“Clearly, those big possession holes in the game are now a thing of the past,” Virginia coach Dom Starsia said. “You can still play deliberately, but the new rules encourage you to play a quicker tempo.” The consensus among coaches: The quick whistles, absence of horns and looming threat of the “timer on” call have created a mentality where players feel comfortable pushing transition and taking risks. According to statistics compiled by Lacrosse Magazine through 133 Division I games, while scoring is up only slightly (2.47 percent), there has been a significant increase in shots (8.2 percent) and saves (10.57 percent) per game. NCAA supervisor of officials Warren Kimber said games are about 15 minutes shorter in actual time. “And that 15-minute difference is made up in constant motion,” he said. “Even I’m surprised at the effect of the quick restarts. You’re saying: ‘Don’t turn your head,’” Starsia said. “We created more unsettled opportunities in our first two games than we did all of last year.” On Feb. 17 in the Carrier Dome, Albany upset Syracuse 16-15 in an up-and-down thriller that embodied the new rules’ better aspects.
Games Goals
Goals PG Shots
Shots PG Saves
Saves PG
2012 457
9,063 19.83
2013 133
2,702 20.32
31,222 9,832 68.32
9,556 20.91
73.92 3,075
23.12
Difference % Increase 0.49 5.6 2.21 2.47% 8.20% 10.57%
“It had everything. Goalies made saves. Defenses made stops. Offensive players were allowed to be offensive players. Kids played freely and had fun and, still, there was a lot of structure,” Albany coach Scott Marr said. “I can’t tell you how many people I’ve come into contact with who are just ecstatic to see the game being played at a fast pace.”
Led by the exciting Thompson trio of
Lyle, Miles and Ty on attack, the Great Danes followed that performance with another offensive outburst in a 20-19 loss to Drexel — a game in which
the teams combined for 103 shots. Cornell and Binghamton also surpassed 100 shots in the Big Red’s 11-6 victory Feb. 26.
Still, because officials apply the 30-second timer at their own discretion, many coaches believe a visible shot clock with a specified amount of time — like in basketball — would create a more consistent game that would be easier to follow and officiate.
“My concern is the human nature piece of this. We come down in regulation with a minute left, I didn’t see us doing anything differently than we had done all game, but they put us on a timer,” Starsia said. “If you don’t think an official is going to shorten that clock at the end of a game,
>>RUNNING WITH THE RULES
Dave Pietramala sat down after the Blue Jays’ season-opening 15-6 victory over Siena and wondered aloud to media: When was the last time Johns Hopkins took 58 shots in a game? It was 2004, against Albany, when the Blue Jays took 61 shots. Hopkins has loosened up since last year. Part of it is the new rules. Part of it is the way the Jays exited the playoffs last year, with an 11-5 NCAA quarterfinal loss to Maryland. “The plan over the summer defensively was that we were going to play faster, extend a little bit more and, in doing so, try
JOHNS HOPKINS
to push transition,” Pietramala said. “Then, instead of having to play faster defensively, the NCAA decided to put a shot clock in.” There will be setbacks, like when Hopkins lost to Princeton 11-8 at home on March 1, but the Blue Jays still outshot the Tigers 37-33 in that one.
— C.M. 2012 Goals per game
Shots per game Saves per game Ground balls
A Publication of US Lacrosse
(16 games) 10.31
34.90 8.25
27.31 2013
(through 5 games) 14.20
42.80 10.40 32.40
April 2013 >> LACROSSE MAGAZINE 45
©JOHN STROHSACKER
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