wgdsr wrote: ↑Sun May 10, 2020 7:51 pm
don't think you got my drift.
we are not the ones who have changed (or influenced to change) the faceoff rules time and again.
i think if you look again at the thread, you'll see a number of us, myself included, who are fine with the rules. and debating rules is time honored tradition.
do you think us old guys got it perfect now for you? or do you think it's young guys who have written the rules as is?
me, on faceoff rules i'd just like them to apply them.
Yeah, what do the old guys know? They have only seen it all and tried it all. Including faceoffs.
We know what NOT to do, for sure-
"The clock is on the field!"
I've taught faceoffs in all it's variations for the past 15 years. The Over/Under grip is much easier, more accessible, and easier to learn/harder to dominate than the moto. The moto has more steps, more counters, more stickwork steps, requires more muscle memory and is more dependent upon mastery and technique, rather than athleticism, (although that certainly helps). I personally think requiring O/U grip would actually create more competition at the facoff spot, instead of just having a handful of kids available who have been doing it since birth. I'd argue that the current guys probably simply don't want to change the rules because it's a PITA to learn something new, but also because they don't want more competition at the position.
In the very late 90s, and early 00's I can list at least a few guys who solidified themselves D1 roster spots after teaching themselves how to faceoff over a summer or early in their
college career when they thought their normal midfield roster spots were in jeopardy. A few of them became very good too. You don't see that as much with the moto. It's just not possible with how complex they have made it.
PS: I also agree that the sticks and technology have exceeded the bounds of the rules. Even if you change back to O/U, the sticks should still be moved back, and the guys made to faceoff on a 6' wide line.