. It is legal to lean over the center line.

NFHS rules are only slightly different (there's a "set" call, and sticks and gloves can be inside the midline, up to but not touching the ball).

[JohnB-6]

seriously??? i've been doing faceoffs for 2 years and i have always been told by refs/coaches/players that you can't.

are you going by NHFS rules?

You should tell your refs/coaches/players to come to this forum and learn the rules. :roll:

As LaxRef pointed out, there are not many differences between the NCAA and NFHS rules for the face off.

It seems many areas do not teach this to their refs. I have a lot of kids in summer tournaments who stick their right foot way over the head of their stick. Each time they come up for a face off I tell them (while writing down the score) "Guys when I say down, come down together at the same time and keep your ENTIRE body to the left of the head of the stick, this includes your feet." I tell both teams, so I dont feel bad about 'coaching' one of the players, but its almost comical when I have to immediately bring them back up for an illegal procedure.

OH, and I just thought of one other rule about facing off... you cannot face off left handed. It doesnt matter if both kids want to go lefty, or if your older brothers friend said it was ok.

[LaxRef]

OH, and I just thought of one other rule about facing off... you cannot face off left handed. It doesnt matter if both kids want to go lefty, or if your older brothers friend said it was ok.

I had someone try this the other night at a high school summer league game. I took a deep breath, sighed, and awarded the ball to the other team.

[wolfie8914]

NFHS rules are only slightly different (there's a "set" call, and sticks and gloves can be inside the midline, up to but not touching the ball).


There is no "set" call anymore. Its just "down" and then whistle.

Thats what you are talking about right?

[dram183]

thats only for ncaa, if im not mistaken

[LaxRef]

There is no "set" call anymore. Its just "down" and then whistle.

Thats what you are talking about right?

There is a set call for NFHS. This is not a set call for NCAA.

[MAref]

This has been true for both NFHS and NCAA. You CAN lean over the midline but you CANNOT lean over the neutral zone which determined by the stick heads.