Colorado Mammoth Message Board

Mr. Govett,
I have a question in regards to what appeared to be a very serious no call in last nightÂ’s game. When Colorado was assessed a double minor penalty, there was a pretty intense scrum going on in front of the crease. All 10 players on the floor were near the pile up. #25, Eric Martin, from the Stealth came off the bench and was only stopped from entering the scrum by an official. He was still several feet off of his bench and very much on the floor while the altercation was going on.

According to Rule 91 of the rule book (paraphrased, here and there):

Rule 91:

No player may leave the playersÂ’ bench or penalty box, for the purpose of starting an altercation or to enter an existing altercation...(an altercation shall be defined as a situation involving two (2) players or more, with at least one to be penalized).

There would have been no reason for Mr. Martin to be on the floor as a 6th man at that point if the benches are supposed to be considered “frozen”. The referee’s did not call a penalty of any sort on him, though reading further in the rule states:

Rule 91-A:

For violation of this rule, a game misconduct penalty shall be imposed on the player(s) who was the first or second player to leave the playersÂ’ bench or penalty box from either or both teams.

Rule 91-B

The player(s) who leave the playersÂ’s bench or penalty box shall be assessed an automatic game suspension without pay for one (1) regular seas and/or playoff game of his teamÂ… Players who leave the playersÂ’ benches and proceed onto the floor at the start of an altercation or during altercations prior to such time the benches are released by an official, including at the end of quarters, halftime and at the end of the game, shall receive a bench minor penalty on the offending player(s).

Reading the rulebook and not seeing a single reason for Mr. Martin to be the field, shouldnÂ’t he have, at the VERY least, been given a minor penalty?

Wasn’t Gavin assessed a major and game suspension for leaving the bench during an “altercation” not too long ago? Or does this not count as an “altercation” because there was not an official dropping of the gloves fight going on?

Thank you for your time and help in interpreting this rule if I am incorrect.

Your assessment is correct based on the rule as it is written. I certainly cannot comment on why the official did not call the rule as written.

The rule was modified in the off season after the Gavin Prout situation late in the regular season last year. Gavin was assessed a suspension for leaving the bench during an altercation. The modification was made so that a player that leaves the bench "inadvertently" during an altercation but who does not become involved, should be assessed at least a minor bench penalty.

This was the case on Thursday night and should have been called accordingly.

SG

I would like to ask a question here.....how can you inadvertantly leave the bench?

The player clearly makes a decision to leave the bench area and in the case of the last home game...all the players on the field were near the goal. Leaving no one able to switch with Martin and allowing him onto the field

I believe the difference is the obvious intent of the player, if you purposefully leave the bench in order to join in the altercation (a.k.a. jumping over the railing and throwing down) it's a lot different than if you happen to leave the bench to find out what's going on or something of that nature with out any physical intent to enter said skirmish. But I may be wrong, that's just how I would interpret the inadvertent leaving of the bench rule.

At stoppages of play it is not uncommon for players to leave the bench before another player makes it to the bench to be replaced. Player changes are so common in the NLL it is easy for a player to leave the bench without any intention of entering an altercation but being on the floor nonetheless.

The Technical official is charged with the duty of "freezing" the benches but sometimes with things happening so fast, players make it onto the field without intention.

Hope that helps.

SG

Awesome...definitely clears things up

Thanks Steve