Why This Rule?

[brinks]

Does anybody have an explanation for the rule that provides for a 3 minute non-releasable penalty if the head of the crosse is too short?

Prevelant opinion seems to be heads become too short over time due to players leaning on them while not active. The change kind of sneaks up on players as the change is so gradual. And there doesn't seem to be any technical advantage in trying to intentionally shorten the head of a crosse. If anything, this would give slightly less leverage. It doesn't affect the maximum width (at least on the heads I've seen that are a 1/4 inch or less too short) - thus it's hard to see any advantage in catching/scooping.

Pinching for ball retention tends to lengthen the head, not shorten.

So - if no clear intent or advantage, why the huge penalty?

In the NCAA rule 5-4 Illegal Crosse, Situational note 1.6.2, the book goes out of the way to emphasis a specific "intent" which leads to an advantage should a player use two ball stops ("make it more difficult for the defender to check the ball free"). But if there is NO ball stop then there is no infraction...presumably because there is no advantage gained. Wouldn't the same thinking apply to a short crosse head? Also remember, if equipment suddenly breaks, typically due to wear (also accumulated gradually without intent), the player is allowed to replace with no penalty whatsoever. Again, not too far afield from the shortened crosse head, albeit the head doesn't "break" when it's too short.

Over the last four years I've seen four games where a penalty for short head has been applied...and in all four occasions the game was decided by goals scored during that penalty period.

Other infractons that result in a 3 minute non-releasable penalty seem so much more harmful, or at least potentially so. I'd like to see the penalty for this rule better fit the "crime", maybe a one minute releasable with stick taken out of play if the head of the crosse is too short from wear and normal usage. I'd still mantain the manufacturor's specificaton length for new production.

Course, maybe I'm just being dumb and missing the obvious. What do you think?

Thanks,
- Brinks

[biggieb]

Sometimes a ref can be a sweetheart and give a lesser penalty and sometimes not.

Say the shaft is too long or short, this is something that cannot be changed. And therefore 3 minutes.

What if its raining and a pocket bags out. A ref will give a lighter sentence on this because the pocket can be tightened and the stick allowed back in the game.

As far as a short head goes, i would think a long head would be the case unless you were making your stick "wider" then shorter. I didn't think the length of the head mattered. I thought it was the width (so not pinched) and then the length of the entire stick, then the bag.

Interesting

[brinks]

Thanks Biggieb. Your right...the penalty for a pocket being illegal (in NCAA, NFSHS, etc) is a lesser penalty...one minute non-releasable. I assume this is because the rulemakers know that rain, humidity or other factors can cause the net to sag...even during the course of the game sometimes.