Lacrosse faceoffs in crosshairs as MIAA mulls spring COVID-19 modifications

Are FOGOs about to become an endangered species?

No COVID-19 rules modifications for spring sports have been set yet by the MIAA. However, when it comes to lacrosse, faceoffs seem like an easy target if you're trying to reduce close contacts during a pandemic.

There's been talk of eliminating or drastically reducing draws -- witness the suspension of jump balls in basketball this winter -- and instead allowing goalkeepers to simply start the next possession after a goal.

That would alter strategy for both the boys and girls games, although the impact would likely be greater for the boys, given that some players earn their roster spots as designated faceoff-takers. Hence the nickname FOGO (face off/get off) for those kids who have perfected the art of getting down on one knee for a little hand-to-hand combat to determine which team gets to set up its offense next.

Faceoffs in the girls game are done standing up with both players pinning the ball between the backs of their sticks and then jerking their sticks upward, sending the ball flying into the air. There's skill involved, but it's also a bit of a coin flip. In the boys game, that 1-on-1 battle down on the ground makes all the difference.

Predictably, the possibility of modifying or doing away with boys faceoffs for the 2021 spring campaign, which is supposed to run from April 26-July 3 in the MIAA's new "four-season" calendar, was a big discussion topic at Thursday morning's virtual MIAA Lacrosse Committee meeting.

"It's such a gigantic component of the game that it would have a huge effect on the outcome of a game, which is what we're trying to avoid," said Hingham boys coach John Todd, who was not on the committee but followed updates via social media. "(As coaches) we are clearly open to making as many other modifications as possible to mitigate those contacts.

"We've met a bunch of times as coaches since the summer discussing this as it unfolded for soccer and field hockey (in the fall) and the push-off of football (to Fall 2). We knew this was going to come our way. ... I'm hoping we can find other areas to contribute modifications to that may allow us to continue to have faceoffs."

Wayne Puglisi, the coaches' representative on the lacrosse committee, likened faceoff specialists to kickers in football -- take away the kicking game and there's not much else for them to do.

"That position is a real thing that's constant in the game," Todd said. "It would really be a huge detriment to a good portion of the kids who participate. It would make them obsolete at this time, which I don't think is fair."

Separate COVID-19 rules modifications subcommittees for boys and girls lacrosse are set to meet for the first time next week to start formulating plans for the season. The subcommittees will bring their recommendations back to the full lacrosse committee for approval before sending them up the MIAA chain of command. The next rung on the ladder would be the MIAA Sports Medicine Committee.

Keep in mind that while MIAA modifications for fall sports were strict -- no headers or throw-ins in soccer, field hockey played 7-on-7 instead of 11-on-11 -- winter sports modifications are more modest. Basketball players are allowed to crash the boards, and hockey still has faceoffs and, in the boys game, body checking.

"I think we have some good things going in our favor right now with hockey playing with body checking and faceoffs," Plymouth South AD Justin Domingos said. "If we play football (in the Fall 2 "wedge" season from Feb. 22-April 25), there's going to be a lot of tackling, close contact when the line of scrimmage is set. We'll have a lot of data going into our (lacrosse) season to hopefully keep the game as close to (normal) as possible."

Todd thinks one good compromise might be to adopt the new NCAA men's faceoff modifications that will be in place for the upcoming season. The new rule, adopted over the summer, mandates that both players start faceoffs with only their feet, gloves and sticks touching the ground.

According to a story explaining the rule change on NCAA.com: "Previously, players could start a faceoff on one knee and use a motorcycle grip, in which the stick is held with both palms down. Members of the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Rules Committee felt this led to increased clamping of the ball and long stalemates.

"With the new rule, players will have to move the ball in a continuous motion. If the ball is withheld in a player’s stick, a violation will be called, and the opposing team will be awarded possession of the ball. If a team is called for three faceoff violations in a half, the player committing the penalty on all subsequent violations must serve a 30-second penalty."

Todd said the rule was designed to speed up the game, but he pointed out that eliminating long 1-on-1 stalemates is an added benefit in a pandemic. Todd thinks the high school game inevitably will move in the same direction as the NCAA since it would be foolish not to prepare high schoolers for NCAA rules.

"The kids won't be locking up for more than a second or two, very similar to hockey," he said. "It's avoiding that full-on, three-point-stance lockup like wrestling. It speeds up that portion of the game. In this environment, it's a home run of an adjustment at the faceoff circle."