Rush game

[3rdPersonPlural]

Did a game today at a school celebrating alumni/parent day. The game was scheduled for 2 and there was a 3:30 girls lax game scheduled as well. Well liquored grown ups in Blue Blazers all over the place

Well, the visitor messed up and showed up at 2:10 to prepare for a 3 PM game.

Do the math. We faced at 2:35, took a 5 minute halftime from 3:24 to 3:29, and booked a nice 10-9 victory for the home team at 4:31.

I had told the coaches and kids (at the lineup) that I was officiating sensitive to time constraints so I was going to be aggressive with my timer.

Here's the question. At what point REALLY does the five second count to restart play kick in? The visiting team had (apparently) untrustworthy poles so they would trot a middie down to the end line to pick up the ball and initiate clears. It seems clear that once a ball is secured the count starts, right?

However, this team would fan it's players as the designated middie trotted to the endline, so no ball from the endline assortment would be moved until the middie got there.

Then he'd select the ball he wants and I'd say 'No, the one to the left is closest to where the ball went out', and he'd mosey on over and creep inbounds with it.......

I KNOW that there was a delay of game in there somewhere. How can I sell and call this infraction?

Any tips?

[laxfan25]

Did a game today at a school celebrating alumni/parent day. The game was scheduled for 2 and there was a 3:30 girls lax game scheduled as well. Well liquored grown ups in Blue Blazers all over the place

Well, the visitor messed up and showed up at 2:10 to prepare for a 3 PM game.

Do the math. We faced at 2:35, took a 5 minute halftime from 3:24 to 3:29, and booked a nice 10-9 victory for the home team at 4:31.

I had told the coaches and kids (at the lineup) that I was officiating sensitive to time constraints so I was going to be aggressive with my timer.

Here's the question. At what point REALLY does the five second count to restart play kick in? The visiting team had (apparently) untrustworthy poles so they would trot a middie down to the end line to pick up the ball and initiate clears. It seems clear that once a ball is secured the count starts, right?

However, this team would fan it's players as the designated middie trotted to the endline, so no ball from the endline assortment would be moved until the middie got there.

Then he'd select the ball he wants and I'd say 'No, the one to the left is closest to where the ball went out', and he'd mosey on over and creep inbounds with it.......

I KNOW that there was a delay of game in there somewhere. How can I sell and call this infraction?

Any tips?
The first time you see it happen and you realize it may be a problem, go over to the table area and tell both coaches that you intend to enforce this rule, and if their players are not ready to play the ball in 5/20 seconds, it will be a turnover. The first time you actually call it - they will start paying even more attention.

[CardinalPuff]

Any tips?
my only advice would be to set the standard as early in the game as possible....

oh, and make sure your partner is on board too....

[LaxRef]

SECTION 24. Once the referee has signaled that the ball ready for play, the official shall resume play within five seconds. Play may be resumed immediately after the ball is signaled ready for play if a player of the team awarded the ball is at the spot of the ball and the officials are in position to officiate the restart.

Any stoppage of play that occurs while the ball is in the attack area will result in the ball being awarded to the offended team outside the attack area.

(Exception: On a timeout on the end line or an out of bounds on the end
line, the ball restarts inside the attack area at the spot on the end line where the ball was when play was suspended.)

Now, there's some interpreting to do here. Clearly, "ready for play" doesn't mean the ball is in the player's stick because of that second sentence. So how do we signal "ready for play"? I think by pointing in the direction we're going, but I'm open to suggestions on this one. Thus, I think the 5 seconds technically starts almost immediately.

I warned a coach the other day because his players were being picky about the balls on the endline (pick one up, no not this one, drop it, pick up another one. . . ). If a team is being slow getting the ball I jabber at them until they pick it up and start my count. I'm lenient if the ball is far away from a player (or if the goalie is the only player nearby and doesn't want it) I give them some time, but if there's a guy standing close I tell him to pick it up and count while doing so; he'd better pick it up, or he's losing possession.

There's nothing in this rule that allows them time to run a player in from 50 yards away to pick up the ball.

[Skubala]

I worked with a 20 year vet the other day (I'm in my third year). From where ever he was on the field you could hear, "Clock's runnin'!", when he thought players were dogging it. He had his 20 s timer on as soon as the ball was set on the X, and he'd start a sweep count as soon as he thought someone should be coming for the ball on a turnover. We must have had 10 delay turnovers in the first half - only one in the second half. No gas from either coach.

I think it worked. ;-)

[3rdPersonPlural]

Now, there's some interpreting to do here. Clearly, "ready for play" doesn't mean the ball is in the player's stick because of that second sentence. So how do we signal "ready for play"? I think by pointing in the direction we're going, but I'm open to suggestions on this one. Thus, I think the 5 seconds technically starts almost immediately.

Quite right. There is no NFHS (the only rule book I have) signal for 'ready to play'. The point gesture is used to denote possession when the ball is whistled dead, and it might be confusing if you do it again. Perhaps when the official recognizes that there is a ball within 5 yards of the spot where he wants an inbound, he can make the 'play on' gesture, say 'ball ready', and commence a 5 second count.


There's nothing in this rule that allows them time to run a player in from 50 yards away to pick up the ball.

I agree. Let's put that in the rule book so that we have a rule to point to and warnings to give if this sluggardliness happens next year.

[Stubs]

I think it is important to keep the game moving and get the ball back into play with the player closest to the ball, except the goalie. It is not an opportunity to bring down the "clearing middie" to bring the ball upfield. I start the count when a player has the opportunity to pick up the ball and get inbounds. I usually advise the coaches in pre-game, and compliance begins after the first turnover.