NCAA 2010 Head Spec Update

The National College Athletics Association’s announcement of new stick specifications to be implemented in 2010 caused much debate within the lacrosse world. Since the Men’s Lacrosse Rules Committee made its decision in February, many questions and concerns have emerged regarding the equipment modification.
Beginning January 1, 2010, all lacrosse stick heads used in NCAA play must meet a new set of dimensions, according to an NCAA press release referring to the rule change. Measuring from the throat up, at the 1.25-inch, and 3-inch marks the stick must be 3 inches wide. At the 5-inch mark, the stick must be 3.5-4 inches wide on that front and 3.5 inches wide on the back. At the head’s widest point, it must be 6-6.5 inches on the front, and 6 inches on the back. All of these measurements are minimum dimensions, so heads may exceed theses specifications and be wider, but they may not be more narrow.
The change was made to promote the free dislodgement of the ball, said Ty Halpin, the NCAA’s associate director of rules administration. The hope is to even the playing field between offensive and defensive players some.
“It’s much harder than it used to be to get the ball out,” Halpin said. “We don’t want it to be because of the equipment…It certainly makes sense that if you widen the opening of the crosse the ball will come out more easily…The other key piece is balancing offense and defense in the game.”
The NCAA hopes to also promote safety with the new rule, Halpin said. If it is easier for a defender to dislodge the ball, then he wont have to be as forceful while checking the attacking player, decreasing relentless slashing in pursuit of the ball or just from frustration.
Warrior Sports announced in September a lawsuit against the NCAA, challenging many of the NCAA Rules Committee’s claims and hoping to prevent the new specifications from going into effect in 2010.
Warrior contends that the NCAA produced little data supporting the theory that a wider head would promote freer dislodgement of the ball, said Tom Burns, a Warrior product manager. The company was also alarmed that this was the third rule change since 2007 involving sticks. Retooling and redesigning for the production of new heads to meet these specifications will be an expensive and time consuming process that Warrior feels is an unfair burden.
“The majority of heads that we’ve studied in the market do not comply to 2010 standards,” Burns said. “This rule impacts everyone in the industry.”
With so much uncertainty surrounding the new specs, consumers have been left in a quandary over the legality of current equipment, Burns said.
“One of the big things with this 2010 rule is just the amount of confusion out there,” Burns said.
That uncertainty begins to clear as more leagues and governing bodies vote on the adoption of these rules. While the NCAA’s ruling will affect all varsity collegiate programs, the trickle down to the high school level might not be that dramatic.
“The revised stick specifications adopted by the NCAA do not apply to the high school level as the [National Federation of State High School Associations] has adopted no changes in stick specifications,” said Kent Summers, the assistant director of NFHS. “Thus, lacrosse played using NFHS lacrosse rules will be unaffected by the NCAA rule change…We have discussed it the past two years, and they did not favor the revision on either occasion.”
According to a survey conducted by NFHS of state associations from 2006-2007, 71,524 boys played high school lacrosse at 1,588 schools in 22 states that participate with NFHS. According to US Lacrosse’s numbers from 2007, nearly 120,000 boys play high school lacrosse. While they may not all be recognized or accounted for by the NFHS, most play under NFHS rule, so most players will not be affected by the change.
Some leagues that do not participate with NFHS rules follow NCAA rules instead, such as the highly touted Maryland Interscholastic Athletics Association. The MIAA has made no official decision yet, but they will likely stay on par with NCAA rules, said Bob Shriver, head coach of The Boys’ Latin School in Maryland.
“We will likely adopt the new rules,” Shriver said. “Our league, the MIAA, typically will adjust some of the NCAA rules to meet our particular concerns…We may not adopt a rule like that because of money implications. So, if the new stick rule is out, we may allow our kids a year or two to make the change so the financial impact isn’t so severe.”
If a league or association will adopt the rule, most will not make a concrete decision until meetings either following the 2008 season or preceding the 2009 season. But, if the NFHS maintains its decision not to adopt the new specifications, which it seems inclined to do, most high school boys will be able to continue using the same equipment through 2010.
Manufacturers are faced with a challenge and some tough decisions now when approaching the concerns of producing heads for 2010 NCAA play. Roughly 8,700 men play lacrosse in the NCAA at the DI, DII, or DIII level, according to statistics compiled through the lax.com database. Almost 2,400 of those players at the DI level, where many programs are sponsored and receive equipment for free or for a markedly reduced price. That leaves a very small market for manufacturers to pursue with 2010 NCAA sticks.
Weighing that against the much larger market of youth and high school players who can continue to use equipment manufacturers are currently producing, some companies may decide it is better to not make heads for 2010 NCAA play and focus on other markets.
“We don’t anticipate that happening,” Halpin said, “and in conversations with manufacturers, many have asked if a stick that meets 2010 specs would be allowed for use in play. That makes us think that some are planning to release 2010 sticks early.”
Despite Warriors objections to the new ruling, if it does remain in place, they intend on creating something to meet the new specifications, Burns said.
“Warrior will make sticks available to both sets of standards,” Burns said. How expansive of a line they explore for 2010 NCAA play will be a decision many manufacturers will need to make in the coming months.
States that have lacrosse programs recognized (and thus governed by) NFHS are: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Misouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia

HOFSTRA ANNOUNCES 2009 MEN’S LACROSSE SCHEDULE

Hempstead, NY --
A 13-game schedule, that includes seven homes games as well as a key league game that is part of the Big City Classic tripleheader at Giants Stadium, highlights the 2009 Hofstra University Men's Lacrosse schedule announced Tuesday. In addition Hofstra will serve as the host for the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship Northern Quarterfinals on Saturday, May 16.

The Pride, who captured their 17th conference championship last May in thrilling overtime fashion to advance to their 14th NCAA Division I Championship Tournament, begin their 61st season of lacrosse on Saturday, February 21 at James M. Shuart Stadium at 1 p.m. against long-time-rival, the Minutemen of Massachusetts. It is the first of seven home games that will bring perennial national contenders, Princeton on March 14, and North Carolina on April 18, to Shuart Stadium. CAA championship contenders Drexel (April 8) and Villanova (April 25) as well as local-rival Stony Brook (April 21) will also make visits to Shuart Stadium.

Hofstra will make its first road appearance of the 2009 season on Saturday, February 28 when the Pride travels to Providence, Rhode Island to face Brown. The Bears, 11-3 last season, are one of the nine 2009 Hofstra opponents that posted winning records a year ago. Included in this road group are national finalist Johns Hopkins at Homewood Field on March 7, Army at Michie Stadium at West Point on March 24, as well as conference foes Sacred Heart (March 21) and Towson (April 11)."Coming off a thrilling 2008 season, we are excited about the challenges that our 2009 schedule will bring us," Hofstra's third-year coach Seth Tierney said. "Our plan is to build the program year-by-year and face the best competition that is available. As defending CAA champions we know that the target is on our back. But our team is anxiously awaiting the start of the season to defend that title and return to the NCAA Tournament in 2009."

The Pride was also expected to square off against perennial CAA contender Delaware on the road in 2009 but instead will face the Blue Hens as part of Inside Lacrosse's Big City Classic tripleheader at the 80,000-seat Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Saturday, April 4. Virginia and North Carolina will face-off in the first game, at noon. That game features teams who have won a combined eight NCAA titles. The second game will be Syracuse vs. Princeton at 2:30 p.m. Those teams have won a combined 16 titles. The third game features Hofstra and Delaware, at 5 p.m. Hofstra advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year. Delaware advanced to the final four in 2007. All six programs have entered into a two-year commitment for the Big City Classic.

"We are extremely excited to participate in the inaugural Big City Classic at Giants Stadium," Tierney stated. "We would like to thank Inside Lacrosse and the Meadowlands for all the work that went into putting this event together. With the six teams that are participating, it will surely be a great day of college lacrosse."

The 2009 regular season will conclude with the CAA Men's Lacrosse Championship Tournament with semifinals scheduled for Wednesday, April 29 at the higher seeds, and the title game slated for Saturday, May 2 at the higher advancing team's home stadium.

Stony Brook Announces 2009 Schedule

Feb. 21 VIRGINIA STONY BROOK 1:00 p.m.
Feb. 28 HARVARD STONY BROOK 3:00 p.m.
Mar. 4 LEHIGH STONY BROOK 4:00 p.m.
Mar. 7 at Siena Loudonville, N.Y. TBA
Mar. 14 DELAWARE STONY BROOK 1:00 p.m
Mar. 17 at Lafayette Easton, Pa. 3:00 p.m.
Mar. 21 at Denver Denver, Colo. TBA
Mar. 28 UMBC* STONY BROOK 2:30 p.m.
Apr. 4 at Vermont* Burlington, Vt. TBA
Apr. 11 at Hartford* West Hartford, Conn. 1:00 p.m.
Apr. 18 BINGHAMTON* STONY BROOK 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 21 at Hofstra Hempstead, N.Y. 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 25 ALBANY* STONY BROOK 7:00 p.m.
Apr.-May 30-1 at America East Championships

Rhino's get Sh_t -Faced!; fall to 2-2 on the season

Ronkonkoma, NY--In a see-saw battle that included a dozen lead changes, Schlitz Faced managed to sustain a late game rally to win the game 24-18. Schlitz Faced pulled away in the last six minutes of play and out-hustled the Rhinos in transition and on ground balls.

The Rhinos resorted to sloppy play that we haven't seen since the Winter '08 season at CIS. Hat's off to The Schlitz's defense. Their effort contributed to many Rhino turnovers, which included man-up possessions for the Rhinos.

Schlitz Faced made it look easy at times moving the rock up field and finding the open man.

The Rhinos wasted spectacular efforts by goalie Buckley and Mr. Amplo on defense. Amplo also scored a hatrick on the evening.

The Rhinos can salvage their season in part to a soft schedule the rest of the way. The remaining three games are against the respective doormats of the league: Jester's, Checkmate Black, and Remnants.

Next up for Schlitz Faced is Grey Dogs, followed by Checkmate Orange and Jester's.

Checkmate Orange upends Rhinos

Checkmate Orange pictured here as a lion, beats the Rhinos last thursday night at CIS. The Rhino in this picture is played by Scotty Fitz.

Incredulous! Rhinos fall to 2-1 on the season as Checkmate Orange (aka C.O.) improve to 2-1. Does anyone out there know what happened to the Rhinos here?

Update- Fall Indoor Lax @ CIS

Rhino Lacrosse is 2-0 after two weeks, double their entire win total from the Winter '08 season. They have arrived and are no longer the laughing stock of the league. The Rhinos have clobbered their last two victims Bruno's 20-15 and Grey Dogs (aka Gay Dogs) 24-8.

The Gay Dogs victory was the sweetest thus far for the Rhinos. The Gays were big on talk and little on game. Kudos to Buckley for holding his opponents to under 10 Gs, a rare feat for indoor play.

Rhinos see action tonight versus their nemesis Checkmate Orange. Scottie Fitz returns to the line-up for the Rhinos. Prediction: Rhinos 23 Checkmate 13.

Hofstra to play Giants Stadium

On Saturday, April 4, the Hofstra men’s lacrosse team will play Delaware at the Meadowlands as part of a three-game event called the Big City Classic.
The Pride will face the Fightin’ Blue Hens at 5 p.m., closing out a tripleheader that features Virginia-North Carolina at noon and Syracuse-Princeton at 2:30 p.m.
This is the first lacrosse event, to my knowledge, that will attempt to draw people from the New York metropolitan area to such a high-profile venue. It will be interesting to see how many fans from around the area show up. Similar doubleheader events have been held with success at the Baltimore Ravens’ stadium in Baltimore during the past two years.
The teams competing in this one are no slouches and, of course, include multiple players from Long Island. Syracuse is the defending national champion. Virginia made the final four last year. North Carolina is an ACC program on the up-and-up, and Princeton is always solid.
Delaware reached the national semis in 2007, and Hofstra made the NCAAs last year, getting bounced by Johns Hopkins in the first round.
All six programs have agreed to a two-year commitment to the event, according to its organizer, Inside Lacrosse.
Here's the rest of the Hofstra schedule...
2/21 UMass – 1 p.m.2/28 @ Brown – Noon3/7 @ Johns Hopkins – Noon3/14 Princeton – 1 p.m.3/21 @ Sacred Heart – 1 p.m.3/24 @ U.S. Military Academy – 7 p.m.3/28 Robert Morris – Noon4/4 Delaware (at Giants Stadium) – 5 p.m.4/8 Drexel – 7 p.m.4/11 @ Towson – 1 p.m.4/18 North Carolina – 7 p.m.4/21 Stony Brook – 7 p.m.4/25 Villanova – 7 p.m.