the only time I watch Lacrosse is when ND is in the NCAA tournament. So, those that follow the sport, please tell me what would be wrong with the following two rule changes:

1) after a goal, possession given to the team that gave up the goal, perhaps behind their own net. This would eliminate or diminish the import of face-offs. While hockey has tons of face-offs too, in hockey possession turns over so quickly that center ice face-offs aren't that big of a thing (obviously they are more important in a zone).

2) if you shoot and it goes out the back line, give possession to the defense. I don't understand (unless in the distant past teams were afraid to shoot) why you would want to reward a team for flinging a shot that goes all the way out the back.

Thoughts?

Do we tell Brian Kelly that he shouldn't practice special teams? A great faceoff man is like a great kicker or kick returner -- a weapon who should be cherished and whom opposing coaches must plan to stop.

There's no strategy. It's 1-on-1 and one guy is way better than the other. Not cool.

In softball they moved the pitching rubber back because one player could be too dominant (and no innings max in softball).

And the Indians used to play lacrosse across country.

I think at this point in time, with the sport more mainstream and entrenched than basketball was back in the 30s, no one wants to completely change the sport.

Now a shot clock, I could understand that. And no 30 second penalty - make them minimum 1 minute.

Usually when the ball goes out of bounds, the last team to touch the ball loses possession, similar to basketball. An exception is when it is ruled a shot. In that case, the team that backs up the shot, i.e., has a player closest to the ball where it goes out, retains possession. On offense, backing up the shot becomes the responsibility of the player who is behind goal line extended. That gives the offensive team an edge in retaining possession on a shot out of bounds, but it's not automatic.

I'd agree with your iddeas (again as a casual observer) - or have something like a possession arrow like basketball. I would think a shot clock (perhaps 2 minutes) might be in order also.

He did win about 76% of his faceoffs. However, North Carolina and Ohio State each won approx. 40% of the faceoffs against Denver and they both defeated Denver. Faceoffs probably play too big a role in the game but unless the rules change, it is what it is.