Seven Down in NFHS

[farside268]

I realize this is an unlikely scenario, but how would you deal with having 7 players from one team in the penalty area under NFHS rules. The problem arises because of the goalkeeper. Under a strict reading of the rules, a team with 7 players out would have 3 players in their attacking end and none in their defensive end. However, it is generally accepted that the NFHS rules implicitly require a team to have a properly equipped goalie on the field at all times. Therefore, what do we do?

I've come up with two possibilities:
1. The penalized team keeps two players in their attacking end and a properly equipped goalkeeper in their defensive end.

2. The penalized team keeps three players in their attacking end, one of whom must be a properly equipped goalkeeper.

I realize that this is a very unlikely situation, but I'm bored on summer break and felt like playing with hypotheticals.

[BeachRef]

I think I'd be more interested in HOW a 7 man down situation could occur. I bet I could sell tickets in advance to watch it happen.

[PlayOn]

If you have 7 players from the same team in the box it may be time to consider ending the game early rather that the mechanics of playing under this situation.

[farside268]

The most I've ever had is 5. However, I posted this in order to promote discussion of the rule, not analyze the underlying causes of the situation.

[RottingMind13]

I think I'd be more interested in HOW a 7 man down situation could occur. I bet I could sell tickets in advance to watch it happen.

How much, what day and where

[scruffy221]

That actually wouldn't be that hard or exciting, it could be 6 USC's spawning from a bad slash or bodycheck call. Any team of hotheads could make it happen and F-bomb the Ref at the same time.

[ColtsLax]

Does NFHS have the stack rule? LAXREF ASSEMBLE!

[BlueJaysLaxFan]

We have some other threads in the last 2 years that discussed this, but I did not see specifically what to do if more than 7 men are penalized. NFHS does not have a stacking rule. When you go under 7 on the field, you already violate the offsides rule but there is still a face-off. If Team A was nasty enough to deserve 7 penalized players leaving the GK and 2 attackers, perhaps let the keeper face-off and either he fends off the attackers or a goal is scored quickly and A's players are released (if allowed).

[sammyduelist]

Wouldn't the team be forced to forfiet ?

[laxgthreeone]

I think they would need a bigger box to fit seven lol..

and a goalie facing off would be awesome

[LaxRef]

There is no stacking rule in NFHS. Assuming you hadn't decided to suspend the game, you'd have 3 men on your offensive end and none on your defensive end. The NFHS is not explicit about requiring a goalie on the field, but it is implied, so I'd make them have a goalie in their offensive end.

If somehow the fouls were NR and you had a faceoff pending with 7 guys in the box, that team cannot possibly face off legally, and so possession would have to be awarded to the other team.

But, again, we hope this is all hypothetical.

[wolfenburg]

BTW:
Is the goalie allowed to face?

I think the only thing the 7 man down team can do is getting a delay of game penalty (after 30 sec.) then the other team gains possesion, again 30 sec., and on the whistle the one minute is over.

[LaxRef]

The goalie is allowed to face off only if his team is man-down.

[LaxRef]

So assuming there was going to be a faceoff, and a team was 6 men down, then the goalie would have to faceoff correct?

Well, he wouldn't have to, since he could always take the delay of game and go set up in his crease. But if his team didn't want to concede the faceoff, the GK is the only one who could face off in that situation.

[dram183]

thatd be interesting with a goalie stick, hed have to have his hand on the ground, meaning itd be pretty far from the plastic, unless he bent it a lot

[wolfenburg]

Well the rules allow a goaliestik that is smaler (some sticks for beginners meet this) so you can try to use such one. In addition the pocket may be deeper so if he winns he can hold the ball quiet long......

[LaxRef]

Well the rules allow a goaliestik that is smaler (some sticks for beginners meet this) so you can try to use such one. In addition the pocket may be deeper so if he winns he can hold the ball quiet long......

This is not true in NCAA and NFHS: The goalie crosse must be 10"–12" wide at the widest point.

[wolfenburg]

sry this non SI Units confused me....