Faceoff Men Unite Again

On August 14, 2014, the Men’s Lacrosse Rules Committee proposed several rule changes. Among these are proposals for 1) a violation to be called if a player picks up or carries the ball on the back of his stick 2) to change the faceoff protocol of how down set whistle is administered during a faceoff.

Many of us have practiced very hard to excel at this craft and we are at all stages of this great game from youth league to college. By making these rule changes all of our hard work and hours spent honing our craft will be wasted. The art of the faceoff has evolved to a skill set and these rules will turn back the clock and the faceoff will be no more than a groundball battle.

For the reasons set forth in the full Petition - which can be found at http://goo.gl/9bOhi7 or at the top of the page next to the words "web site".

We strongly believe that the proposed changes to the faceoff rules are imprudent, discriminatory, unfair and potentially dangerous.

These proposed rule changes will become effective for a mandatory two year period if approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP) which will meet to discuss these changes on Sept 10, 2014.

We intend to send a complete copy of the signed Petition to the PROP by September 7, 2014, so that hopefully they will consider our views prior to approving these drastic and ill-advised changes to the faceoff rules.