NLL Rule Changes We'd Like to See

[WILaxFan]

NLL Rule Changes We'd Like to See

Given that it has been somewhat quiet around the forum lately...

What are some NLL rule changes you'd like to see?

I'll start the discussion to get the ball rolling.

Current Rule - The current NLL rule on diving into the crease is:

http://www.nllfiles.com/2009rulebook.pdf

CREASE INFRACTIONS
Rule 67: GOAL-CREASE VIOLATIONS
Page 55

Changed Rule - The rule language would be changed to:

DIVING - Any attacking player, who in the act of diving or jumping into the crease, while passing or shooting, who makes contact with the crease prior to the ball completely leaving the stick will result in no goal and a possession infraction.

Benefits
This rule change - would cut down on the number of times referees have to make a determination if the timing of the crease violation occurred before the ball completely crossed the goal line.

Under the rule change, as long as the ball was out of the stick by the time the crease violation occurred, there would be no infraction.

Detriments
If you are a goalie, there will likely be a lot more diving shots into the crease.

What are some NLL rule changes other posters would like to see?

[Fabio gump]

I and many here would like to see the summer ball power play rules used.

when you a man down, and you have the ball, the shot clock is turned off.

[RockStar#666]

Good call on the crease dives. Right now there is a conflict between rule 67 and Rule 46 a:

Originally Posted by stupid NLL Rulebook

An attacking player may not be in the opponent's goal - crease area at any time. An attacking player who, after taking a shot on goal, or making a pass, steps by way of his momentum into the crease and then immediately out, is not in violation of the goal - crease area restriction.

This is from 2004, but I don't believe it has changed much if at all. According to this, you can break the crease as you are shooting as long as you step right out. What happens if you score? There is no time to get out of the crease before the whistle, so you're in violation. Whatever happens to these rules, the same thing should apply for a crease dives where there is no interference as for step-ins. Need to clean these up and make them agree.

Others:

How about bringing back the off-ball crosscheck?

Freezing the shotclock on man-shorts?

Shrinking the nets back to the "correct" size of 4'x4'6"?

Scrapping over-and-back during 5v5 play?

Legalizing woodsticks?

[mtbf]

How about bringing back the off-ball crosscheck?

Freezing the shotclock on man-shorts?

Shrinking the nets back to the "correct" size of 4'x4'6"?

Scrapping over-and-back during 5v5 play?

Legalizing woodsticks?

A high-five for those five

I would like to see if NLL go back to
If the ball goes out off post the O keeps the ball
Goalies serve their own minors
16 runners and two goalies dress
no instigator rule
High sticks 2, 4, 5 or 5 and GM
no behind the net goals
11 minute rule: 11 minutes in penalties = GM

new rules
-throwing a punch with your helmet on is a GM
-Offensive too many men is only a possession change
-Unlimited instant replays however after 1st challenge every one after costs a 2 min minor if you lose
Two five minute OT's no sudden death before sudden death kicks in
Best of two playoffs higher seed host game 2 and if teams split 1-1 10 minute mini game (two 5 minute halfs) sudden death if still tied

stuff to try in preseason:
-A two point line (see if it opens the game up for more inside play)
-Team that surrenders a goal starts with possession in the goal crease no more face offs

[rnsykes]

Change back the rule to dis-allow goals from behind the net. It adds nothing to the game.

[RockStar#666]

MTBF makes some great suggestions here.

Originally Posted by mtbf

If the ball goes out off post the O keeps the ball

Goalies serve their own minors

16 runners and two goalies dress

no instigator rule

High sticks 2, 4, 5 or 5 and GM

-throwing a punch with your helmet on is a GM

-Offensive too many men is only a possession change

-Unlimited instant replays however after 1st challenge every one after costs a 2 min minor if you lose

I like all these pretty well as written.

no behind the net goals I don't really care either way. If you're going to allow goals from behind, though, make it so you can do bank shots off the goalie's back, head, leg, or whatever too. Also, shouldn't it be a crease violation if the shooter's stick hits the goal before the ball crosses the line?

11 minute rule: 11 minutes in penalties = GM Would be fine with either 11 minutes, or just CLA style with five penalties


Two five minute OT's no sudden death before sudden death kicks in How about a full 15 period? Could even have ties after fifth period in regular season, but sudden death 6th period and onwards for playoffs.

Best of two playoffs higher seed host game 2 and if teams split 1-1 10 minute mini game (two 5 minute halfs) sudden death if still tied Love this. But will screw with home floor advantage decision! Do you want game 1 to try to get the win and control, or do you want last at-bats in front of your home crowd? Actually, one more thought - if you go with a best of two series you don't even really need playoff OT - win + tie = 3-1 series win. Only need to go to the mini game and sudden death if there's two ties

stuff to try in preseason:
-A two point line (see if it opens the game up for more inside play) Might as well see it. Need more than a few games to judge though. Would like to see it in the second and third periods in a preseason, just so you get it in effect with short bench and long bench changes
-Team that surrenders a goal starts with possession in the goal crease no more face offs Nah, this ain't basketball. Draws are fine, especially if they legalize tougher defense so there's not as many goals and not as many draws. One thing I wish they'd do is take their time getting setup for draws.......wouldn't it be wonderful if you could watch both the goal replay AND the faceoff?? All I need is 10 more seconds per draw, folks.....few minutes per game!

[XcelLaX]

1. No shot clock for shorthanded team in possession.
2. Goalies serve own penalties.
3. Have faceoff in nearest dot (to where the ball was at the last whistle) at the start of each penalty. This would (a) give the shorthanded team a shot at first possession and (b) make more use of the four "corner" faceoff dots, which hardly seem to be used at all under the present rules.
4. Change OT to 3-minute non-sudden-death periods, as many as needed to break the tie.
5. A 17th regular-season game per team, played in a neutral non-NLL market. (I've proposed this before, as a means of "test-driving" prospective markets for future expansion/relocation. Alternatively, one of these extra games could be played at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Six Nations, either as the season opener or as a sort of "Hall Of Fame Game".)
6. Change playoffs to 2-game aggregate (i.e. total goals) format, as often used in soccer, and formerly in college hockey. Lower seed hosts first leg w/ no OT. Higher seed hosts second leg. If teams are tied in total goals at the end of second leg, play 3-minute OTs as described above.

[Lyle]

Originally Posted by mtbf

I would like to see if NLL go back to
no behind the net goals

Ok, I'm curious. Why no behind the net goals?

[ND14]

Originally Posted by rnsykes

Change back the rule to dis-allow goals from behind the net. It adds nothing to the game.

Then why does it matter? Why not keep it as is?

[toros_00]

Originally Posted by ND14

Then why does it matter? Why not keep it as is?

I don't mind being allowed to score from behind the net, but there is danger.

Because a player might hurt the goalie like throwing the ball of the back of his neck or something.

[thrillis]

Remember, Goaltenders do not have protection on their back, and the back of the neck is always exposed. behind the net goals are pointless and just lead to an unnecessary danger.


As for this goalie serves their own penalties, thats rediculous. what other sport does that? were already a bush league sport, but lets at least try to keep it somewhat close to the real world here folks.



bring back the off ball checking and get rid of this dumbed down field lacrosse bullshit. anyone who watches canadas summer lacrosse leagues knows its a better game.

As for OT. Just do the cla style. one 10 minute OT, no sudden death. If you wnt to eliminate ties, Then bring in a sudden death period after that.


No shot clock on man down. Ragging the ball can be intense, and as a fan, you cant help but get into it when one guy has 2-3 guys completely pissed off for 2 minutes who beat the crap out of him and still cant get the ball. Do it CLA style with 10 seconds to get it into the offensive zone, and then the ball must remain inside the offensive zone the entire time. if the team crosses the line back, its a posession call and the powerplay team gets it back.

[swami24]

Originally Posted by mtbf

A high-five for those five

I would like to see if NLL go back to
If the ball goes out off post the O keeps the ball
Goalies serve their own minors
16 runners and two goalies dress
no instigator rule
High sticks 2, 4, 5 or 5 and GM
no behind the net goals
11 minute rule: 11 minutes in penalties = GM

new rules
-throwing a punch with your helmet on is a GM
-Offensive too many men is only a possession change
-Unlimited instant replays however after 1st challenge every one after costs a 2 min minor if you lose
Two five minute OT's no sudden death before sudden death kicks in
Best of two playoffs higher seed host game 2 and if teams split 1-1 10 minute mini game (two 5 minute halfs) sudden death if still tied

stuff to try in preseason:
-A two point line (see if it opens the game up for more inside play)
-Team that surrenders a goal starts with possession in the goal crease no more face offs

Probably one of your best posts.

I don't mind the behind the net goals at all, it does add another demension to the game IMHO.
- I like the win or die in the playoffs. Yet it would be nice to see the finals be more than one game. That said, I hated not being able to go to baltimore im 98 for a midweek title capture.
- Absolutley no to the 2 pointer. Would lead to more boring desparate long shots, instead of the running cutting and hitting i want to see.
- keep the faceoffs. Winning one is a talent, why take talent away?

My suggestions.

NBA 5 second rule. A player cannot remain in the offensive zone, between the center line, and faceoff line, if they have the ball and are unmarked by a defender. No firiggin standing around out top with the ball, watching the shot clock go down.

Hip checks against the boards are legal. no charging, but I've seen some really marginal body to body contact called against the boards. Let them be physical;, but not dangerous up high.

Running over a defender when you have posssession of the ball is legal. Two of the most exciting plays I've seen in years were a full steam, bulldoze. Player (RVB?) at full speed, dropped shoulder right into the chest of a squared up defender, and flattened them. Those kind of plays have to be rewarded for their excitement, not given a 5 min charge.

You can only change three players per possession change. More running, more athleticism, more two way play. Far less standing around waiting for players to change.

My rules mainly look to add motion to the game. The bartley version of Off/def has mutated to a lot of standing around waiting for changes, a little operimeter passing and a last second shot. that has to change. they have to find a way to get back to the run and gun of the MILL.

[chuckster]

I like alot of the suggestions but ultimately I don't care what the rules are......I just want the refs to make the right calls at the right times, and be consistent game in and game out.

It's maddening to watch different refs call the same infraction different ways, and to have one game a constant parade to the box while the next one has 8 minutes in calls between both teams......sometimes with the same officiating crew.

[WingsfaninMA]

I don't like the 'scoring from behind the net' because it's just one more rule for the refs to miss. Did it deflect off the goalie? Did his stick hit the goalie first?

Black and white, if your feet are behind the line, it's no goal is much better.


Freezing the shotclock while SH seems like it should have been done 5 years ago. No-brainer way to not have 30-60 seconds of down time every PP.

Get rid of the loose ball push, unless it's totally from behind.

Goalies should be forced to serve minors.

Either call the moving picks more consistently, or get rid the call.

[XcelLaX]

Originally Posted by thrillis

As for this goalie serves their own penalties, thats rediculous. what other sport does that? were already a bush league sport, but lets at least try to keep it somewhat close to the real world here folks.

What the hell's wrong with goalies serving their own penalties? That's why you dress two goalies. This isn't hockey or soccer; in-game goaltender changes are already commonplace in the NLL. The regular goalie would head to the box to serve the penalty, the backup would take his place in net, and his team would play with four runners for the duration of the penalty. Then once the penalty's over the team can add their fifth runner, though the goalie would have to stay in the box until the next whistle, at which point he could return to the net and the backup netminder could return to the bench.

[Jimbo]

Three words-NO MORE PLATOONING.

[9SQUIRE3]

Originally Posted by Fabio gump

I and many here would like to see the summer ball power play rules used.

when you a man down, and you have the ball, the shot clock is turned off.

why? that seems boring. You are being penalized for a player committing an infraction. That shouldn't make it so you can waste the time away. I have never seen this rule in use so maybe i do not see the benefits of it.

[swami24]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Three words-NO MORE PLATOONING.

lest the coach get a wire hanger up the....

[ND14]

Originally Posted by 9SQUIRE3

why? that seems boring. You are being penalized for a player committing an infraction. That shouldn't make it so you can waste the time away. I have never seen this rule in use so maybe i do not see the benefits of it.

You're from Toronto and you've never seen senior a summer ball? Shame! Get to Brampton on Monday to see the MSL playoffs!

[RockStar#666]

Originally Posted by WingsfaninMA

I don't like the 'scoring from behind the net' because it's just one more rule for the refs to miss. Did it deflect off the goalie? Did his stick hit the goalie first?.........

Alternate to getting rid of behind the net goals is to just not worry about how the ball gets in the net.....if it ends up inside, and there's no crease violation, let it be a goal.

[RockStar#666]

Originally Posted by 9SQUIRE3

.........I have never seen this rule in use so maybe i do not see the benefits of it.

NLL Powerplay when man down team has possession:

Thumbs up their arse while two guys play catch high in the attack zone for twenty seconds before taking a meaningless shot or rolling ball into corner

CLA powerplay when man down team has possession:

zero to five plus minutes of frenetic violence as two or more guys are whaling the tar out of the ball carrier. More action, more shorthanded goals. Also, less concern about taking penalties so more aggressive play during 5v5.

I like CLA better, but, whatever. Lots of cheezy powerplay goals on lots of cheezy penalty calls is pretty cool too.

[Canadan]

Keep the 4' X 4'9" nets. It separates the "pretenders from the contenders".

[goddessoflax]

Originally Posted by RockStar#666

NLL Powerplay when man down team has possession:

Thumbs up their arse while two guys play catch high in the attack zone for twenty seconds before taking a meaningless shot or rolling ball into corner

CLA powerplay when man down team has possession:

zero to five plus minutes of frenetic violence as two or more guys are whaling the tar out of the ball carrier. More action, more shorthanded goals. Also, less concern about taking penalties so more aggressive play during 5v5.

I like CLA better, but, whatever. Lots of cheezy powerplay goals on lots of cheezy penalty calls is pretty cool too.

No clock on man short is often some of the best lacrosse in any game. Mr. RockSatr666 can remind us of how long (can't remember...2002?) but I recall a playoff game against Brooklin early in Dan Dawson's major play when it seemed like nobody could take the ball from him.

Right now in the Major series final....Brampton's man-down is DDD, Doyle, Williams & Manning. For the Lakers....Sinder & three other guys. And with the defense these two teams have....the team with the advantage has to work hard to even get a shot. Gets the crowd into the game...even the casual fans.

What this rule does is force the team with the advantage to actually work for their goals. However....there is some physicality involved so...oh no! Somebody might hit somebody.....

[dougm]

would love to see no clock when man-down but it does raise an interesting querstion. would a team intentionally with 1:30 left in a tight game actually want to take a penalty and risk ragging the ball til the game clock reaches 0? if you have a guy like steenhuis, i might give it a go.

[RDGWings]

Originally Posted by swami24

You can only change three players per possession change. More running, more athleticism, more two way play. Far less standing around waiting for players to change.

Refs can't count 5 players changing how the heck are they gonna track who changes?

as for goalies and serving penalties...why not just make it a Penalty shot on the backup goalie...then you can put your offending goalie back in