Lacrosse Rule

[RUBound]

I know nothing about lacrosse but started watching some college games this year due to success of RU. The rule that I dont get is the offense getting the ball out of bounds back on an attempted shot as long as an offensive player was closest to the ball when it goes out of bounds. Would the game be a more back and forth flowing game if the ball goes to the defense? Would the game be better with a shot clock, rather than the discretionary clock if the offense is stalling? I am not knocking lacrosse or anything - just trying to understand the rationale for the rules as I know zero about the game.

 

[RUforester72]

I know nothing about lacrosse but started watching some college games this year due to success of RU. The rule that I dont get is the offense getting the ball out of bounds back on an attempted shot as long as an offensive player was closest to the ball when it goes out of bounds. Would the game be a more back and forth flowing game if the ball goes to the defense? Would the game be better with a shot clock, rather than the discretionary clock if the offense is stalling? I am not knocking lacrosse or anything - just trying to understand the rationale for the rules as I know zero about the game.

Me too. That said, I loved the game. Will certainly watch more in the future! GO RU! :cool2:

 

[Tango Two]

I know nothing about lacrosse but started watching some college games this year due to success of RU. The rule that I dont get is the offense getting the ball out of bounds back on an attempted shot as long as an offensive player was closest to the ball when it goes out of bounds. Would the game be a more back and forth flowing game if the ball goes to the defense? Would the game be better with a shot clock, rather than the discretionary clock if the offense is stalling? I am not knocking lacrosse or anything - just trying to understand the rationale for the rules as I know zero about the game.

Might try asking on the lacrosse board a lot of knowledgeable lacrosse people there

 

[rufamily]

The out of bounds rule goes back to the origins of lacrosse when there were no boundaries so the assumption would be that the guy running would eventually get the ball. They have never thought about changing that rule and most lacrosse guys think the rule is good and that it would not really speed up the game. The shot clock has been a battle for years and one of the reason that it have not happened yet is the cost of add ing clocks to all the field that are not football fields. the general belief is that they will eventually go to a 60 second shot clock which everyone in lacrosse believes will speed up the game. I hope that I have answered your question.

 

[RUBound]

Thanks for the explanation about the origin of the out of bounds rule.

 

[Caliknight]

They definitely need a real shot clock. It's far too subjective now. I don't get the cost argument considering there is an arbitrary clock now.

 

[RU85inFla]

If the shot went to the defense, rather than the closest team, the offense would drag looking for the perfect shot and we would spend 90% of the game watching people run from one end to another. We have soccer, we don't need to ruin lacrosse.

 

[red sail]

The cost argument to install shot clocks is bullcrap.

 

[RW90]

Was it Maryland that was stalling in their game vs us where they would make faux shots on goal way above the net just to milk clock. Something has to be done about that.

 

[rufamily]

I am not saying I agree with the shot clock cost I am just telling you that was one of the reasons it has not been done yet

 

[Caliknight]

Was it Maryland that was stalling in their game vs us where they would make faux shots on goal way above the net just to milk clock. Something has to be done about that.

Yes. It's one of the ways to game the system, and having an arbitrary shot clock is just so dumb. Having refs make decisions when you might be stalling is not uniformed.

Lacrosse is begging for a real shot clock. 60 seconds, 90 seconds, just do it. It's like hoops when Unc used to run four corner offense.

Put a shot clock in along with a 2 point shot arc.

 

[mdk01]

They definitely need a real shot clock. It's far too subjective now. I don't get the cost argument considering there is an arbitrary clock now.

I don't want a shot clock except when there is a delayed penalty. Then I want a 30 second clock. Hell. when played play stopped on a delayed penalty when the ball hit the ground.

I realize the refs can be arbitrary, but there can be some creative offenses that take longer than 60 seconds to run.

 

[Local Shill]

Might try asking on the lacrosse board a lot of knowledgeable lacrosse people there

How you never became a moderator, I'll never understand. Did you apply and were turned down?

 

[Caliknight]

I don't want a shot clock except when there is a delayed penalty. Then I want a 30 second clock. Hell. when played play stopped on a delayed penalty when the ball hit the ground.

I realize the refs can be arbitrary, but there can be some creative offenses that take longer than 60 seconds to run.

I'd be ok with 70- 90 seconds. No more though. A minute and a half is more than enough to run any offense. At that point you are stalling.

 

[DowntownT_Brown]

I am for the 90 second shot clock and it doesn't reset unless you put a shot on frame.

 

[herdof3]

Need a real shot clock - maybe 45 seconds - with the same possession rules as today. But in the final 2 or 4 minutes the shots have to be on goal, not just near the goal.

 

[RU1977]

From wiki (I'm guessing there was no shot clock - lol):

"In the traditional aboriginal Canadian version, each team consisted of about 100 to 1,000 men on a field that stretched from about 500 m (1,600 ft) to 3 km (1.9 mi) long.[4] These games lasted from sunup to sundown for two to three days straight."

 

[mdk01]

Need a real shot clock - maybe 45 seconds - with the same possession rules as today. But in the final 2 or 4 minutes the shots have to be on goal, not just near the goal.

When you consider that it takes 15-25 seconds on average to clear the ball from your defensive zone that leaves 20-30 seconds to take a shot. That would result in shots being taken purposely off-cage to reset the clock. No thanks.

 

[brodo]

From wiki (I'm guessing there was no shot clock - lol):

"In the traditional aboriginal Canadian version, each team consisted of about 100 to 1,000 men on a field that stretched from about 500 m (1,600 ft) to 3 km (1.9 mi) long.[4] These games lasted from sunup to sundown for two to three days straight."

Oh, get me a good seat to watch that contest. Maybe somewhere around the 1 mile mark.

 

[RUforester72]

From wiki (I'm guessing there was no shot clock - lol):

"In the traditional aboriginal Canadian version, each team consisted of about 100 to 1,000 men on a field that stretched from about 500 m (1,600 ft) to 3 km (1.9 mi) long.[4] These games lasted from sunup to sundown for two to three days straight."

Oh, get me a good seat to watch that contest. Maybe somewhere around the 1 mile mark.

Lots of good spots for tailgating too.

 

[Upstream]

When you consider that it takes 15-25 seconds on average to clear the ball from your defensive zone that leaves 20-30 seconds to take a shot. That would result in shots being taken purposely off-cage to reset the clock. No thanks.

I think you'd need a 90 second shot clock. And you'd also need something to determine that it is a meaningful shot to reset the clock (similar to basketball resets the clock only if the ball hits the rim). I was thinking of something like the ball has to pass through the crease no more than 10 feet in the air, but I don't know how you'd determine that.

 

[Caliknight]

I don't think the clock should reset unless you shoot on cage and the goalie makes a save that rebounds back out of the crease and you get possession. You get a specified amount of time. Having bs shots 5 feet over the goal shouldn't reset it. There should be no arbitrary rule in the game like that on shots. It's far too ambiguous. There should be no reset based on a shot, only possession. Like basketball.

Lacrosse is meant to be played fast. Watching some of these teams play is like watching a baseball game. Playing defense is very tiring if you do it right. If you can't get a proper shot on goal in 90 seconds, you don't deserve to continue to have that opportunity.

 

[mdk01]

Always want a reset if you hit the post.

 

[RUtom]

Wouldn't the shot clock work if coupled with the same out-of-bounds rules as basketball/soccer? That would eliminate the wild shot just to reset the clock. I know it would be alot different than the current rules, but i dont think it would be a huge adjustment.

 

[herdof3]

When you consider that it takes 15-25 seconds on average to clear the ball from your defensive zone that leaves 20-30 seconds to take a shot. That would result in shots being taken purposely off-cage to reset the clock. No thanks.

Then start it when they get in the box. Or make it 75 seconds. It isn't hard. The point is at the of the game it needs to be on cage.

 

[herdof3]

I don't think the clock should reset unless you shoot on cage and the goalie makes a save that rebounds back out of the crease and you get possession. You get a specified amount of time. Having bs shots 5 feet over the goal shouldn't reset it. There should be no arbitrary rule in the game like that on shots. It's far too ambiguous. There should be no reset based on a shot, only possession. Like basketball.

Lacrosse is meant to be played fast. Watching some of these teams play is like watching a baseball game. Playing defense is very tiring if you do it right. If you can't get a proper shot on goal in 90 seconds, you don't deserve to continue to have that opportunity.

this would work too. 90 seconds is a long time.

 

[Caliknight]

Wouldn't the shot clock work if coupled with the same out-of-bounds rules as basketball/soccer? That would eliminate the wild shot just to reset the clock. I know it would be alot different than the current rules, but i dont think it would be a huge adjustment.

It would put constraints on the game and make it much worse to watch. Part of the allure of lacrosse is the shots on goal and often out of the box sort of action around the cage. If you had no chance of getting the ball back, teams would just get very very conservative, not shooting until they had to. It would defeat the purpose.

Most everyone I know who has played that game at a high level agrees. Nothing needs to change except the shot clock. Institute that with the clock only resetting after a 50/50 rebound.

This will happen. Lacrosse is very close to getting in the Olympics, and they will require a shot clock too. Once that happens, the NCAA isn't going to play by some out of date archaic rule.

Unfortunately, this is what is needed due to over coaching (Tierney at Princeton). This was never an issue until his mentality over took the game. It was very successful, but the game itself suffered.