Back to the Future

Lacrosse Back to the Future 

Written by Bill Fox

Lacrosse is a game of speed, skill, and finesse with some degree of controlled violence. The Creator’s game is now played in various forms on a field or in a box (arena) by males, females and co-ed. To those involved it truly is a beautiful game. The question is can it be better?

All sports evolve for different reasons over time with new rules, new lighter equipment, better fitness levels with those players involved. We see rule changes in all sports - some work out and others require some tweaks now and then. Lacrosse is no different, as the rules have changed as has the equipment in the various forms the game is now played.

Lacrosse Sixes is a hybrid game with so much potential to grow and to allow more participants to play our sport. It can be played anywhere - on a field, in a fieldhouse a gym or a traditional arena. Love or hate this version, it has placed our game into the 2028 Olympic Games. Yes, it is not the traditional game we know, but ask a field purest or a box purest which form of the game should be in the Olympics. Rugby Sevens has proven a hybrid game can be successful.

Hockey changed the way the game is now played. Back in 2005-2006, after the National Hockey League lockout year, hockey came back with a significant set of rule changes or as many felt - they called the rules that were already in place. Clutching, Holding, Hooking, and Obstruction fouls were now penalized. Goalkeeper’s equipment was getting larger and larger which in part was the fault of lacrosse. Garth Snow a goalkeeper for the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL took notice of the National Lacrosse League Buffalo Bandits goalkeepers and the size of their padding. Soon Garth Snow was wearing huge, oversized equipment. The NHL made changes to the goalkeeper pads. Lacrosse has not.

Amateur hockey soon followed and put in place the rules the NHL were enforcing. The result was the game had more flow, and the smaller skilled player was not being forced out due to their physical size. Goalkeeper’s padding was downsized without neglecting safety and protection. The result was more goals scored and an increase in athletic goalkeepers in the nets.

In was my experience as an on-floor official, I was informed according to one Junior “A” Manager, lacrosse was losing players due to the excessive violent nature of the game – a perception by parents watching the game. He told me parents were placing their children in rugby and football instead of lacrosse.

Youth lacrosse could use a free-flowing style game where players are covered and not blown apart went entering the offensive zone. Players entering the offensive zone should be able to take up a position without running through a defensive player like a snowplough. A style of defensive coverage where you must move your feet and not play defense with a huge crosscheck and then with the free hand holding onto the sweater of the opposition player. Clutching, Grabbing, Hooking, Cross-Checking, Slashing, Obstruction or any upwards motion as opposed to a horizontal motion to the neck or head area - if those infractions are consistently called and penalized, we would now have a complete change in the flow and safety in our game.

Outsiders watching our game ask, “Why are goalkeepers wearing so much padding?” They look like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man or the Michelin Tire Man is their reaction to the size of the goalkeepers in today’s game. Hockey got it right by downsizing the equipment. I had one Junior “B” goalie come into the room back when we measured goalies pregame. He was about 5 foot 7 inches weighing about 150 pounds. He had to turn sideways to enter the room he was so wide. I asked him, “What are the size of the pads you are using?” He responded, “Cat 3 extra large”. Goalkeepers now for the most part have become angle blockers, not athletic from the days of a Dave Evans, Bob Watson, Dallas Eliuk, Ernie Mitchell or a Marty O’Neil. The ball prior to standardizing of a one-use ball was heavier with more bounce to it. The shots came in harder and heavier in those days with the former ball. Changes can be made to the equipment to downsize the size and still be safe. Changes can be made to the shin pads with the plastic and ribbed design so it does not lose it shape so easily. Goalies shin pads now with wear and tear and some manipulation become as large an ice hockey goalkeeper’s pads. There was a time when on a delayed penalty the goalkeeper would take off down the floor as an extra attacker and would occasionally score from the top. Some goalkeepers would make the save and the next thing you saw was the goalkeeper with the ball in his stick taking off down the floor (think Buff McCready). Larger nets are not the solution.

Several years back, lacrosse put onto the playing surface a change box where one player coming off the floor was replaced by a player coming on the floor. The rule was one foot in the change box and the player could be exchanged for another from the bench. In one of the first games played under this new rule, a Hall of Fame coach was on the bench. He was known as one of the greatest Junior “A” coaches of all time. I started the game with the faceoff and the ball went into the far end with his team in possession of the ball. On transition down the floor, I turned and looked back, and he had 5 players standing in the change area on the floor waiting to change. I must have had a Deer in Headlights look on my face. After a few minutes explaining to him that the rule was not meant to be interpreted this way his response was “show me that in the book”. It was not clearly in the rulebook as nobody thought this would happen.

I am not sure why the change box was put into the book, but I am sure it was a great idea to fix a problem at the time. As a fan, I do miss not seeing clear breakaways that at one time was a big, exciting part of the game.

I brought this situation back to our Official’s board and asked them how we can change this, and the response was “nothing we can do this year”. This was the only time it happened in a game, thank goodness. The coach was a master of understanding the rules and would challenge you each game to be on your toes.

We all have our own opinion on how we like to see this great game played or changes to it that may make the game better. I have had conversations over the years with many in the game and those out of the game, or as hard-core or occasional fans. The answer is not always “the game is fine we do not need to change a thing”.

Editors Note:

Bill Fox has had a remarkable career in lacrosse. As a player, he won a Mann Cup with the Brampton Excelsiors in 1980. He has been inducted into multiple Halls of Fame: National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame; the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame; the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He has officiated thousands of box and field games distinguishing himself as one of the finest officials in the history of the game. He has mentored and trained countless young officials while establishing standards of excellence for all officials to pursue.