roadhockey.net

Roadsters say new rule rules

A new rule restricting goalies from smothering the evil orange plastic ball outside their crease will be good for the game, says one of the players who will be most affected by the change.

Lobsterboy, who's forged his career on careening into the corners to cover up loose shots and wayward passes, says the proposed rule will make games more exciting.

"It'll make the game faster," says the shelled shotstopper, who got his first taste of the revised regulation in the second scrimmage of Sunday's opening day of training camp. "It'll force the players to really play their position and passing will become key."

In fact, preventing the goalies from forcing stoppages in play by pouncing on loose balls in the corners and along the end boards may even prolong their careers, says Paul One.

"I think in the long run, it actually will help the goalies avoid injury because they're not going to be able to slide out to the corner, and you know somebody's bearing down on them and can't stop."

"I think it'll be good for the goalies," says Wendel, who returned to the courts Sunday for his first regular start in more than two seasons. "They can focus on covering the net, they can't try to be cowboys by scooting off into the corner all the time."

Players will also have to adjust. Defenders will no longer be able to loaf their way back into the zone as the goalie freezes play and forwards will be able to create opportunities by chasing down loose balls against the end boards.

"It'll definitely demand more fitness from the players," says Paul One. "You've got to run back and potentially fight for the ball, or beat an offensive guy who's sprinting towards the ball."

"I think it definitely gives the offense more opportunity to push the defense," says Wendel. "It forces them to make the play, and if they don't, then the offense can get to the ball and create a chance."

And that's pretty much what happened in Sunday's consolation mini-game, as Wendel and his speedy mates were able to pounce on opportunities created by lazy backchecking to battle back from a 9-7 defecit to eke out a 10-9 win. It was their second win of the day, after a 20-10 rout in the opener.

"We were just too stubborn to quit," says Wendel, who scored the winner in the second game. "We just refused to give up, we just kept clawing and we got a break."

"Our guys sucked it up and they played their game," says Lobsterboy. "We just kept hammering and hammering until we got the winning goal."

And while Paul One admits his team may have miscalculated the adjustments they'd have to make to the new rule, he says any change demands a feeling out process.

"I can't remember the last rule change we brought in, and I think we saw today some of the issues that are going to be around it. It could be a real interesting time."

Posted by jaysuburb at October 5, 2003 05:39 PM