How does the new 60-second shot clock reset affect men’s lacrosse. What are the implications for player positions and strategies. How will this change alter the pace and dynamics of the game.
The Evolution of Shot Clocks in Lacrosse
The introduction and evolution of shot clocks in lacrosse have significantly impacted the sport’s pace and strategy. Initially implemented to prevent stalling tactics and maintain a fast-paced game, shot clocks have become an integral part of modern lacrosse across various leagues and levels of play.
Different variations of lacrosse employ different shot clock durations:
- NCAA men’s field lacrosse: 80 seconds
- Indoor lacrosse (including NLL): 30 seconds
- Premier Lacrosse League (PLL): 52 seconds
- NCAA women’s lacrosse: 90 seconds
The recent approval of a 60-second shot clock reset in men’s lacrosse marks another significant milestone in the sport’s evolution, promising to further accelerate gameplay and challenge players to adapt their strategies.
Understanding the New 60-Second Shot Clock Reset
The newly approved 60-second shot clock reset in men’s lacrosse represents a substantial change from the previous 80-second rule. This adjustment aims to increase the pace of play and create more scoring opportunities. But how exactly does this new rule work?
Under the new system, teams have 60 seconds to take a shot on goal once they gain possession. If they fail to do so, possession is turned over to the opposing team. This shorter timeframe puts increased pressure on offensive units to execute their plays quickly and efficiently.
Key Aspects of the New Shot Clock Rule:
- 60 seconds from gaining possession to taking a shot
- Clock resets after each shot on goal
- Turnover occurs if no shot is taken within the time limit
- Applies to all levels of men’s field lacrosse
These changes are expected to lead to more dynamic and fast-paced games, potentially increasing fan engagement and excitement.
Impact on Player Roles and Strategies
The implementation of the 60-second shot clock reset is likely to have far-reaching effects on player roles and team strategies in men’s lacrosse. How will this change alter the way teams approach offense and defense?
One of the most significant impacts will be on the role of faceoff specialists, often referred to as FOGOs (Face Off, Get Off). Traditionally, these players would win the faceoff and quickly sub off the field. However, with the shortened shot clock, there may not be enough time for this substitution, requiring faceoff specialists to become more well-rounded players.
Evolving Role of Faceoff Specialists:
- Increased playing time on both offense and defense
- Need for improved stick skills and shooting abilities
- Greater emphasis on conditioning and stamina
- Potential shift away from specialized FOGO players
As Greg Gurenlian, a former professional faceoff specialist, noted, “I’ve always hated the term FOGO because it’s so old school. We used to call guys FOGOs when they literally couldn’t catch and throw and all they could do is sit on a knee and clamp.” The new shot clock rule may finally render this term obsolete.
Accelerated Offensive Tactics
With less time to execute plays, offensive units will need to adapt their strategies to maximize scoring opportunities within the 60-second window. How might this change offensive approaches in men’s lacrosse?
Teams are likely to emphasize quick decision-making and rapid ball movement to create scoring chances before the shot clock expires. This could lead to a more dynamic and unpredictable style of play, with less emphasis on prolonged possessions and more focus on creating immediate scoring opportunities.
Potential Offensive Adjustments:
- Increased tempo and transition play
- More emphasis on fast breaks and unsettled situations
- Simplified offensive sets for quicker execution
- Greater reliance on individual skill and creativity
- Potential increase in outside shooting
These changes could lead to higher-scoring games and more exciting plays, potentially increasing the sport’s appeal to fans and spectators.
Defensive Adaptations to the New Shot Clock
As offenses adapt to the shortened shot clock, defenses will also need to evolve their strategies. How will defensive units respond to the increased pace of play?
Defensive players may find themselves under more pressure to force turnovers and disrupt offensive rhythms. With less time for offenses to set up plays, defenses might adopt more aggressive strategies to capitalize on the shot clock pressure.
Potential Defensive Strategies:
- Increased use of pressure defense and double-teams
- More emphasis on causing turnovers
- Strategic use of timeouts to reset the shot clock
- Greater focus on transition defense
- Adapted substitution patterns to maintain defensive intensity
These defensive adjustments could lead to a more dynamic back-and-forth game, with rapid shifts between offense and defense becoming more common.
Implications for Player Conditioning and Substitutions
The accelerated pace of play resulting from the 60-second shot clock reset is likely to have significant implications for player conditioning and team substitution strategies. How will players and coaches adapt to these new physical demands?
With less time between possessions and potentially fewer opportunities for substitutions, players may need to improve their overall fitness and stamina to maintain performance throughout the game. This could lead to changes in training regimens and practice structures.
Potential Adaptations:
- Increased focus on cardiovascular conditioning
- More emphasis on full-field scrimmages in practice
- Development of more versatile, two-way players
- Adjusted substitution patterns to manage player fatigue
- Potential increase in roster sizes to accommodate more frequent rotations
These changes could lead to a new breed of lacrosse player – one who is equally adept at both offense and defense and capable of playing extended minutes at a high intensity.
Impact on Goalie Play and Clear Attempts
Goalies and defensive units will face new challenges under the 60-second shot clock reset rule. How will this change affect clearing attempts and overall goalie strategy?
With less time available, goalies may need to become more aggressive in initiating fast breaks after saves. Quick and accurate outlet passes will become even more crucial, as teams look to capitalize on transition opportunities before the defense can set up.
Potential Changes in Goalie Play:
- Increased emphasis on outlet passing skills
- More aggressive positioning to intercept shots and initiate clears
- Greater involvement in offensive plays during clears
- Adapted communication with defenders to expedite clears
- Potential increase in full-field clear attempts
These adjustments could lead to goalies playing a more active role in initiating offense, potentially increasing their value and changing the way teams evaluate goalie performance.
Potential Impact on Game Scores and Statistics
The implementation of the 60-second shot clock reset is likely to have a noticeable impact on game scores and individual player statistics. How might these changes manifest in the numbers we see on the scoreboard and in stat sheets?
With an accelerated pace of play and potentially more possessions per game, we could see an increase in overall scoring. This could lead to higher-scoring games and potentially affect how we view offensive production in the sport.
Possible Statistical Changes:
- Increased goals per game average
- Higher shot totals for both teams
- Potential decrease in shooting percentage due to rushed shots
- More evenly distributed scoring among players
- Increased importance of assist statistics
- Higher turnover numbers due to increased pressure
These statistical shifts could change how we evaluate player and team performance, potentially leading to new metrics and analytical approaches in lacrosse.
As the sport adapts to this new rule, it will be fascinating to observe how these changes play out on the field and in the record books. The 60-second shot clock reset represents a significant evolution in men’s lacrosse, promising to bring new excitement and challenges to players, coaches, and fans alike.
Lacrosse Shot Clock Rules
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The shot clock in lacrosse is a clock that tracks how much time the offensive team has remaining to take a shot on goal. If a team does not shoot the ball before the clock expires, the ball is turned over to the opposing team. It is intended to keep the flow of play fast and to encourage a frequent change of possession. Read on to learn the rules of the shot clock in lacrosse.
Table of Contents
- Shot Clock Rules
- Shot Clock Starts and Stoppages
- Special Shot Clock Rules
- FAQ
Shot Clock Rules
In NCAA men’s field lacrosse, the shot clock is 80 seconds from the time the offensive team gains possession of the ball. Additionally, the offensive team must have the ball within their offensive half within the first 20 seconds of the 80-second shot clock. In indoor lacrosse (including the NLL), the shot clock is 30 seconds from the time the offensive team gains possession.
The PLL features a 52-second shot clock. The shot clock in women’s lacrosse lasts for 90 seconds.
Shot Clock Starts and Stoppages
The shot clock operator starts the shot clock once clear possession is gained after a faceoff, a live ball turnover, or a loose ball. The shot clock operator stops the shot clock when the official stops play, a ball travels out of bounds, or for a timeout or injury. When the shot clock is reset, it resets to the full 80 seconds. The shot clock resets after a change of possession.
Special Shot Clock Rules
For timeouts or injury timeouts, the shot clock continues for the remaining time if the offense calls a timeout and resets to 80 seconds if the defensive team signals for a timeout. This rule gives an advantage to the offense and discourages the defense from calling a timeout simply to disrupt an offensive set.
If the shot clock malfunctions for any reason, the shot clock operator can use a timing device to still keep time and announce to game officials the time in 10-second intervals.
For this reason, many rulebooks, including the NCAA, ask that whoever operates the shot clock should have that as their sole responsibility.
FAQ
Is there a shot clock in lacrosse?
A shot clock is used in men’s field lacrosse and box lacrosse to maintain pace of play. Without a shot clock, teams with possession could simply play keep-away from the other team for a long length of time without an attempt at scoring. NCAA women’s lacrosse added a shot clock in 2021.
How long is the shot clock in lacrosse?
How long the shot clock lasts depends on the type of lacrosse being played. In NCAA men’s field lacrosse, the shot clock lasts for 80 seconds from the time that the offensive team has possession of the ball. In men’s indoor lacrosse (like the NLL), the shot clock is 30 seconds from the offensive team’s gain of possession. In the PLL, the shot clock is 52 seconds. In NCAA women’s lacrosse, the shot clock lasts for 90 seconds.
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Pages Related to Lacrosse Shot Clock Rules
- Lacrosse Personal Fouls
- Lacrosse Roster Rules
- Lacrosse Restraining Line
- The Top 10 Rules Of Lacrosse
- Lacrosse Technical Fouls
- Lacrosse Timeout Rules
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Fate of the FOGO: How the New Shot Clock Rule Affects the Faceoff
Win the clamp, scoop up the ground ball, safely get it to an attackman, sprint back to the box.
Breathe.
Repeat.
Those were once the main responsibilities of a faceoff athlete – or a faceoff, get off athlete (FOGO) – as it was appropriately named. But the days of the FOGO are dwindling. As only eight starting spots at the stripe exist professionally in outdoor lacrosse, more skill became required from these athletes over time, especially this PLL season.
“I’ve always hated the term FOGO because it’s so old school. We used to call guys FOGOs when they literally couldn’t catch and throw and all they could do is sit on a knee and clamp,” former Redwoods faceoff athlete and seven-time All-Star Greg Gurenlian said.
With the Premier Lacrosse League’s new 32-second shot clock rule, the term “FOGO” may never be used again.
Before the 2023 season, the PLL changed the shot clock following a won faceoff from 52 seconds to 32 seconds. The 52-second shot clock is still in effect, but begins after the first 32 seconds of play when a defense forces a turnover or shot-clock violation.
With the new rule, faceoff athletes find themselves playing offense and defense as the 32 seconds wane and there’s not enough time to sub off, essentially killing the notion of the FOGO.
Trevor Baptiste, Atlas’ faceoff athlete and the 2022 MVP, stayed on the field for minutes at a time through the first three weeks of the 2023 season, but he felt the effects of the new rule immediately.
“There was one stretch in the second quarter [against the Redwoods in Week 1] where we were on the field for like three minutes straight. It was back and forth, up and down. Faceoff, then into another faceoff. It’s a lot,” Baptiste said. “I was definitely tired in that moment. Sometimes you just don’t have enough time to sub and you still have to get something out of that possession.”
It’s a balancing act. Sub out too soon, stay in too long or don’t do your part on defense? Then you’re “a liability,” Gurenlian said. Become that, and you’re “one or two bad games away from never playing again.
”
This is the pros, after all.
With only eight teams in the PLL, everything is matchup based. When Gurenlian was playing against a more athletic faceoff opponent, he would make sure to closely guard his guy and not just run off the field and leave his matchup open with an opportunity to score. If he went against a bigger, less mobile opponent, he thought the opposite.
“If I win, I need to keep this guy out here as long as I can and get him caught up on defense because then he’s a liability,” Gurenlian said. “For Trevor, how he plays against TD Ierlan (Redwoods) or Petey LaSalla (Whipsnakes) is going to be way different than how he plays against Connor Farrell (Chrome).”
The faceoff position requires more speed, smarts and power than it did a year ago, when faceoff athletes had more time and less pressure to make a play.
Luckily for Atlas, it has Baptiste, who is 65-87 (74.4 percent) and grabbed 38 ground balls – leading the league in both – this season.
Because of that, Atlas coach Mike Pressler said he puts short sticks on the wings, anticipating setting up the offense and knowing “Trevor’s going to win a majority of faceoffs and if we lose it, we can still get our LSM on the field.”
But with the new rule, which Pressler said so far, he isn’t a fan of, tons of questions follow even with a wunderkind like Baptiste.
“If you’re going to leave him out there after every faceoff win, that doesn’t mean you score,” Pressler said. “If you turn it over or a goalie makes a save, what does he do? Does he run in the hole and play defense, does he run off for substitution? You’re asking so much more of your single faceoff guy that you’re carrying on your roster. We’re not even in July yet, and in some of these places it’s going to be super hot and super humid.”
Gurenlian, however, “loves” the rule because it “will incentivize kids to continue to work on the rest of their game,” he said. While not any position player can step up to the faceoff, the faceoff athlete will have to slot into offense or defense, and play well while doing it.
