As has become yearly tradition, the faceoff was yet again a hot topic of conversation this off-season.
Last year, the PLL made significant changes to the faceoff, adding a 32 second shot clock to possessions that follow faceoff wins. This change had numerous impacts (and will have more to come). This off-season, the league adjusted the rule to add that long sticks cannot take faceoffs.
The ghost of CJ Costabile may have something to say about this (CJ is still very much alive and is a great dude but this sounded cool). But, like most new rules, we probably can’t predict the ways that it will and will not impact the game. We will see what happens.
At the NCAA level, more faceoff changes were proposed this off-season.
The proposed changes, which were reported by Inside Lacrosse Magazine, would stipulate that clamping the ball would be outlawed outright. The faceoff, as we know it, would fundamentally cease to exist. Presumably, there would be techniques developed to win as many as possible, but the faceoff event would be way, way different.
Faceoffs have been in a constant state of flux since for most of the last decade. In recent years, the NCAA outlawed the motorcycle grip, made it illegal to take the faceoff with one knee down, and banned players from carrying the ball in the back of their stick.
On a recent episode of The Back of the Bird (a lacrosse podcast hosted by NLL players Dan Lomas and Paul Dawson) we sat down with Trevor Baptiste, widely considered the best faceoff man in the game. You can hear Trevor’s thoughts on the state of the faceoff below.
On the subject of the faceoff and the proposed rule changes, Baptiste warned that solutions might seem like a fix-all, but often cause more issues than they fix.
“The more you try to control it, it seems like the more problems you run into,” said Baptiste.
Baptiste also spoke about the officiating surrounding the faceoff, and referenced that many college coaches seem frustrated with the way that the event is legislated.
“It’s a hard event to officiate,” said Baptiste. “Because everything is happening so fast.”
The challenge for all parties involved, is finding ways to improve the faceoff, with rules that are easy enough to be communicated clearly, officiated properly, and are resistant to cheating.
In regards to the proposal about the clamp, Baptiste said, “in my personal opinion, I don’t think that (clamp rule) will make it easier to officiate, so I don’t think that will necessarily alleviate the problems.”
Baptiste also raised issues surrounding the concept of cheating during the faceoff. Numerous methods have been designed and perfected over the years to subvert the attention of the official and win through means outside of the rule book. But in recent seasons, this type of cheating has become less prevalent, thanks in part to the massive advancements in faceoff training.
“I think the faceoff is in a really good position,” said Baptiste. “I think the majority of guys don’t go in trying to cheat, sometimes things just kind of happen and you have to call them as you see fit.”
We also discussed the topic of change with Trevor, not just in this proposal but in the constant stream of changes that have occurred with the faceoff. He spoke about the value of seeing the changes occur at the college level, and having time to adjust to new rules.
“With anything, it’s a challenge,” said Baptiste. “It’s an opportunity to build a new skill, or pinpoint another area of your game or your team’s game that you can expound on or fix.”
But, with all that being said, Baptiste did say that the life of a faceoff man would be easier without the constant changes.
“It’s definitely easier if it stays the same, for sure,” said Baptiste with a laugh.