In the pre-shot clock world of girls’ and women’s lacrosse, there were two separate and distinct timing rules — one in the first 23 minutes of a half (28 in NCAA play), and one in the final two minutes of play, where the clock was stopped on alternating whistles.
What this did was allow umpires time and room to administer fouls, place players four meters away or four meters behind a ball-carrier, and sometimes get ahead of the play in anticipation of a desperation ball up into the attacking third.
After the possession clock and free movement rules were put into place, it led to situations where time would tick away during the administration of a foul. There have been times when I saw a team, holding a lead late in regulation, would take its time starting a phase of play with the clock running.
At least in NFHS play, this is going to be modified this coming spring. In the final minute of each quarter, the clock will now stop whenever there is a foul in the critical scoring area. That area is about 15 yards around the goal circle and 10 yards behind it.
The CSA is an undrawn area on the field. The best way to think about it is if you go from the top of the 12-meter arc on either side, go out 12 meters, then drop a line towards the end line, as that line intersects the edges of the 12-meter arc.
Thing is, given the way that most teams tend to deploy their players, not all of these players will actually be within that imaginary area, meaning that there could very well be disputes along the sidelines as to whether the clock should be stopped in that final minute of play in each quarter.
I have a feeling a game or two might turn on whether a foul is judged to be outside the CSA, meaning that the clock would be allowed to keep running.