Quiz #1: Answers and Explanations
There were several hundred entries to Quiz #1. As of Sunday morning (we'll do a finally tally later), in Category A (players and coaches, by far the largest group of entrants), 27 people had all nine items (question 5 had two parts) correct. Among the fans, parents, and relatives in Category B, there were just 3 entries with all items answered correctly. Finally, for officials in Category C (the smallest group), 18 people had perfect scores. On a percentage basis, officials were seven to eight times more likely to achieve a perfect score. The winners in each category, randomly selected from all entries with 100% correct received as of midnight on Sunday, are shown below. (Note that each of these "handles" was supplied by a single entrant, so if one of them belongs to you, you're a winner. We're just not sure yet what you've won, as we're working on it.)If you didn't hit the 100% mark, don't despair! There were LOTS of people with 7 or 8 items correct, and the overall contest involves your total score correct across the five installments of the quiz. Scroll down to read the answers and explanations for Quiz #1, or use the link below to take Quiz No. 2.
Answers and explanations for the questions on Quiz #1 appear in the table below. Please do not send questions and complaints unless you are an official and are certain you have a well-founded point to make. It's not a matter of lack of interest on our part; we simply don't have the person-power to handle it. Please recognize, as do we, that one can easily quibble with the meanings of, and hence the answers to, "objective" questions. If you happen to have interpreted a question in a manner different than we intended, that is unfortunate, but it almost inevitably happens with this type of quiz. |
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Men's Rules Quiz: Installment #1 Answers and Explanations |
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| Quiz Item | Correct | Explanation |
| 1. For the side lines and the end lines, touching the line is over the line, that is, a ball or player touching either is out of bounds. | True | Unlike rules in soccer and tennis, where a ball touching any part of the line is considered "in," lacrosse rules dictate that if a player in possession of the ball "steps on or beyond a boundary line, or any part of his body or crosse touches the ground on or beyond a boundary line," the ball is out of bounds. Essentially the same rule applies to the ball itself: if it's touching the boundary line, anything on the boundary line, or the ground or an object over the boundary line, it is out of bounds. |
| 2. A player who is playing with a broken stick is, for the purposes of the rules, playing with no stick. | True | Players have to use equipment that conforms to specifications, which a broken crosse obviously does not. Under no circumstances can a player take part in game play without his crosse. So, the "math" here is correct: broken stick = no stick. |
| 3. The length of a regulation lacrosse field is precisely the same as the length of a regulation football field (ignoring the end zones), that is, 100 yards. | False | Close but not the same. A regulation lacrosse field is 110 yards long and 60 yards wide. The home team is responsible for the field meeting specifications (in all of its many respects, not just size). The field size is an allowed exception (i.e., the rule is alterable) provided that there is a written agreement between the teams prior to game day. However, if there is no such agreement and the field fails to meet specifications, then the home team starts the game two men down. "The in-home shall serve a three-minute nonreleasable penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct; the second player shall serve a 30-second releasable penalty for the field not meeting specifications" (p. 16 of 2000 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Rules). |
| 4. Following a shot knocked down by the goalie, several players are scrambling for the loose ball near the crease area. A defensive player kicks the ball, which ricochets off another defensive player and into the goal. Does this count as a goal for the attacking team? | Yes | If the goal is legal on other grounds (e.g., no attacking player in the crease, attacking team does not have too many men on the field, etc.), it counts. The rules state that a goal is awarded when an uncontrolled ball completely crosses the plane of the back of the goal line "regardless of who supplied the impetus." This would be considered a team goal regardless of which offensive player was the closest. |
| 5. After a goal is scored, the opposing coach requests an equipment check of the player who scored the goal. When asked by the official to see his crosse, the player adjusts his strings before handing the crosse over. (a) Will he have to serve a penalty as a result? (b) Does the goal still count? |
(a) Yes (b) No |
Adjusting the strings is an automatic stick check failure, and the player will incur a personal foul and serve a one-minute nonreleasable penalty as a result. If the check is done immediately after a goal by the player in question, then the goal is disallowed. |
6. A player in possession of the ball is closely marked by a defender, who makes repeated attempts to check his crosse. In the course of their encounter, the player with the ball swings his free arm to deflect the defender's crosse during an attempted check. Has the offensive player committed
A. a personal foul, |
B | This is probably an example of warding and would be whistled for a technical foul. We say "probably" because warding is a judgment call, and a difficult one at that. According to the rules, "a player in possession of the ball may not use his free hand, arm, or any other part of his body to hold, push, or control the direction of the movement of checking player's crosse or body." In the question, it states that the player "swings his free arm to deflect the defender's crosse." Therefore, a call of warding is warranted. A player in possession of the ball can, however, protect his crosse using his free hand, arm, or other part of his body as long as he isn't violating the rule. |
| 7. If any part of an uncontrolled (free) ball crosses the rear edge of the goal line, a goal is (or should be) awarded. | False | Whew! Well over half of you missed this one, which reflects how common a misunderstanding it is. Goals are (or should be) awarded only when an uncontrolled (free) ball passes from the front, completely through the imaginary plane formed by the rear edge of the goal line, the goal posts, and the crossbar. |
| 8. Is it illegal for a player taking a face-off to have one or more of his fingers extended (rather than around his crosse) with his fingertips or at least his knuckles in contact with the ground? | Yes | Players must have both hands (including all fingers) on the handle of their crosses. In addition, players cannot touch any strings of their crosses. Our apologies for not underlining "illegal," as some of you may have misread this question. |
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Dr. Laurence Feldman, Executive Director Dr. Robert Kroshefsky, Director of Men's Lacrosse Dr. Daniel Larsen, Director of Women's Lacrosse |
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