by
posted 03/17/2008
The most major change in emphasis in Lacrosse in 2008 from
First grade through High School is reducing unneccessary and violent
"takeout" type checks. It was the
MAJOR EMPHASIS at recent EMLOA (Easter Mass Lacrosse Officials Association) meetings we attended.
Information from MBYLL
· Poke checks will be permitted with proper intent of contact of opposing stick and/or gloves.
· There will be no take out checks at any age level. Example: Any hit with or without possession that has the intent of injuring or putting the opponent on the ground.
· There will be no body checking for U11 players per the US Lacrosse Youth Council Rules for U11 and U9 play. Players should play the ball not the man when it is loose. When defending a player in possession with the ball, the defender should use no more than equal pressure to prevent progress.
Any check considered to be intending to put the opposing player "On the ground" will be considered for 1-2 minutes unreleasable penalty - meaning: no matter how many goals are scored, the player stays off the field and the team remains short handed or 'man down'.
Many officials are giving the penalty with a warning that, if it happens again, the player is out of the game.
Please communicate this to your boys.
As parents, we need to be especially watchful for analogies of hockey or football, or cheering for such violence. The proper sports analogies for well played Lax are basketball and soccer, not hockey and football. For example, picks (stationary offensive players) are a useful offshoot of basketball for rubbing off a defender and gaining
'separation'.
Watch NCAA (college) lacrosse - it is rare that any Top 20 team has more than 3 penalties per game - it usually results in 3 goals. It is unfortunate that Major League Lax, which generously trains our boys in the game through coaches and clinics, introduces a level of contact not seen at other levels.
4 or 5 things to be wary of:
o
SPEARING (head on head contact, or leading with head) - especially happens during ground balls - very dangerous, can lead to upper body severe injuries. This is different than brushing or indirect contact - that is why we wear helmets.
NOT ALLOWED IN ANY CONTACT SPORT - no excuses.
o
SLASHING - this when your stick is 'out of control' - IT DOES NOT REQUIRE CONTACT TO BE CALLED. Any stick contact below waist also considered slashing. Wild swings without contact will be called. Our stick is a tool for possession, not a weapon.
o
CONTACT FROM REAR. May be a push, awarding possession to other team, or intentional roughness, with penalty -
NOT ALLOWED IN ANY CONTACT SPORT - no excuses.
o
CROSS CHECKING: Hitting the player with the stick parallel to ground, both hands seperated on the stick. This will be called when the contact made is with the stick, not the hands. (In other words, a defensive player can have his hands on the stick touching each other and push the offensive player back with his hands). If the hands are seperated on the stick such that the offenve player is being hit by the stick directly, it is cross-checking.
o
Offensive players cannnot initiate contact. The most common call is
WARDING - This is where the offensive players uses his off hand or arm to 'ward off' (push away, or stiff arm) the defender. Not allowed - lose possession. Running your defender into a stationary pick is allowed and an excellent tactic. Again - basketball analogies are most useful, not football.
o
WINDING UP - a player taking a running start 3 steps or more away from the opposing player, he will get a penalty called for illegal body check at least.
o
TRIPPING - putting your leg or stick out deliberately to down the opponent. If you leg has been stationary for a second or more and the opposition players trips, no call.
OUR Primary goal is SAFETY.
Our SECOND goal is possession of the ball (it is tough to score without it), trained use of our sticks and strong footwork are our allies. Knocking the other guy down to gain possesion is not Lacrosse. And we hate to play shorthanded.
We are asking all coaches and parents to reinforce these above at practices and games. It is especially important for boys just coming off hockey, and/or who are football players, although many of these rules already live in the other sports. (cross-checking and slashing in hockey for example).
