basic faceoff strategy

[cause4alarm 6]

I grew up playing wing, but occasionally I have to take faceoffs. About 90% of the time, I go with the same move: palms down, backhand draw. Despite little faceoff experience, I think I win the majority of my faceoffs, due to speed (I watch the ref's hand), power (I get a low grip on my stick and bend my knees pretty deeply to get lower to the ice), and technique (I sweep underneath the other guy's blade to sort of steal the puck away from him). Most of the time I'll win the puck back at about 4:30 to 5 o'clock, directionally speaking.

Of course I don't win all of my faceoffs. If you were facing off against me and you knew that I was going to do what I describe above, what would your strategy to counter me be?

Secondly, what would be a good counter-strategy against your counter-strategy?

Any suggestions on the next faceoff method/technique to add to my repertoire?

[All Torhs Team 0]

If your a big guy then this would be easy but if your not its still do-able. Just get your get your stick under his and lift it and instead of going for the puck just skate right at him. Let your winger come pick it up. Usually works.

[cause4alarm 6]

If your a big guy then this would be easy but if your not its still do-able. Just get your get your stick under his and lift it and instead of going for the puck just skate right at him. Let your winger come pick it up. Usually works.

The method I describe above involves a combination sticklift and backhand draw in the same motion. That means that you have to sticklift against a guy who's sort of already trying to sticklift you. How do you get the edge there?

[All Torhs Team 0]

Being big wouldnt hurt! lol

well if your really know what your doing, some people can tell what the other player is going to do just by the way the have their gloves positioned and what way their stick is facing.

If you already knew what hes doing it will be easier

[pantherfan 0]

Quickness and strength.

Try and get really low to the ice and hold your stick really low like almost at the blade.

[gp3r 0]

You seem to have good basics, so that a very good start. If you really want to be good at faceoffs, you have to be able to control where you send the puck. Here's a few tips on how to do that:

-First, I recommand you do not use the backhand draw. The reason for that is that it doesn't allow you to send the puck anywhere on your forehand side (meaning if you're right handed, you won't be able to break it to the left). By beeing able to send the puck anywhere you want, it will you and your team more versatility to start plays, which is very good, since it will make it much more difficult for the other team to apply direct pressure when you win the draw.

-Secondly,bending your knees deeply is very good, because it gives you a more stable base. But here's something you could add to your positioning that could help you. Always pull back your leg which is on the same side where you intend to send the puck. Let me explain: let's say you are right handed, and you want to send the puck to the left. Bring back your left leg so that the toe of your left foot is level with the heel of your right foot. Once you've done that, turn your hips and shoulders the same way. The reason why you should do that is it will give you more room to move you arms, and you can also turn around around faster if you want to be facing a shot coming from the blue line (in the offensive zone).

Another thing that is good from what you wrote, you look at the ref's hand. VERY GOOD. It's the only you'll be able to win faceoffs. Too many players look at the puck when taking faceoffs, and most of the time, when they do that, they lose. Keep that in mind, good faceoff players don't even see the puck hit the ice, they see the hand of the ref move, and then they are able to time their move. Here's a two drills you could use to practice for timing of the facoffs:

1-Get a friend, or coach, to simulate the move the ref makes with his hand when he drops the puck. Set up like you would for a faceoff, and everytime he moves his hand, make your move. Do it for both sides, left and right.

2-Here's one to pratice timing. Get a coach, or a friend, to drop the puck for you. To pratice your timing, make your move before the puck hits they ice(your blade should go under the puck), or make it after it hits the ice (you should hear it). By doing that, you'll end up knowing exactly when to make your move.

Also, here's a quick tip, always try to setup last for your faceoff, let your opponent take his stance first. That way, you can ajust to what he's doing, and it will give you an advantage. The rules stipulate that the home team should be the one to setup last, but do it even if you're on the visiting team. Most refs don't apply the rule, of for that matter, don't even know about it.

Those tips should help you.

[cause4alarm 6]

...Let me explain: let's say you are right handed, and you want to send the puck to the left. Bring back your left leg so that the toe of your left foot is level with the heel of your right foot. Once you've done that, turn your hips and shoulders the same way...

That's a lot like the next method I'm trying out now. I turn my body to the left to try to get more power while simulataneously trying to use my body to block off the other guy. Turning also sort of gets my left foot out of the way too.

I felt like I had to add a new move since I hate the fact that the backhand draw, while higher percentage for me, really limits my options, plus I have to reposition my hands after the drop.

Unfortunately, I play men's league, and like most men's league teams, we don't have practice. So usually the only time I get to practice this is when there's a faceoff that I can afford to lose.

[DamnLocust 0]

This is going to sound kind of stupid (because it probably is) but I'm a lefty and I would occasionally take a draw right handed (with my left handed stick). It actually worked pretty well, but I'm not sure if it was because of the extra control you get on the backhand draw, or because the other center was trying to figure out what the heck was going on at the time.

[Chadd 916]

First of all, if you're winning 3/4 of your faceoffs, you should be pretty happy with yourself. If you were doing that to me I would just bang the puck on my forehand to my LW (I'm RH). Unless someone is insanely fast I can do that all night long but I like to change things up. In the offensive zone on the right side, I will pull it back. On the left, I will go to my LW and let him move it back to the point. In the neutral zone I will send it hard on my forehand and let my winger chase it down as a set play until the other team reads it, then I switch to a soft forward tap and let the winger break through and pick it up. In my own end I usually bring it back to the defense so we can break out together.

[NuggyBuggy 0]

Of course I don't win all of my faceoffs. If you were facing off against me and you knew that I was going to do what I describe above, what would your strategy to counter me be?

If you were beating me all the time, and if I knew you were always going to pull the puck back like that in a certain direction I might try to time things so I whack your stick up just as you would be pulling it back. If I time it right, I can use the backward momentum of your stick, combined with my own forward/upward motion, to make your stick go over the puck completely. Then I pull it back. Similarly, if I can see you obviously setting up to move the puck in one direction, I would think about trying to use your momentum to make you miss the puck first.

If you're still beating me. I would probably try to tie up your stick and kick it back or let my winger take it . But every now and time,then (but not always) I would push the puck forward, probably to one side, telling my winger first of course. In your move you have to reach past the faceoff dot first before you can begin your move back to get the puck. If I am just pushing the puck forward, my stick should beat yours to the puck. Plus your momentum is moving in the direction I want the puck to move, so even if you beat me to the puck I can use your momentum and push your stick and the puck. If you were way bigger/stronger than me and I have little hope of tying up/lifting your stick, I might be stuck moving the puck forward.

[xMenace 0]

Of course I don't win all of my faceoffs.  If you were facing off against me and you knew that I was going to do what I describe above, what would your strategy to counter me be?

If you were beating me all the time, and if I knew you were always going to pull the puck back like that in a certain direction I might try to time things so I whack your stick up just as you would be pulling it back. If I time it right, I can use the backward momentum of your stick, combined with my own forward/upward motion, to make your stick go over the puck completely. Then I pull it back. Similarly, if I can see you obviously setting up to move the puck in one direction, I would think about trying to use your momentum to make you miss the puck first.

If you're still beating me. I would probably try to tie up your stick and kick it back or let my winger take it . But every now and time,then (but not always) I would push the puck forward, probably to one side, telling my winger first of course. In your move you have to reach past the faceoff dot first before you can begin your move back to get the puck. If I am just pushing the puck forward, my stick should beat yours to the puck. Plus your momentum is moving in the direction I want the puck to move, so even if you beat me to the puck I can use your momentum and push your stick and the puck. If you were way bigger/stronger than me and I have little hope of tying up/lifting your stick, I might be stuck moving the puck forward.

Anybody know of good sites that have face-off strategy lessons or tips? I've looked many times but found nothing.

[jeffw 1]

Quickness and strength.

Try and get really low to the ice and hold your stick really low like almost at the blade. 

That.

I studied Yannic Perrault to get better at faceoffs and that's what he does. I got ALOT better when I adopted his style.

I grasp my stick with my lower hand about 6 inches above the blade. Your hands get a little beat up, tho'.

[Miike 1]

Even though this isn't my topic, i'd like to thank everybody for there posts. I played defence almost all my life, but played some wing/centre last year, and want to play centre this year, and this thread has helped alot.

[Meathead 0]

Don't worry about the puck just hit the guy, then go for the puck.

[Chadd 916]

Don't worry about the puck just hit the guy, then go for the puck.

Then go directly to the box, do not pass go and do not collect $200.

[Meathead 0]

Don't worry about the puck just hit the guy, then go for the puck.

Then go directly to the box, do not pass go and do not collect $200.

I do it all the time and never get penalties.

[Chadd 916]

You should have and you will this year.

[Patrick67 1]

If I'm playing against a guy who is faster than me on the draw, I'll (try to) tie his stick up most of the times and kick the puck backwards. And occasionally mix it up so it doesn't get too predictable, sometimes if I loose faceoffs in succession I'll switch from backhand to forehand or viceversa and change my angle.

Never thought about the waiting for the opponent to take his position tactic. sounds like something I'll try to pay more attention to in my next game.

[hockeyherb 1]

To anyone likes to just tie up the other center and wait for your player to come in to get the puck, this year it should be a rude awakening. The refs will definitely start calling that as interference.

As I posted in another forum about the new rule changes this year, they're starting to enforce anything where you aren't playing the puck - this would fall under that category. And even after the faceoff you can't obstruct the opposing center from going past you if he's just skating by without the puck even though in the past I think there was a lot of leeway for centers to try and lock each other up.

[Chadd 916]

To anyone likes to just tie up the other center and wait for your player to come in to get the puck, this year it should be a rude awakening. The refs will definitely start calling that as interference.

As I posted in another forum about the new rule changes this year, they're starting to enforce anything where you aren't playing the puck - this would fall under that category. And even after the faceoff you can't obstruct the opposing center from going past you if he's just skating by without the puck even though in the past I think there was a lot of leeway for centers to try and lock each other up.

I had my clinic today and the faceoff video clip is pretty chilling. All four guys from the defending team drew penalties on a routine faceoff.

[Meathead 0]

To anyone likes to just tie up the other center and wait for your player to come in to get the puck, this year it should be a rude awakening. The refs will definitely start calling that as interference.

This reminds me of last year spring Midgets when I played wing right off the faceoff I would charge the opposiing centre off the draw. :lol: