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Level 2 Online CourseSkill SchoolLesson 9: Face-Offs

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Men’s Skill School Lesson 9: Face-Offs

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Lesson 9: Face-Offs

Introduction

In level 1 coaches were introduced to basic face-off terminology and positioning. In this lesson we will demonstrate techniques for the under, topping or reverse clamp, and the plunge. We will also introduce wing play on the face-off.

Down set terminology

In scholastic play using the NFHS boys’ lacrosse rules, the official will indicate to each player to get ready by saying “down” then “set.” At this point no movement is allowed. The official will blow the whistle to start play. At this point both players will maneuver their sticks and bodies to gain possession of the ball by either picking the ball up themselves or directing the ball to the wing players running in from the sides.

Note that this procedure is different for NCAA play.

Teaching the Skill

Coaches should teach players a variety of face-off strategies at this level. If the player is not having success winning the face off with one technique, he may use any of the other techniques listed here to counter his opponent’s face-off move.

Under

This move can be used as a counter move to a rake, which was discussed in Level 1, and in some instances a clamp.

The set up and stance of the face-off men are the same as the clamp and rake except the stick head should be rolled back. The player should step with his right foot out and push his stick forward and go under the opponent’s stick head. The ball should be pushed under and out.

Topping or reverse clamp

This move can be used as a counter move to a rake and in some instances a clamp.

The set up and stance of the face-off men are the same as the clamp and rake.

On the whistle, the face-off man can do one of two things.

He can curl his fingers towards his wrist so the stick head is horizontal and parallel to the ground. The stick pocket should face the ground. Or he can curl the bottom hand toward the face-off player’s body by flexing the bottom hand backward.

As the stick head is turned to face the ground, slide the stick over the top of the ball so the stick’s pocket traps the ball in the downward-facing pocket.

As the ball is being trapped in the pocket, the player should step with the right foot towards the top of the stick head and plant and pivot (similar to the footwork with the clamp and rake).

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Men’s Skill School Lesson 9: Face-Offs

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The ball can be pushed out in the same directions as the clamp and rake.

Plunge

This move can be used a counter move to a rake and in some instances a clamp. The set up and stance of the face-off men are the same as the clamp and rake.

When the whistle blows, a player should “clamp down” by rolling his hands forward and extending the arms straight so the stick goes down and over the ball.

At same time, the right foot moves towards the top of the stick head.

The face-off man should bring the bottom hand up hard, bending the stick at the stick’s throat, while pushing down hard on the stick head so the ball sticks into the back pocket at the base of the throat, creating a plunging movement. The face-off player can push the ball out to scoop it himself or to a wing player breaking to an area of the field.

Wing Play

Wing play is crucial in successfully winning face offs.

We will discuss several options for aligning face off wing players.

If the face off specialist is capable of placing the ball in an area where he can pick the ball up himself, or if the majority of each face-off turns into a 50-50 ground ball situation, players should line up on each wing straddling the midfield line.

Another option is to align each face off wing hip to hip towards the inside of the opponent’s wing player, and box the opponent’s wing out as your face off middies fight for the ball.

If the face off specialist is having difficulty on a consistent basis placing the ball to a specific area where he can pick it up himself, the next strategy may be successful.

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Men’s Skill School Lesson 9: Face-Offs

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Place one player deep on the wing line, towards the defensive end on the face off opponent’s bottom hand side, to protect against fast breaks and to have an additional player in the defensive end

Place the remaining wing player on the midfield hip to hip to challenge in a ground ball situation or to box out if his face off specialist is winning the ball himself.

If the face off specialist is controlling the ball and can place the ball in any area of the field, place a wing player deep on the wing line on your face off specialist’s bottom hand side.

Place the other wing player hip to hip to challenge for the ball straddling the midfield line.

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Men’s Skill School Lesson 9: Face-Offs

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Face-off Warm-ups

Objective: To improve body positioning and increase hand speed for face-off players.

Suggested space needed/equipment:• Balls

Players needed: As many players as you wish can participate in this drill simultaneously.

Description of Drill-Execution: Spread the players out along a line and place one ball in front of each of them. Each player should get several repetitions in succession of each of the following activities:

1) Approach the ball – on a coach’s whistle, each player walks up to the ball and assumes proper “face-off position.” He holds this pose for a two seconds, and then steps back on a second whistle.

2) Power base – each player starts in proper “face-off position.” On a coach’s whistle, he clamps his stick down and takes a power jab step with his right foot towards the ball. He holds this pose for two seconds and then resets.

3) Quick hands – each player starts in proper “face-off position.” On a coach’s whistle, he repeatedly jumps his stick back and forth over the ball, lightly touching the ground on each side of it as many times as he can within a given time period.

Skills practiced:• Proper face-off position• Proper face-off footwork• Hand quickness on face-offs

Variations/Progression/Increased difficulty (As your players improve their skills incorporate the following…): To increase the difficulty and physical challenge of each component, extend the time that players hold a pose or jump the ball.

Goalie involvement: None

Related drills:Smarties & DummiesPitch & Putt

�© �007 US Lacrosse

Men’s Skill School Lesson 9: Face-Offs

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Smarties & Dummies

Objective: To become proficient at the basic face-off moves.

Suggested space needed/equipment:• Balls

Players needed: As many players as you wish can participate in this drill at one time, but it is ideal to have an even number.

Description of Drill-Execution: Partner each player with another, and spread the pairs out across the midfield line with one ball per group. One side of players will be the “smarties,” and the other side will be the “dummies.” A coach will call out one of the basic face-off moves (clamp, rake, push, etc.) and blow his whistle. The smarties will practice the move, and the dummies will apply token pressure. The smarties practice several repetitions with each move, and then the two groups of players switch roles.

Skills practiced:• Basic face-off positioning and footwork• Basic face-off moves (clamp, hop, etc.)

Variations/Progression/Increased difficulty (As your players improve their skills incorporate the following…): To increase the difficulty and competitiveness, allow both players to go live. Challenge the dummies to counter the smarties’ move. Make it a tournament, so that the winner has to beat all of his teammates to earn the crown.

Goalie involvement: None

Related drills:Face-off Warm-upsPitch & Putt

7© �007 US Lacrosse

Men’s Skill School Lesson 9: Face-Offs

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Pitch & Putt

Objective: To practice controlling the ball after the draw of a face-off.

Suggested space needed/equipment:• Flat cones• Balls

Players needed: As many players as are willing can participate in this drill at one time, but it is ideal to have an even number.

Description of Drill-Execution: Set several flat cones around the face-off X at spots that are likely to allow your team to pick up the ensuing groundball. Start a face-off guy on the X with a ball. On a coach’s whistle, he should make one of the basic face-off moves and try to push the ball to sit on one of the cones.

Drill diagram:

Skills practiced:• Basic face-off positioning and moves• Ball placement after the draw

Variations/Progression/Increased difficulty (As your players improve their skills incorporate the following…): To increase the challenge, add a second player to the face-off. This second player can provide token pressure, or the two can go for a live face-off. Another dynamic of the drill would be to challenge the face-off guy to pull the ball out of the face-off and the run out and scoop it before it hits the cones (this gets them in the habit of going to get the ball after a draw).

Goalie involvement: None

Related drills:Face-off Warm-upsSmarties & Dummies

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