Major League Lacrosse Announces Rule Changes For 2005
Published on October 5, 2004 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL) News Release
Boston, MA (October 5, 2004) â Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premiere professional outdoor lacrosse league, today announced several rule changes for the 2005 season. The primary adjustment is the use of a 60-second shot clock beginning next year, replacing the 45-second shot clock that had been used for the league's first four seasons. The rule changes were agreed upon during the MLL's operational meetings on October 4.
"The MLL delivers to our fans the best lacrosse in the world, featuring the best lacrosse players in the world," said MLL Commissioner David Gross. "This rule change allows the league to continue providing high scoring, fast moving, hard-hitting action, while maintaining the competitive balance between offense and defense."
Major League Lacrosse teams are granted a limited amount of time per possession, as reflected by the shot clock. Should a team fail to record a shot on goal before the 60-second shot clock counts down to zero, the team loses possession by virtue of a shot clock violation. During a possession, the shot clock may only be reset if a shot touches either the goalie or the goal, or if the defending team commits a penalty.
The MLL also announced that all physical infractions, including holding and pushing, will result in a penalty of at least one minute. Prior to the change, holding and pushing infractions resulted in a 30-second technical foul.
Major League Lacrosse, a six-team professional outdoor lacrosse league, was founded in 1999 by fitness entrepreneur Jake Steinfeld, CEO of Body by Jake Global L.L.C., and partners Dave Morrow, a former champion lacrosse player and now CEO of Warrior Lacrosse, a leading global provider of innovative and high performance lacrosse equipment; and Timothy B. Robertson, former CEO of The Family Channel and the current chairman of Bay Shore Enterprises, L.L.C., an investment holding company with activities in international media and Internet technology ventures. The MLL commenced play in June of 2001 and has teams in Baltimore, Boston, Long Island, (Montclair) New Jersey, Philadelphia and Rochester. The 2004 MLL season concluded with the Philadelphia Barrage winning the New Balance Major League Lacrosse Championship Game on Sunday, August 22 at Nickerson Field in Boston, Mass. The 2005 season is slated to begin the weekend o fMay20-22,2005. Additional league information can be found at www.majorleaguelacrosse.com.
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