Another championship has come and gone. Virginia with a new philosophy and team effort grinding out a win. Mercyhurst hanging on to win and Salisbury flexing their collective muscle. It is now time, after observing the Men’s NCAA tournament games on the Division I, II, and III levels, to discuss bringing men’s lacrosse back to the essence of the game we love. Just as the collective administrative and coaching brain trust instituted the shot clock in college basketball, men’s college lacrosse must implement the same initiatve.
The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. 1. a shot clock would allow the game officials to officiate the game and not be time keepers, “get it in and keep it in” will become a lost piece of lacrosse history. 2. The shot clock would allow players to think for themselves on the field, make decisions within the flow of the game, isn’t that what practice is all about.( Salisbury is a great example) 3. It would minimize the micromanagement of the game by coaches. It will, obviously, speed up the game.
Does it have to be a 45 second clock like the MLL or the International game? No, it could be 6o seconds, 90 seconds, as long as it puts an end to the stalling techniques used by coaches and their teams to change the game to something it was never supposed to be. The vast majority of facilities that host men’s varsity lacrosse games have the ability, now, to initiate a shot clock. The game management people in athletic departments have personnel that have tended to the shot clock in men’s and women’s basketball.
It is of the utmost importance for the game itself that this decision be discussed and acted upon ASAP.
Congratulations to Northwestern, Adelphi and Gettysburg and their respective championship accomplishments. Kudos to those responsible for hosting those games on Long Island, obviously the hot bed for women’s lacrosse, check out the rosters of the teams in the finals. It must be a nice change for the women to play in front of crowds that appreciate their effort.
