On the eve of its nineteenth season, the National Lacrosse League today announced a series of rule changes on numerous fronts.

The change which fans most likely will notice first is a prohibition on passes back into the crease. Previously, a player could pass the ball to his own goaltender while the goalie stood in his crease; now, such a pass will result in loss of possession.

The intent is to liven up the transition game, by forcing the team newly on offense to advance the ball out of its own zone on its own merits instead of via an outlet pass by a protected teammate (the goaltender in his crease).

Another notable rule change allows players taking faceoffs to use the "trap and clamp" technique as long as they are not withholding play. In past years, players could only draw their sticks straight back, towards the boards.

"The changes will allow faceoff men to use more of their skills in trying to control the ball," NLL vice president of operations Brian Lemon said. "It should make for a more entertaining battle for the ball on faceoffs."

Other rule changes:

Overtime periods will last fifteen minutes, instead of five minutes, but will continue in the sudden-death format. Additional overtime periods will be played as necessary, although no NLL game has ever gone more than fifteen minutes of sudden death.

Game lineups will remain at sixteen runners and two goalies, with this experimental rule change, instituted midway through the 2004 season, now made permanent. Prior to last season, teams were allowed to dress only fifteen runners.

Physical contact between players competing for a loose ball is now permitted withing three yards of the ball (instead of one yard).

Boarding, Charging, Checking from Behind, Illegal Cross-Checking and High-Sticking will now consist of a major penalty (five minutes) and, if the fouled player is injured on the play, a game misconduct penalty. Aside from High-Sticking, officials will still have the discretion to issue only a minor penalty for these fouls, if a major penalty is not warranted.

All rule changes are proposed by the league's competition committee and submitted to the Board of Governors for approval.

The 2005 NLL season begins Saturday evening, with Minnesota at Rochester and Calgary at Colorado.