During the preseason the National Lacrosse League will be experimenting with the shootout to see if it may be of some interest in the future. Immediately following all preseason games this December, no matter what the score a shootout will be held.
For those familiar with the NHL, the shootout rules are the same.
The teams will not change ends for the shootout. The home team shall have the choice of shooting first or second. Three players from each team will compete in the shootout (alternating shots), and they shall proceed in such order as the Coach selects.
All players are eligible to participate in the shootout unless they are serving a 10-minute misconduct, game misconduct or match penalty. Once the shootout begins, the goalkeeper cannot be replaced unless he is injured.
No warm up shall be permitted for a substitute goalkeeper. Each team will be given three shots, unless the outcome is determined earlier in the shootout. If the score remains tied after all three players have taken their shots, the shootout will proceed to a “sudden death” format.
A player can only shoot twice once everyone who is eligible has shot. If, however, because of injury or penalty, one team has fewer players eligible for the shootout than its opponent, both teams may select from among the players who have already shot. This procedure would continue until the team with fewer players has again used all eligible shooters.
This could turn out to be a very exciting addition to the game, seeing how when a game goes to overtime if you win the faceoff the game can end. Not sure how often there will be a shootout but this could easily be a great way to add more excitement to the game. It is almost like a skills competition with players being inventive on their uncontested breakaway.
In the NHL they use a five-minute “sudden death” overtime. With the high scoring game of lacrosse, what could be good is to institute the same five-minute overtime, but instead of first goal wins, you play the full five and if still tied then you can have the shootout.
The game needs to start pulling fans back in as a number of teams’ attendance dropped last season. This could be one of the ways of doing it. The other is the old fashion hitting that has been lost. That we will get to at another time.
