Comments on: My Harebrained Thoughts On Speeding Up The Game

By: joenandez

joenandez — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 18:47:00 +0000

Excellent post, great thinking.

1. Keep the 30 seconds to clear into offensive box
2. 90 second shot clock starts once in box
3. No sideline sub horn
4. Legalize the dive!!

Done. :)

By: Marcdriggs

Marcdriggs — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 21:34:00 +0000

I like transition sub rule a lot, that’s an easy solution in my mind. Bring back the full field middie!!!!

By: Avatar Gloves - 412 Lax

Avatar Gloves - 412 Lax — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:48:03 +0000

[...] More thoughts on how to speed up the game [...]

By: Fuzzy

Fuzzy — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:40:00 +0000

great post and some solid insight. I like making the size change of the box….GREAT idea IMO. However being a fellow defensemen I like the LongPole. it creates transition and its a fun element to watch in a game, especially guys like Joel White, etc.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 18:20:00 +0000

Without horns, you would have quicker restarts, but it would increase the wholesale subbing on the fly. It takes a good 30-45 seconds to get the “right” personnel on the field, so that will only slow actual gameplay down.

By: JesseMac

JesseMac — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 18:19:00 +0000

As I continue to read posts like this, the one thought in my head is that the concept of offense needs to change in lacrosse. Advertised as ‘the fasted game on two feet’, it should not take up to a minute to set up a play. Much like basketball, once players are in position, the play can be run regardless of how many times the ball is passed around the horn. The addition of a 60 second shot clock would inspire offensive teams to become extremely efficient, and would also inspire defense to become more daring in an effort to generate turnovers and transitional goals. Therefore, (higher efficiency + riskier defense resulting in turnovers = more shots on goals per game).

Couple that with the NHL rule on substitution, and you have an extremely fast paced game based on capitalization of errors and efficiency of offense.

By: Jeff Brunelle

Jeff Brunelle — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:56:00 +0000

I love #2! Nixing the sideline horn would make the game faster and much
more understandable to new viewers.

By: FLax

FLax — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:52:00 +0000

That NHL rule might be the best idea I’ve heard. In combination with something else, that could be the answer.

As for sticks, they are still a bit too pinched. I like that they widened the throat, that really needed to happen. I’d like to see them widen the middle of the stick more. Not to a ridiculous degree, just to something like the original brine edge. Sticks like that would help with the problem of defenders checking too hard while still allowing gifted offensive players to work their magic (see mike powell and his highlight video).

By: avid laxallstar reader

avid laxallstar reader — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:34:00 +0000

Well,
There are other things you could consider.
1, limit the LSM to a 52″ stick length which could allow him more opportunities in transition.
2, get rid of the side line horn for substitution, if you want to make these subs do it at your own risk on the fly.
3, on a flag play, if the iminent chance to score is gone eg: ball travels more than once round the back of the cage, blow the whistle and send the offending player off. Also do not allow time for subs in this situation, a quick whistle to restart play will keep more middies in the game.

All these things would lead to more 2 way middies being developed and allow more transition play.

By: Mike Band

Mike Band — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:30:00 +0000

Agreed. Stick width complaints need to stop. There’s nothing compelling about the ball being on the ground all the time and it’s no coincidence that this sport’s popularity began to climb rapidly upon the invention of the offset narrow-width stick head. People like some daring on offense.

By: Corbes

Corbes — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:13:00 +0000

i would like to re implement the 20-10 rule, but messing with the dimensions of the box is not in the best interest of the college game. moving the net back, to eliminate attack men space would be a good place to start. but anything more than that, is changing the game totally. maybe making the stall warning a bit more strict could also speed, up the game.

By: Piotr

Piotr — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:01:00 +0000

Heck, take it even further, make the “box” triangular with the tip on the endline. That way the box mimicks the shape of the cage. Or maybe something like the women have, an arc. worth a though in the worst case ;)

By: Dy

Dy — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:59:00 +0000

I think there are some good ideas here, other than the shot clock. I love the way college lacrosse is played even if it is slow at times. I cannot stand to watch MLL anymore because it is not team orriented. With thier 60 second shot clock there is no time to set up an offense and is often one player running through the defense.

I also think that there is too much complaining about stick width, and D-poles not being able to get the ball. Even with these sticks the game is still low scoring, and we do not want to make it to easy to get the ball because the game would end up like hockey just going back and forth with little scoring.

I really like the trapeziod behind GLE confining the attack, which i think would definatly speed up the game after a stall call.