wwe oe Sports Terms for Dummies Stephaffie Smith, OP Sports Encyclopedia TAG-UP OLD To allow more continuous play and to increase pressure on the defending team, an attacking player who precedes the puck into the offensive zone will NOT be considered offside if he returns to the blue line and makes skate contact with it -- thus ‘tagging up'-- before resuming the attack or the forecheck. An attacking player who preceded the puck into the offensive zone was considered offside and play was stopped, except in those instances when the defensive team clearly had gained possession \. V V ith hockey season winding down, and each game becoming more and more important to the playoff race, I have been watching and talking a lot of hockey lately. As a result I was asked about offside in hockey. Seems like people who watch the game casually have trouble with this one. Offside: The purpose of the offside rule is simple; it is there to prevent an attacking player from simply getting deep in the offensive zone and waiting in front of the opponent’s goal for a long pass from a team mate, giving him an easier A Tough Geoff Lenahan — OP Basketball Superstar L, wasn’t supposed to end like this, I was supposed to be excited to write this last entry on the flight home last Thursday, not regretfully typing away four days later. Our season ended 10 points short of where we wanted it, falling 94-84 to Dawson College of Montreal. I barely remember the game, other than their athleticism. They took away all the things we had taken for granted, and had done so easily, against all other CCAA teams this year. The lanes were closed before we could get to the hoop, passes were deflected or stolen, rebounds were snatched out of our hands. We were shell shocked. In the end, the better team won that day, but we know if we could have another shot, the outcome would be different. Unfortunately, that is not how these things go, they had our number that day, and they deserved to win. For all of us, second place is first chance to score. To prevent this from happening, the rule requires that the attacking players must all follow the puck into the attacking zone; they may not go in ahead of the puck. The attacking player is considered to be offside if both his skates go over the blue line into the attacking zone before the puck does. If only one skate is over the blue line, and the player is straddling the line, he is onside and there is no infraction. That is why sometimes when you watch the game you may sometimes see players skating awkwardly across the blue line; they are trying to stay onside. If a player does go offside, a face-off is held outside the attacking End toa place loser. Receiving that silver medal was bittersweet. Second in the country of 104 schools is actually amazing, but it is not what we wanted, not what we had been working for all year. Some people just don’t understand that mentality, but you can’t understand unless you have actually lost a game of that magnitude. To have everything we have worked for to be taken away from us. The hardest part is when you question yourself. Collectively, what could we have done to make up that 10 point difference? But it’s too late now, nothing can change the outcome. So what now? For all the guys returning it leaves a mark, an impression. Once you lose a National Championship, you never want to lose another. So they will return next season fired up from the start to win the banner, the ring, the championship that eluded us this year. I envy those players. You can not have the kind of passion for winning without going through what we zone near the spot where the offside violation occurred. Sometimes while watching the game you may hear the term “delayed offside.” What this means is that if an attacking player is offside inside the blue line, but the defending team has control of the puck, the linesman will give the defending team an opportunity to move the puck and begin an attack before blowing his whistle and stopping play for a face-off. If the defending team fails to move the puck outside its blue line, the offside call is made. In the 2005-2006 season, the NHL modified the offside rule to include some new aspects. If there is a delayed offside, the linesman can call it off if all players on the offending team clear the zone at the same time, or make skate contact with the blue line. This will permit players to re enter the attacking zone and is known as “tag-up” offside. The linesman can also call off the offside if the defending team moves the puck into the neutral zone. Royal Beginning have. I know it will inspire them next year. For those of us not returning, the end is difficult to accept. As said, second place is incredible, better than most of us will ever do in a competitive sport, but we knew how close we were, and we will never have another shot at that game. Personally, while extremely disappointed that we could not pull it out, I am excited at all the opportunities that lie ahead of me. The life of the student-athlete is a hard road traveled. For four years, I have dedicated my life to Douglas College basketball, and I am unbelievably grateful for the opportunity, but it is time to move on. It is difficult to believe I will never compete at this level again, but I will not forget it. I am so proud to be a part of this team. I have been playing sports since I was four years old. I have played on various teams throughout high school and yet I have never felt closer to a group of guys. It is this that makes my final year that more special and memorable. The 13 other players and 6 coaches will always be in my heart, and be remembered as the best team I have ever been a part of. It has made me emotional thinking the sun has set on my college basketball career. The good thing about a sun set, is that you know it will rise the next day, bringing with it countless possibilities that I look forward to exploring. Thank you Douglas, all the coaches, players, and employees that have helped me and my team out over the years, this place will never be forgotten, I will always feel at home being a Royal. ivy