Notre Dame Lacrosse v.s. Duke Lacrosse

[Old Man Mike]

Is "deliberate" body contact a foul of some kind?? What penalty do you pay for doing it?? Is allegedly "accidentally" hitting the other guy with your stick a foul?? Penalty?? [I'm not actually a "dirty" sportsman, but I always wanted to know the limits of what I was allowed to do on defense].

 

[IrishLax]

I don't want to bother anyone with bonehead ignorant questions, so ignore this if you will. But I'm completely unfamiliar with the rules. The one that I'd like to know about is: what are you allowed to do to stop the guy with the "ball"?? What stops someone from just running through the field and cramming it in the goal?? I know that this obviously isn't possible, but what does the defense do to stop it?? My instinct would be to run over to the guy and [while ducking the stick] just knock him down. I assume that isn't allowed either [I had a similar problem with the rules in a pick-up soccer game once---much screaming and hollering resulted].

Pretty much what NDIrishlover3 said... but to elaborate it's basically hockey rules. You can check someone with your stick as long as you aren't excessively violent (i.e. clearly not going for the ball or otherwise out of control) or hit them in the head. You can check someone with your body as long as you don't hit them in the head or crosscheck with your stick (i.e. have your hands apart and hit them with the stick as part of your body check).

You cannot trip someone, push them in the back, hold them (with your hands or stick), etc. But basically you can totally lay someone out just as hard as you can in football as long as it is a clean body check.

Hope that helps. Rules are completely different for girls' lacrosse.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Thanks---gives me some idea as to how a good defensive athlete [with good feet and some fearlessness] can protect the house. Still, what are the refs going to do to me or the team when I get a bit "overenthusiastic"??

 

[IrishLax]

Is "deliberate" body contact a foul of some kind?? What penalty do you pay for doing it?? Is allegedly "accidentally" hitting the other guy with your stick a foul?? Penalty?? [I'm not actually a "dirty" sportsman, but I always wanted to know the limits of what I was allowed to do on defense].

You can make as much body contact as you want as long as it is within 5 yards of a loose ball or you are contacting someone who has the ball in their possession. Moving screens, checks, pushes, etc. away from the ball are illegal for obvious reasons.

You can hit someone with your stick as much as you want as long as it is not excessively wild or violent (aka swinging at someone's knee caps for no reason) or you contact them in the head. Basically, as long as you are checking towards someone's stick you can go after them full steam ahead. That's why we wear pretty hardy arm pads and gloves... and we still end up with some really nasty bruises.

So yeah, it is an incredibly violent sport and basically anything goes with regards to checking... as long as you aren't just totally out of control or hitting someone in the head. It has to appear that you are making some sort of play on the ball not just trying to inflict pain.

 

[NDLacrosse]

Let it be known that...

BRENNEMAN IS A MONSTER!

 

[IrishLax]

Thanks---gives me some idea as to how a good defensive athlete [with good feet and some fearlessness] can protect the house. Still, what are the refs going to do to me or the team when I get a bit "overenthusiastic"??

Usually if you're just a bit "overenthusiastic" the ref will tell you verbally to settle down.. and if you keep just wildly wacking away you'll get a penalty for a slash. If you body check someone in the head you'll get a flag for unnecessary roughness, if it's from behind but not crazy hard you get a smaller foul for a push, if it's a body check and you really launch at the guy with your stick with hands apart on the shaft you'll get a crosscheck.

That's pretty over-simplified, but basically you have free range to do anything not dangerous. I used to play against one kid in high school who would start every game whacking me on the back with his d-pole as hard as he could just to let me know he was there. He would continue to do so until the ref told him to watch his stick or he got a flag for a slash.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Thanks---I am now more educated. Unfortunately, at age 70 I'll not be able to apply this particular knowledge, but it will make the next ND lacrosse game I watch more enjoyable.

 

[IrishLax]

Let it be known that...

BRENNEMAN IS A MONSTER!

I'm telling you right now I was at practice this fall and his little brother, Tyler Brenneman, is exactly like him just a little lighter and an inch shorter. They have the exact same game and once Tyler puts on a little more weight and refines his game he is going to be a serious player. Remember you heard it here first... Tyler Brenneman and Westy Hopkins will be serious players in 2012.

 

[NDLacrosse]

I'm telling you right now I was at practice this fall and his little brother, Tyler Brenneman, is exactly like him just a little lighter and an inch shorter. They have the exact same game and once Tyler puts on a little more weight and refines his game he is going to be a serious player. Remember you heard it here first... Tyler Brenneman and Westy Hopkins will be serious players in 2012.

Hopkins was seriously impressive, scoring two goals in his first collegiate game. Attack was a key area of need for recruiting, so it's good to see production from a freshman. Can't wait to see Tyler though. Sounds like he'll fill that role of a large dodger who can create his own shot down the alley.

 

[OchoShayneO]

I shredded today in lax. went like 4/5 at the x couple gb's and an A. followed by 12 natty lights. MLIB