Face Off Basics (descriptions and video)

 

Starting "Up" Stance:
Feet shoulders width apart, right foot facing 45 degree angle about 6 inches from the ball to the left of the head of the stick with your left foot as close to the shaft of your stick as possible facing straight down the field.

Down Stance:
Have a balanced amount of weight between your legs and hands, be careful not to have too much weight on your hands as this will lessen your reaction time. Also be sure that you can lift the stick off the ground without shifting your weight and becoming off balance. Elbows should be in between both knees and your butt should lift up enough to make your back flat and parallel with the ground.

Grip:
Have your right hand as close to the throat as possible with your hands approximately shoulders width apart. Have a loose grip, keep the stick off your palm by gripping the stick with your fingers. This allows you to have a wider range of motion and as well as a quicker clamping action. This grip is for the most common move which is the "Clamp" as well as the "Laser"(described below). Various moves will have differing grips that are described below.

The "Clamp":

This is the most utilized move and should be your primary move. Light grip in fingers not palms (very important) with wrists curled inward toward the forearms ready to produce a wider range of motion. When the whistle blows all in one motion, snap or curl your right hand forward in a clamping motion in the ball and "down the line" so the ball ends up in the throat of the stick where it is most narrow, and punch your left arm forward so the butt of the stick is pointed up field away from you making sure your left hand is close to the ground all the way through the movement. This creates better leverage, helping to get underneath the opponents stick and overall a stronger clamp.

 

Now, at the same time you of clamping with your right hand and punching with your left, you need to be stepping with your right foot on the line to the right of the stick head to prevent the opponent from winning the clamp and getting an easy fast break. This will also help to gain a better position over the ball. Your belly button should be over the ball after you step. Once you clamp on the ball you can either rake the ball out to the front left, back left but always put the ball into open space where you and/or your wings can get the ground ball.

 

The "Jam":

This is a counter move used to defend against a effective clamper. To jam, you can line up in the same way as you would using a clamp move; however, you can use a firm grip. When the whistle blows, you should punch (actually lift) your stick over the ball, and with your right hand literally punch your opponents right hand/knuckles and while moving your hands down the line at a 45 degree angle and punch your left hand (still attached to the shaft) into the opponents stick head so it flattens to the ground.  This move prevents your opponent from fully clamping on the ball and immobilizes any move he may have and want to use.

 

The key to this move is to make it a quick compact all in one motion move, don't bring your hands to high over the ball as it will allow him to counter by pushing under or to low, which will end up actually punching the ball into his stick.  Once you have successfully completed the move correctly, you should have the ball laying behind your left hand and shaft. You should now bump the ball through your legs behind you to box your opponent and scoop the ground ball.

 

PROS: This is a power move that may throw off an opponent who is not a strong guy or has limited moves

The "Laser":

The laser is a move that is used when your opponent is shutting you down with a jam. To laser, you should line up the same way as the previous two moves, and you need to have a very light grip. The reason for this is that this move is mostly a flick of your wrists and hands; therefore, a light grip will allow very quick movement and is the kind of scraping motion that should put the ball underneath the opponents stick when he uses the "jam" move.

 

When the whistle blows, you should push the ball out to your left with the bottom sidewall of your stick head by using your left hand to snap your wrist in a backward motion, flattening the head of the stick so the back of it is facing upward, then with the right hand you'll be able to knock the ball out and under his stick as your opponent jams into your wrists. Doing it correctly will knock the ball out at a 45 degree angle away from the opposing FO man, you must be able to take advantage of guys who bring their hands to far up or high on the "jam" move.

 

Communication with Your Wings:
Make sure you are communicating with your wings so they are aware of where the ball will be put into play and so that they can properly play the man-ball situation. This is extremely important and must be talked about throughout the game and prior to each face-off.

 

 

Here are Some FO Videos: we do suggest the use of a whistle rather than the verbal "GO" call

 

 

1) FO Basics with Kyle Harrison (good explanation of stance, hands and feet)

 

 

 

 

2) Practice Drills with Stephen Robarge (Hayfield/VMI)

 

 

 

 

3) FO Drills: Hofstra Clinc Presentation 2013

 

 

 

 

4) FO's 101: Alex Smith Presentation

 

 

 

 

5) Notre Dame FO Training Drills