Rules Questions and Answers

[1]  Faceoff:  A1 player lines up for the face-off with his right foot directly in back of his cross.  Ruling: This is a violation of the face-off rule which states that a player's ENTIRE BODY be to the left of his cross when lining up to take a face-off.

[2] Ejection: B22 uses the butt end of his crosse like a lance and stabs A3 in the chest and face.  Ruling:  Immediate ejection from the contest. Great call by the On official!  Reminder:  When you eject a player or coach, report the details, including the team and number, to me or Mark McInnis ASAP.  An ejected player is required to leave the game site, accompanied by an adult (assistant coach, assistant AD, some employee of that school); if there is no adult available, then the player is confined to the bench.

[3]  Situation:  NCAA or NFHS rules.  Player A1 scores a goal.  Coach from Team B calls for a stick check on that player immediately before the next whistle.  As referee calls for the stick, A1 switches his stick with A2.  The official sees the switch.  Official gets A1's stick back and checks the stick; the stick is not illegal.  Official calls a 1 minute unsportsmanlike conduct, non-releasable penalty on A1 for switching the stick, but does not remove the goal from the board.  Is this the appropriate call?  Ruling:  The goal stays on the board unless the scoring player, A1, adjusts his stick or A1's stick is illegal.  Penalizing for unsportsmanlike conduct is a good call; 2 or 3 minutes would be better than 1 minute.  Team B should receive the ball; no face-off since the unsportsmanlike conduct was a dead ball foul (after the whistle).

[4]  Situation:  NCAA rules.  During a faceoff, wingman A2 leaves early.  The referee calls illegal procedure, but the faceoff man A1 does not leave the field.  The referee stops the play and tells A1 to leave the field, which he finally does.  In the meantime, Team A makes their substitutions and the referee restarts with Team B in possession (having lost their fast break advantage).  Referee does not throw a flag.  Is this the appropriate call?  Ruling:  The official did not use the proper mechanics.  He should have immediately restarted play after awarding possession to Team B.  When A1 did not leave the field, there should have been a flag for illegal procedure and A1 should have been penalized 30-seconds penalty for illegal procedure. 

[5]  Situation:  NFHS rules.  B2 receives 5 personal fouls during a game.  Is he ejected?  Must he sit out the next game?  Ruling:  No, B2 is not ejected; he has fouled out.  B2 is eligible for the next game, same as basketball.   An ejection is for fighting, for 2 non-releasable unsportsmanlike fouls or for flagrant misconduct.

[6]  Question:  NCAA or NFHS rules.  If a player, who keeps his entire body in the offensive side of the field, reaches over the midfield with his crosse and pokes at a ball which is on the defensive side, am I correct that he is onside, as long as he does not touch the ground, i.e. only hit the ball?  Ruling:  Yes, as long as no part of his body (glove, shoe, knee, etc.) touches the ground on/across the midfield line.  The player's crosse may touch the ground on/across the midfield line.  (This also applies to attackers playing the ball in the crease.)

[7] Situation:  B3 is pursuing A1 downfield on a clear.  B3 slashes A1, flag down.  B3 slashes A1 again, flag down.  After whistle stops play, B3 is penalized twice for slashing, for a total of 2 minutes.   30 seconds after play resumes, A4 scores a goal.  The Referee instructs the table that B3's first penalty is released, but that B3 must serve 1 more minute for the second slash.  Ruling:  Incorrect decision by the Referee.  Per NFHS 7-2-1-b-2, when a goal is scored against the team serving penalty time, all releasable penalties will end.   (Same for NCAA rules)

[8]  Situation:  B1 slashes A2 and receives a 1 minute penalty, starting at 6:00 of the period.  After play resumes, A4 slashes B3 and is penalized for 1 minute, starting at 6:15 of the period.  At 6:30, a goal is scored.  Is either B1 or A4 released?  Ruling:  If Team A scores, B1 is released; if Team B scores, A4 is released.  B1 and A4 are not locked in together, because their fouls did not start at the same time.  NFHS Rule 7-2-1-d locks in players from opposing teams if their penalties are called during the same interval, between the first flag being dropped and the whistle restarting play.  A4 was penalized after play resumed with B1 in the penalty area.

[9]  Coach's request for equipment check:  Some coaches are not familiar with this rule.  First, a coach may request an equipment check only during a dead ball.  He may only request that one player be checked during that dead ball.  Second, there is no limit on the number of checks that he may request, provided that every requested check discovers illegal equipment.  Third, the first requested check that discovers no problem is his "free check".  Fourth, after the "free check", any subsequent requested check that discovers no problem is not "free", it will cost the coach a time-out or, if he has no time-outs remaining, a penalty for illegal procedure.  If the coach is charged with a time-out, he may not use it to meet with his team; the game restarts immediately.

[10]  Officials jurisdiction continues until the referee leaves the field (Rule 2-6-7). 
[a]  After one game, between the final whistle and the handshakes, the losing coach conducted a loud tirade blaming the officials for the outcome of the game.  The Referee should have flagged him for unsportsmanlike conduct.
[b]  Before the game, officials should monitor the warm-ups.  Each team should keep to its side of the field.  Baiting is rare, but it could happen; if it does happen, it should be penalized.

[11]  Withholding the ball from play is clarified in Situation 6-12-C.  The orientation of a player's thumb is not mentioned and, therefore, irrelevant.  If a player loosens his grip so that his hand slides above the handle and onto the head of the crosse, then his thumb is touching the frame of the stop; this is a function of human anatomy.  This is a huge (and illegal) advantage for cradling and the swim dodge.  Withholding should be called to turn the ball over.

MLOA Chief Referee, Wayne Sanford

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