Faceoffs

1. Faceoffs 2014 Some material from Josh BlaisdellUSL 2014 Convention

2. Faceoffs • Communication • Tell players & coaches what you’ve seen on other faceoffs • Youth - adjust players so they have a fair faceoff • Check with coaches first – not in tournament play • Communicate with players on what they’re doing wrong • Communicate with the coaches • Move to one side of X if field chewed up • Be consistent with violations • Have a clear voice • Stay motionless – whistle in mouth • Learn from each face-off

3. Pre Face-Off Player Checklist • Remind the face-off players what is expected • Sticks parallel and perpendicular • Ball in middle of crosse • Hands off the plastic • Go down together • No movement after the word “set”

4. Positioning • Sturdy = Safe • Wide base • Whistle in mouth • Hands on lower thighs • Stay motionless and with the scrum

5. Procedure • “Down, Set, Whistle” • Vary the cadence • Don’t get in a pattern • Don’t get complacent • Be in a position for a reason • Practice good game management • Be consistent

6. Legal Face-Off • Player’s simultaneously go down • Crosses are parallel to the midline • Crosses are perpendicular to the ground • Nothing in the neutral zone • Players have until the word “set” to adjust • After “set” an movement is illegal procedure • Players may not back out and reset

7. Possible Violations • All fingers not in contact with the ground • Feet touching the crosse • Head in the neutral zone • Foot to the right of the crosse • Legal to lean over the center line

8. Everything to the left of the crosse

9. Crosses parallel to the center line

10. Perpendicular to the ground

11. Back of the crosse faces the ball

12. Ball needs to be centered

13. Up to but not touching the midline

14. Staying with the face-off • Stay with the face-off as long as possible • Move with purpose • Learn from each faceoff • What are they doing • Who is winning

15. Common Situations • A1 is in the neutral zone after “set” • Stand them up, no whistle, award ball to B • B2 moves between “set” and whistle • Double tweet-whistle • Signal the bench • Move player over center line & other 5 yards away • No Release until whistle is blown

16. Common Situations • Both players violate positioning • At younger levels, stand them up and restart • Early in season – verbal correction • Late in season – someone violated first • Player taps ball on the way down • Stand them up, reset the ball, and restart

17. Not so Common Situations • After the faceoff but before possession • A player becomes injured => Reface • A player loses a piece of equipment => Reface • The ball is knocked out of bounds => Award possession • Violation Tree • Pre-whistle violations trump wingline violations • Wingline violations trump post-faceoff violations • Time serving penalties are always served and trump all non-time serving penalties

18. After the whistle • Every face-off starts a count • Pre-whistle violation – quick restart & start a 10 second count • Trail has timer • Face-off player must attempt to control ball, not opponent’s body • Can’t use elbow, forearm, shoulder for leverage • Plunge • Ball in back of crosse – signal possession • Can leave ball in the back as long as they want • Ball must come out on first pop, or signal withholding

19. After the Whistle • Enforce loose ball situations (hold, push, stepping on crosse) • Watch for hand coming off crosse • Signal possession and work into position • Watch the rake and step • Does the foot hit the crosse or the crosse hit the foot? • Legal vs Kicking the crosse • Signal violation • If possible don’t blow whistle. If blown, several tweets • Be sure players stop and separate • Signal violation to players and verbalize • Signal to the bench, allows times for players to separate • No rush to restart

20. Post Face-Off • Transition from face-off to covering your position • Continue to officiate the face-off as long as possible • Possession is everything • Locate all players in your projected route • Keep the play and players inside of you • Watch for push, playing with free hand • Quick play-on, no release until whistle restarts play

21. Delay of Game • Players need to drop the ball directly on the ground after a violation • Rolling the ball away to prevent a quick restart is a 30 second time serving Delay of Game penalty

22. Rule 4-4-3 • During the faceoff in all penalty situations, there must be four players in the defensive area and three players in the offensive area. • Exception: When a team has three players in the penalty area, a player may come out of his defensive area to take the faceoff but must remain onside. • This player will be offsides if he touches or crosses over the midline

23. Rule 1-7-5 New for 2014 • Rule 1-7-5 “Any crosse used on a faceoff may not have tape on the plastic throat of the head.” • “Show me your hands”

24. Rule 4-3-6 Grabbing the ball • It is illegal for a player to deliberately use his hand or fingers to play the ball. This shall be enforced immediately as an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. It is illegal for a player to grab an opponent's crosse with the open hand or fingers. This shall be enforced immediately as an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.NOTE: Inadvertent touching of the ball when the hand is grasping the stick should not be called as an unsportsmanlike conduct foul. • Seeing the grabbing of a ball can be very difficult to see. Face-off men are smart and will only attempt to do this if they know you are in a position you can’t see • Stay with the scrum as long as you can • Change your pre-face off position • Learn from each face-off

25. Where’s the ball

26. Positioning • Have a reason to stand where you are • Don’t just stand in a spot because you were told to • 90 degrees • 180 degrees • 45 degrees (sometimes)

27. What can you see & what can’t you see

28. 90 degrees • Great look at top hands, heads of crosses, and neutral zone • Can’t see butt ends • Be careful standing so close to the face-off • Stand about 3-4 feet away • Don’t stand at 90 if the player is trying to push the ball forward • Pinch & Pop

29. What can you see what can’t you see

30. 180 Degrees • Clear view of perpendicular and parallel sticks • Usually a very safe position to stand in • Be aware of wing men charging in • Watch for pinch and pop to a wing • Can’t see • White’s right foot or leg in neutral zone • White’s hand on plastic

31. What can you see what can’t you see

32. 45 Degrees • Can see both player’s hands, parallel and perpendicular sticks, some of the neutral zone • Can’t see Red’s inside leg • Be aware of pinch and push with a side step from Red

33. Wing Official • Where to stand • Have a reason to vary from the wing line while running right for lead and left for trail • Wing at 45 pinched to view both wing lines better • Wing at bottom of wing line to stay consistent • Wing at restraining line late in period • Wing on midline to help with line • Watch the wings • Leaving early, interference • Don’t forget about the far wing in a 2-man game • Watch the restraining line • Pick up the ball if it comes to you

34. 3-Man Face Off • Can vary position • Face-off official can stay with the face-off and not worry about the goals • Late in periods, move wing officials to top of restraining lines • Change position to help view all angles on face-off • Communicate to each other • Bench does not signal ready until Single Side is ready