posted Feb 25, 2010 6:59 PM by Craig Peterson
Mechanics Update
US Lacrosse recently published a two-page mechanics update. Please circulate as widely as possible. The text follows, and you can download the .pdf from the link below.
Quote:
2010 US Lacrosse MDOC Mechanics Update
This document contains information on mechanics that have changed over the past several years. Though these are included in the 2010 MDOC Mechanics PowerPoints on the MDOC Resources Page (http://tinyurl.com/82fj84), officials who have not reviewed these updated mechanics presentations may not have heard about the changes. These mechanics are appropriate for games officiated under NCAA and NFHS rules except where noted.
Face-off
The face-off official should stand with one hand at his side and one hand with the whistle to his mouth (or, optionally, with the whistle taken off the hand and put in the mouth and both hands at his sides). The official should not move after saying “Down” (NCAA) or “Set” (NFHS).
In games where one or both face-off players are suspected of handling the ball, alternate face-off configurations bringing the wing officials closer to the face-off are allowable. These will eventually be added to the Mechanics PowerPoints.
In a three-man game, the face-off official stays with ball until possession (single will cover the face-off official’s goal). The single has the 10-second count or 20-second timer, if applicable.
If ball crosses the restraining line before possession, yell “Play!” and wind your arm.
Play-on
The correct mechanic for ending a play-on if the offended team gains possession is to point in the direction of play and call, for example, “Blue ball!”
Twenty-second clear mechanic
When the defense gains possession of the ball, doing the “fist pump” as you start your 20-second timer is optional.
If the ball is in possession, the trail will shut off the timer when he sees the 10-second count start. Because of this, the lead (two-man) or single (three-man) does not need to yell “Clear,” and point in the direction of play except under NFHS rules when a loose ball crosses midfield.
A continued play-on under a 20-second timer that results in a reset of the timer should be signaled with a twirl of the arm over the head (“reset” signal) while saying “Reset!” and restarting the timer.
Counts
All counts are visual; do not count out loud.
Penalty reporting
All penalty reporting should use C-NOTE (Color, Number, Offense, Time, Explanation). For example, “Blue, 7, hold, thirty seconds, free clear” or “White, 27, unsportsmanlike, one minute, non-releasable.” There is no need to say “personal foul” or “technical foul.”
Fouls during the clear
If you are the trail and there is a foul on the riding team during the clear, throw your flag forward toward midfield so you don’t have to run back to the GLE to get your flag.
Equipment inspections
By rule, officials must inspect the crosse (NCAA) or the crosse and protective equipment (NFHS) of at least one player per team during dead-ball situations. Though the old mechanic was to inspect at the end of the first and third periods, the new mechanic is to check during any dead-ball situation that will not slow down the game (e.g., after a goal, before a face-off, during a time-out, or between periods). NCAA mechanics mandate 6 inspections per game.
Since the NFHS game is shorter, typically 3 to 4 inspections are done per game. The March 16, 2010, NFHS bulletin explicitly states that officials may check each team after a goal is scored. If this is a mechanics change in your area, be sure to inform the coaches prior to implementation.
Stalling
A man-down team can be warned for stalling.
Fights
The official MDOC policy states: “The officials may attempt to physically separate the players involved if they believe it can be done without endangering the safety of the players or the officials. The foremost thought in such a decision must be the safety of the officials and the players, and the officials should not risk personal injury to separate the players.” Separating players and stepping between them before any punches are thrown can be extremely effective if the official deems it safe to do so.
NFHS Lightning Policy
The NFHS has changed their lightning policy. Essentially, the new policy says to clear the field if you can hear thunder or can see bolts of lightning, clear the field (“If you hear it, clear it. If you see it, flee it.”). Keep the field clear until you have at least 30 minutes with no thunder or visible lightning. See the 2010 NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Book, p. 96, for the full policy. |
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