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New Jersey lacrosse players will soon be on the clock.
In a move to build excitement and attract college coaches, the Kirst Cup is adding a shot clock to its 2025 tournament held this June at Kean University. Because the Kirst Cup runs outside the high school season, it isn't subject to NJSIAA rules.
"We know the overwhelming sentiment in the state is wanting the shot clock on a regular-basis," Rumson-Fair Haven boys lacrosse coach Marc Moreau said.
"So we didn't think we were really taking a big chance by doing it. Since we put it out there, it's been well-received. We haven't had a single discussion with somebody who sees it as a negative."
The Kirst Cup was set up by boys lacrosse coaches in 2023 as a replacement for the Tournament of Champions.
This year's event is modeled after the men's college rules, with teams given 20 seconds to clear and another 60 upon advancing past midfield. The offensive team can reset the time to 60 seconds with a shot on goal or by drawing a foul.
If a timeout is called before clearing the midline, the team with possession will not get a fresh 20 seconds to advance.
"I think [the shot clock] is a great thing for the game," Northern Highlands boys coach Kyle Ojakian said. "It'll be an adjustment for teams and coaches. At the end of the day, you really want to replicate the college game as much as possible. That's really what we're trying to do: send all these kids to the next level and get them ready."
One benefit to holding the championships at Kean University is that there are already shot clocks built in on each end of the field, which connect to a horn on the scoreboard.
Moreau said tournament directors consulted with a state officials association and plan to have a separate ref near the penalty box to administer the shot clock.
The Kirst Cup is open to the five NJSIAA state group champions and uses LaxNumbers to seed teams. Games will be played on June 16, 17 and 19.
The move comes at a time when more and more North Jersey teams are playing and practicing with time constraints, particularly those who venture outside the area.
This year, New York's NYSPHSAA approved a shot clock on an experimental basis, becoming the first organization sanctioned under NFHS rules to use it for public high schools. Around the country, a bunch of private-school conferences have also hopped on board.
Don Bosco scrimmaged twice with a shot clock this year and positioned them to the right of each goal for its home-opener against Georgetown Prep (Maryland). The Ironmen circumvented the cost by borrowing equipment from the school's football team.
"It's hopefully a sign of what should be able to come pretty quickly," Don Bosco coach Matt Lane said. "It's definitely a lot different, especially playing in some scrimmages where you don't have it and then going up against a team that's seven games into their season. They have play calls set up for when there's under 15 seconds left. It's something that we still have to learn."
Immaculate Heart coach Sue Montegari is in the process of getting a shot clock so her team can get up to speed for a match against Wantagh on Long Island later this month.
Another team leaning into the change is St. Joseph. The Green Knights played with a shot clock during their scrimmage against Pearl River (New York), but agreed not to use one in a regular-season game against Archbishop Stepinac (New York) for competitive reasons.
St. Joseph coach Dan DaPonte said he likes how the shot clock cuts down on stalling and favors teams that are more skilled offensively. DaPonte plans to incorporate that element into practice more and more as the season goes on. That way, the Green Knights will be ahead of the curve if New Jersey takes a cue from its northern neighbors.
"It also values more of the two-way midfielders who can stay on and play offense and defense without having to sub and waste time," DaPonte said. "I hope New Jersey moves to it next year."
Not everyone is on board with speeding up the game. Concerns over more blowouts, more unsettled play and higher costs, including the need to install shot clocks and administer them, are possible roadblocks to a rule change.
As for the Kirst Cup, one incentive to press ahead was getting recruiters back in the door. Moreau said Tournament of Champions games before 2020 were often "crawling with college coaches" because they fell before the summer season heated up.
"Now during the state tournament, there are summer recruiting events," Moreau said. "Adding the shot clock now, with the most successful teams in the state at the end of the year playing with it, is attractive to the college coaches. We've gone out to them and we have a solid number that have RSVP'd that they're showing up."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Kirst Cup NJ lacrosse tournament is adding a shot clock. What it means
Continue reading...
In a move to build excitement and attract college coaches, the Kirst Cup is adding a shot clock to its 2025 tournament held this June at Kean University. Because the Kirst Cup runs outside the high school season, it isn't subject to NJSIAA rules.
"We know the overwhelming sentiment in the state is wanting the shot clock on a regular-basis," Rumson-Fair Haven boys lacrosse coach Marc Moreau said.
"So we didn't think we were really taking a big chance by doing it. Since we put it out there, it's been well-received. We haven't had a single discussion with somebody who sees it as a negative."
How the shot clock will work
The Kirst Cup was set up by boys lacrosse coaches in 2023 as a replacement for the Tournament of Champions.
This year's event is modeled after the men's college rules, with teams given 20 seconds to clear and another 60 upon advancing past midfield. The offensive team can reset the time to 60 seconds with a shot on goal or by drawing a foul.
If a timeout is called before clearing the midline, the team with possession will not get a fresh 20 seconds to advance.
"I think [the shot clock] is a great thing for the game," Northern Highlands boys coach Kyle Ojakian said. "It'll be an adjustment for teams and coaches. At the end of the day, you really want to replicate the college game as much as possible. That's really what we're trying to do: send all these kids to the next level and get them ready."
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How the shot clock is enforced
One benefit to holding the championships at Kean University is that there are already shot clocks built in on each end of the field, which connect to a horn on the scoreboard.
Moreau said tournament directors consulted with a state officials association and plan to have a separate ref near the penalty box to administer the shot clock.
The Kirst Cup is open to the five NJSIAA state group champions and uses LaxNumbers to seed teams. Games will be played on June 16, 17 and 19.
What the impact could be
The move comes at a time when more and more North Jersey teams are playing and practicing with time constraints, particularly those who venture outside the area.
This year, New York's NYSPHSAA approved a shot clock on an experimental basis, becoming the first organization sanctioned under NFHS rules to use it for public high schools. Around the country, a bunch of private-school conferences have also hopped on board.
Don Bosco scrimmaged twice with a shot clock this year and positioned them to the right of each goal for its home-opener against Georgetown Prep (Maryland). The Ironmen circumvented the cost by borrowing equipment from the school's football team.
"It's hopefully a sign of what should be able to come pretty quickly," Don Bosco coach Matt Lane said. "It's definitely a lot different, especially playing in some scrimmages where you don't have it and then going up against a team that's seven games into their season. They have play calls set up for when there's under 15 seconds left. It's something that we still have to learn."
Immaculate Heart coach Sue Montegari is in the process of getting a shot clock so her team can get up to speed for a match against Wantagh on Long Island later this month.
Another team leaning into the change is St. Joseph. The Green Knights played with a shot clock during their scrimmage against Pearl River (New York), but agreed not to use one in a regular-season game against Archbishop Stepinac (New York) for competitive reasons.
St. Joseph coach Dan DaPonte said he likes how the shot clock cuts down on stalling and favors teams that are more skilled offensively. DaPonte plans to incorporate that element into practice more and more as the season goes on. That way, the Green Knights will be ahead of the curve if New Jersey takes a cue from its northern neighbors.
"It also values more of the two-way midfielders who can stay on and play offense and defense without having to sub and waste time," DaPonte said. "I hope New Jersey moves to it next year."
You must be registered for see images attach
Not everyone is on board with speeding up the game. Concerns over more blowouts, more unsettled play and higher costs, including the need to install shot clocks and administer them, are possible roadblocks to a rule change.
As for the Kirst Cup, one incentive to press ahead was getting recruiters back in the door. Moreau said Tournament of Champions games before 2020 were often "crawling with college coaches" because they fell before the summer season heated up.
"Now during the state tournament, there are summer recruiting events," Moreau said. "Adding the shot clock now, with the most successful teams in the state at the end of the year playing with it, is attractive to the college coaches. We've gone out to them and we have a solid number that have RSVP'd that they're showing up."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Kirst Cup NJ lacrosse tournament is adding a shot clock. What it means
Continue reading...
