Faceoff Cadence, Video Review Changes Proposed by NCAA Men's Rules Committee

The NCAA Men's Lacrosse Rules Committee has proposed modifying the video review criteria so coaches can make challenges using the previously approved situations within the criteria at any point in the game, effective for the 2025 season.

All rule proposals must be approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which will discuss men's lacrosse recommendations July 17.

Committee members, who met this week in Indianapolis, also recommended that officials could initiate video review only in the last four minutes of regulation and in any overtime period.

Under the proposal, officials could initiate video replay review to identify participants in a fight, flagrant misconduct or unsportsmanlike conduct and whether contact to the head and/or neck took place at any time in the game.

One scenario that was recommended to be added to the video review criteria would allow coaches to challenge whether a valid shot deflected off the goalie or the goal pipe to see whether the shot clock should be reset. Officials could initiate this type of video review, starting with the last four minutes of regulation.

"Overall, these changes would put the onus on the coach to challenge plays and speed up the overall flow of the game," said John Tillman, chair of the rules committee and head coach at Maryland.

FACEOFF CHANGE

The committee proposed an adjustment to the faceoff officiating mechanic for next season.

Under the proposal:

• After the command of down, the official would stand over the faceoff players and could adjust the players' positions as needed.
• From there, the official would say "set" and would back out and whistle to start the faceoff.
• This would require the official to get out of the way before the faceoff starts.

"From the committee's perspective, this mechanic will provide a natural varied cadence to the whistle," Tillman said. "There has been a growing concern about a lack of variance between the 'set' and whistle call to start the faceoff."

Committee members also proposed that if a faceoff player commits a violation, that player would not be allowed to participate in the next faceoff. The committee recommended elimination of a 30-second penalty for teams that commit three faceoff violations in a half.

Other rules proposals

• Players established in the defensive half of the field would only be able to bat or deflect the ball with their crosse to keep it in the offensive half of the field. Body contact with the ball would result in an over-and-back violation.
• A suspended student-athlete could not be in the team's bench area, anywhere on the sideline or anywhere in the spectator area. A suspended coach or any other personnel could not be in the confines of the venue from the time the team arrives until officials leave the field after the contest.
• Clear mouthguards would be permitted.