2013 NCAA Women s Lacrosse Rules Survey: Executive Summary

Transcription

1 2013 NCAA Women s Lacrosse Rules Survey: Executive Summary INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE Per the request of the NCAA Women s Lacrosse Rules Committee, a survey was developed to obtain feedback from women s lacrosse head coaches and officials from each NCAA member institution, as well as SWAs and commissioners in regards to rules changes and major rules concerns. The results from this survey seek to provide the committee with detailed information on the respondents opinions of those rules. METHODS Survey Instrument One survey instrument was developed for responses to the various questions of the committee. The following constructs were explored: Carding Current Rules The Draw Experimental Head Umpire Rule Potential Rule Changes Sampling The sample used for this survey consisted of lists provided by NCAA staff containing women s lacrosse coaches and officials as well as SWAs and commissioners. Survey Administration Survey administration involved an online survey tool. Each participant received an containing an individualized web link requesting participation. Detailed instructions were provided on the instrument. Response Rate The following represents response rates both by position and for the survey overall: n N Response Rate by Position Coach % SWA % Commissioner % Official % Total % Page No. 1

2 Executive Summary Of the coaches, SWAs, and commissioners who responded, 26.1 percent were from Division I, 19.5 percent were from Division II and 54.5 percent were from Division III. Analysis Once the completion deadline passed, the web link was disabled. The quantitative responses were converted into SPSS format and the data were checked for errors and inconsistencies. The SPSS library of statistical packages was used to compile the descriptive statistics reported in this summary. RESULTS Of the officials who responded, 100 percent were from the national/international level, and approximately 97 percent of officials indicated that they had read the 2013 Umpiring Manual. More than three-quarters of all coaches and officials indicated that they have read the NCAA Women s Lacrosse Rules Book it in entirely, compared to over 75 percent of SWAs and commissioners who indicated that they have not. Over 75 percent of officials agree that enforcing the rule against dangerous propelling and stricter enforcement of calling fouls after the shot have made the game safer. The majority of coaches (72.4 percent) and officials (93.8 percent) agree that the focus on proper clearing of the 8m arc ensured free position set ups that were more consistent and equitable. For questions asking about their level of concern regarding specific women s lacrosse rules, the following chart shows the level of concern for the majority (60 percent or more) of each respondent group for each area. The majority of respondents showed high to moderate concern for the issues presented. Coach SWA Commissioner Official Rough play. High/Moderate High/Moderate High/Moderate Shooting space High/Moderate High/Moderate High/Moderate issues. Defining legal picks and screens. High/Moderate Defining charges. High/Moderate High/Moderate High/Moderate Fouls that occur after a shot has been released. High/Moderate High/Moderate High/Moderate Checks to the head. Low/No Midfield High/Moderate Low/No High/Moderate breakdown fouls. Other Low/No High/Moderate Page No. 2

3 Executive Summary Carding The majority of respondents from all groups indicated that they think the current penalty for a yellow card (playing short for two minutes below either restraining line) is adequate. While commissioners (64.3 percent) and officials (64.6 percent) think the rules committee should consider adding penalties for an accumulation of yellow cards by a team in a game, coaches (73.4 percent) disagree. Approximately 85 percent of commissioners indicated that they would be in favor of penalizing a player that has multiple cardable fouls over the course of the seasons, as opposed to approximately 79 percent of coaches who were not in favor. When asked about the issuance of cards by officials, there were mixed views from the different groups. The following responses were given: Issuing too frequently. Not issuing cards enough. Issuing cards appropriately. Coach SWA Commissioner Official Disagree Disagree Agree Agree Agree Agree Current Rules Regarding the obstruction of free space to the goal the majority of coaches disagree that the current rule is being applied consistently by officials (75.4 percent) and would like to see the rules committee review the current rule (66.5 percent). Over 65 percent of officials indicated that they believe the current rules regarding picks and screens are adequate. In regard to the rules committee examining a change to the rules for picks and screens, specifically, making a moving pick illegal (whether it is visible or not), the majority of commissioners (approximately 70 percent) are in favor, while over 75 percent of officials are not in favor. The majority of officials (65.6 percent) believe the foul for dangerous propelling was called more often in The top three possible points of emphasis respondents would like to see the rules committee consider for future seasons are: (1) dangerous checks and slashing; (2) stick to body/body to stick contact; and (3) blocks and charges. Page No. 3

4 Executive Summary The Draw When asked about permitting fewer players to line up between the restraining lines for the draw, the majority of respondents from all groups agree: o It made the game safer; o allowed more draws to be won cleanly; and o made it easier for the umpires to determine if a foul occurred on the draw. Experimental Head Umpire Rule (Coaches and Officials Only) Officials (71.4% percent) felt that there was value to identifying a Head Umpire for each game during the 2013 season. Over 64 percent of all coaches and officials agreed that: o A Head Umpire was identified for each game during the 2013 season; o the official identified as the Head Umpire fulfilled the role as intended for each of game during the 2013 season; and o the experimental Head Umpire rule should be continued and made part of the rules permanently. Potential Rule Changes The majority of all respondents from each group were not in favor of a rule change that would make it a foul for players to adjust the strings/pockets of their sticks at any time while on the field, whether the umpire has asked for her sticks or not. Over 70 percent of all coaches, SWAs and officials indicated that they would be in favor of the rule being changed to make an illegal stick a cardable offense, while over 61 percent of commissioners would not be in favor of the rule. Page No. 4

5 2013 NCAA Women s Lacrosse Rules Survey: Note: The response rates for these surveys were 57 percent for coaches and 65 percent for umpires. Reminders were sent for completion of the surveys. 1. What is your current position? n % Coach SWA Commissioner Official Of which NCAA division is your institution a member? (Coaches, SWAs, and Commissioners only) n % Division I Division II Division III Have you read the 2013 Umpiring Manual? (Officials only) n % Yes No Please indicate your rating level. (Officials only) n % National/International District Local Have you read the NCAA Women s Lacrosse Rules Book in its entirety? Yes No Page No. 5

6 6. Please indicate your level of concern with the following areas: Rough play. High Concern Moderate Concern Low Concern No Concern Please indicate your level of concern with the following areas: Shooting space issues. High Concern Moderate Concern Low Concern No Concern Please indicate your level of concern with the following areas: Defining legal picks and screens. High Concern Moderate Concern Low Concern No Concern Please indicate your level of concern with the following areas: Defining charges. High Concern Moderate Concern Low Concern No Concern Please indicate your level of concern with the following areas: Fouls that occur after a shot has been released. High Concern Moderate Concern Low Concern No Concern Page No. 6

7 11. Please indicate your level of concern with the following areas: Checks to the head. High Concern Moderate Concern Low Concern No Concern Please indicate your level of concern with the following areas: Midfield breakdown fouls. High Concern Moderate Concern Low Concern No Concern Please indicate your level of concern with the following areas: Other (See Appendix A). High Concern Moderate Concern Low Concern No Concern Enforcing the rule against dangerous propelling made the game safer. Agree Disagree No Opinion Stricter enforcement of calling fouls after the shot made the game safer. Agree Disagree No Opinion Page No. 7

8 16. The focus on proper clearing of the 8m arc ensured free position set ups that were more consistent and equitable. Agree Disagree No Opinion CARDING 17. Do you think the current penalty for a yellow card (playing short for two minutes below either restraining line) is adequate? Yes No Do you think the rules committee should consider adding penalties for an accumulation of yellow cards by a team in a game? Yes No What additional penalties would you suggest? See Appendix B. 20. Would you be in favor of penalizing a player that has multiple cardable fouls over the course of the season (for example, five yellow cards and she must sit out a game)? Yes No Officials are issuing cards too frequently. Agree Disagree No Opinion Page No. 8

9 22. Officials are not issuing cards often enough. Agree Disagree No Opinion Officials are issuing cards appropriately. Agree Disagree No Opinion Please provide us with any additional feedback you have regarding carding and/or fouls. See Appendix C. CURRENT RULES 25. The current rules addressing the obstruction of free space to goal (shooting space) are being applied consistently by officials. Agree Disagree No Opinion I would like to see the rules committee review the current rules addressing the obstruction of free space to goal (shooting space). Agree Disagree No Opinion Page No. 9

10 27. The current rules regarding picks and screens are adequate. Agree Disagree No Opinion If the rules committee examines changes to the rules for picks and screens, would you be in favor of making a moving pick illegal, whether it is visible or not? Yes No Please use this space to share any feedback you have for the rules committee regarding picks and screens. See Appendix D. 30. A foul for dangerous propelling should be called when a pass or shot is directed at or taken without regard to the positioning of a field player. Do you think this foul was called more often during the 2013 season? Yes No Which of the following possible points of emphasis would you like to see the rules committee consider for future seasons? (Check all that apply) Off-sides Picks and screens Dangerous propelling Stick to body/body to stick contact Shooting space Dangerous checks and slashing Blocks and charges Midfield breakdown fouls Other (See Appendix E) Page No. 10

11 32. Please provide any feedback you have regarding current rules. See Appendix F. THE DRAW 33. Do you think permitting fewer players to line up between the restraining lines for the draw made the game safer? Yes No Do you think permitting fewer players to line up between the restraining lines allowed more draws to be won cleanly? Yes No Do you think permitting fewer players to line up between the restraining lines for the draw made it easier for the umpires to determine if a foul occurred on the draw? Yes No Please provide any additional feedback regarding the draw rule. See Appendix G. EXPERIMENTAL HEAD UMPIRE RULE (Coaches and Officials Only) 37. Do you feel there was value to identifying a Head Umpire for each game during the 2013 season? Coach Official Overall n % n % n % Yes No Page No. 11

12 38. Was a Head Umpire identified for each of your games during the 2013 season? Coach Official Overall n % n % n % Yes No Did the official identified as the Head Umpire fulfill the role as intended for each of your games during the 2013 season? Coach Official Overall n % n % n % Yes No If No, what happened that caused you to answer No to the previous question? See Appendix H. 41. Do you feel the experimental Head Umpire rule should be continued and made part of the rules permanently? Coach Official Overall n % n % n % Yes No Please provide any additional feedback regarding the experimental Head Umpire rule. See Appendix I. POSSIBLE RULE CHANGES 43. Do you think the rule should be changed to allow any defender to move through the entire goal circle (above and below the goal line)? Yes No Page No. 12

13 44. Do you believe stalling is an issue that should be addressed by the Rules Committee? Yes No Please indicate what changes you think should be made to address the issue. Add a shot clock Time limit to get the ball into a team s offensive end once they gain possession Define a team s offensive area and keep the ball in Allow defenders to move through the goal circle Other (See Appendix J) Are you in favor of a rule change that would make it a foul for players to adjust the strings/pockets of their sticks at any time while on the field, whether the umpire has asked for her sticks or not? Yes No Should the rule be changed to make an illegal stick a cardable offense? Yes No Please provide any possible rules changes you would like to see trialed during the next fall ball season. See Appendix K. Page No.13