faceoff question

[redsox5459]

this may sound stupid but i just started taking faceoffs this year and was wondering if it was legal to go straight for the other guys body and ignore the ball

[LCNlaxman]

By rule straight out of context, yes. He's within 5 yards of the ball. That is, of course, if it is a LEGAL hit (i.e no higher than shoulders, not from behind...etc)

[laxfan25]

this may sound stupid but i just started taking faceoffs this year and was wondering if it was legal to go straight for the other guys body and ignore the ball
Some players will try that tactic, but there are several things you should be aware of;
1) You can't just lunge across headfirst, or you will draw a NR Spearing penalty 1 -3 min.
2) Since the other player is likely bent over with his head in your direction, you'll have a hard time finding a place to make legal contact. If your body check attempt causes you to run into his head - 1 min. Illegal Bodycheck. Remember, a body check has to be below the neck, above the waist and from the front or side. Difficult to do on a crouched, bent-over player.
3) It is illegal to make a body check on a player with anything besides his two feet on the ground. so if your opponent has a knee on the ground - Illegal Bodycheck - 1 min PF.

That said, I know a lot of players try that move, and sometimes get away with violating the above rules without getting called. (There's a lot going on in a faceoff). Personally, I'd be going for the ball - Keep Your Eyes On The Prize!

[CTLaxer]

It's legal, and when I was a player it was something I did quite frequently, especially when you can tell the guy is offbalance by how he sets up (ie. just squating down on two feet almost so he has no weight on his hands; usually when they try to jump the ball). Make sure you setup how you normally would, and keep your hands together. On the whistle lunge forward with your body and plant your hands into his chest and shove up and away, almost like you're giving him an uppercut punch or something. Make sure you don't hit the front of his helmet, keep it below the neck and above the waist.

If you can do that, it's perfectly legal and quite effective, especially if he's beating you on the clamp or rake.

[LaxRef]

One thing we look for: if the other guy has part of his body on the ground and you explode forward, I probably have no call. But if he has part of his body on the ground and you explode upward, you're trying to bodycheck, not trying to play the ball, and I might have an illegal bodycheck.

[cslaxplaya11]

what i do is make it look like i am going for the ball and hit the kid with my sholder when i start to clamp the ball sorta like talcking the kid