Red's Face-Off Guide

[red9535]

Well, since nobody has made a guide with pictures yet, i figured i'd make one. This guide covers the 2 most basic moves of faceoffs, the clamp and the jump, and also the reverse plunger (just for fun, lol)

Moi. I'l be your guide today

http://img276.imageshack.us/img276/7619/faces0018co.th.jpg (http://img276.imageshack.us/my.php?image=faces0018co.jpg)

My faceoff stick is an evo pro with hard mesh, on a solid hickory shaft.

Positioning: This is how i line up. Its all preference. The lower you get the better, but you have to be able to maintain your balance too. The closer your hands are, the faster you'l be, but the less power you'l have. I like mine at a happy medium. Get as close to the ball as possible, keep your stick parallell to the line.
http://img281.imageshack.us/img281/907/position4hn.th.jpg (http://img281.imageshack.us/my.php?image=position4hn.jpg)

http://img346.imageshack.us/img346/162/position23bu.th.jpg (http://img346.imageshack.us/my.php?image=position23bu.jpg)


Ok, so now that we're set.

The Clamp

Keeping all the weight off your hands before the face is important to get yoru speed up. On the whistle, use both hands to twist the top of your head forward, over the ball.

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/4273/clamp10qu.th.jpg (http://img168.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clamp10qu.jpg)

Taking a step over towards your head will help get you more power, and this way when you go to rake after you win the clamp, it wont bounce off your foot. So take a nice little step off to the side with your right foot, and get your knee up into the guy to push him off balance and give you the edge. If at all possible, you get your knee right over where the ball is and into the man, so he cant see whats going on down there either.

http://img480.imageshack.us/img480/6984/clampstep8ke.th.jpg (http://img480.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clampstep8ke.jpg)

After that step, rake the ball through your legs behind you, or out to your wing middie. Dont just pull it out, use the corner of your head. You will have a lot more control over where the ball goes if you do this.

Heres some random head that i had lying around, but this is the part of your head you should be using to rake the ball for optimal control.
http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/6123/usethese5wq.th.jpg (http://img486.imageshack.us/my.php?image=usethese5wq.jpg)

Rake her out:

http://img480.imageshack.us/img480/7408/clamprake8yq.th.jpg (http://img480.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clamprake8yq.jpg)

Then go scoop the ball, or box out so your wing middies can take it.

Know that the clamp and the step should be taking place at the same time, so work on doing them as fast as possible.

[snell31]

those gloves are quite shiny. nice tutorial thing.

oop's posted to early..sorry

[red9535]

The Jump

The jump is the move used to counter the clamp.

Start in the same positioning as the clamp. Instead of clamping the ball, pick your head up with your right hand (while leaving your left on the ground), and bring the head over the top of the ball. You'll end up like this:

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/2567/jump31fp.th.jpg (http://img169.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jump31fp.jpg)

Now clamp down with the back, take that step, and rake it out behind you or to your wing mid. Its basically just a clamp, cept you get your head infront of your opponants first so that he cant clamp the ball.

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/6876/jumprake20sc.th.jpg (http://img169.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jumprake20sc.jpg)

Bare in mind that the jump and step should be going on at the same time. Work on doing them as fast as possible.



The Reverse Plunger

Heres a move i just recently figured out. Its pretty easy, and it looks sweet, so if your facing a guy thatt you KNOW you can beat, its fun to do.
Heres how you get started. Jump the ball (follow the jump tutorial).

Now, once you have it here, theres a number of things you have to do simultaniously.

After you jump the ball, and you have clamped it with the face of your head. Heres what needs to happen fast. Take the step up and over, as seen in this picture. At the same time, slide your bottom hand a little bit farther down the shaft. This will make pinching the ball in the face of your head worlds easier to do, and yyou'll have a lot more control over it. After you have it in there, start to twist the head towards you.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/807/rpbend10mx.th.jpg (http://img59.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rpbend10mx.jpg)


As you can see, the ball is stuck in the face of the head, thats where you want it. You should be putting pressure right on that part of the head i circled before, the part where you should rake with? Well, push down on that part to pinch your head together and hold the ball in.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/1562/rpbend32iy.th.jpg (http://img337.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rpbend32iy.jpg)

Theres your ball. keep rotating it towards you until its securely in your pocket, then i usually go 1 handed and run right around the other faceoff mid for a fast break (most of the time he falls right over when you do this, lol)

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9085/rpfinish0bv.th.jpg (http://img59.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rpfinish0bv.jpg)

Thats all for now.

Any questions? Anything else you'd like to see? Any interest in seeing a video clip of any of these?

Thanks! Hope thse help

-Red

[WickedDpole21]

can u do the kamakazie?
http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=43432

but good, clear tut. i like the pics too, some of the stuff in other tuts is confusing w/ just words. u might want to add the plunger and some of the other moves. u might actually want to search around to see what other techniques there are for faceoffs.

also, if u show some of the moves w/ motocycle grip, that could be cool. i know u dont do it, but it might help those who do.

[cbhslacrossemid]

There are many flaws with your technique. Let me take this oppurtunity to correct you. Your stance is completly wrong. Your pretty much off balance with your base which should be alot wider. It looks like you could be knocked over real easy. Also your clamp would be really weak abeacuse you dont extend your bottom hand as you clamp down. As such you probably get beat alot.

[GBaschski]

also, if u show some of the moves w/ motocycle grip, that could be cool. i know u dont do it, but it might help those who do.

The moves are the exact same with the motorcycle grip.

[laxattack1616]

How about the regular plunger? I dont face off, but it wuld be cool to learn.

[shoebag2000]

I have the same socks.


And I don't think anyone can say that there is one correct stance, different strokes for different folks. I even change up my stance depending on the size of the guy, how quick he is, and what move I am planning.

[Big-Red]

not bad, now just put in a part about the kamikaze :D

[red9535]

There are many flaws with your technique. Let me take this oppurtunity to correct you. Your stance is completly wrong. Your pretty much off balance with your base which should be alot wider. It looks like you could be knocked over real easy. Also your clamp would be really weak abeacuse you dont extend your bottom hand as you clamp down. As such you probably get beat alot.


Actually, i've only lost a couple times all season.

First off, stance is all preference. I like to get low like that, but i also maintain great balance. Whatever works for you. And if your clamp is faster then the other guys, you dont need to extend your bottom hand to get power. You just clamp and rake before he can do anything. If your getting beat or tying on the clamp, just clamp/punch, or do a jump. If you notice how i wrote in the part about positioning, that the closer your hands are together, the faster you'll be, but the farther apart they are, the more power you'll get. I just found the happy medium where i like it, and it works fine.

[valleywarrior44]

yo serioulsy awesome tutorial man...but i got a question?
i dont know if you were fully set in your stance but in your 2nd picture where it shows you lining up and set in your stance...your knee is in the neutral zone.Im not tryiing to be annoying but like last week i had to change my stance because mine was exactly like that and i had gotten so much better at face offs until two games in a row the Zebras told me my knee was in the neutral zone and now im stuck trying to get a whole new stance and get comfortable. Point is i was just wondering if that was how you line up and if you could give me some tips on my stance.

[RIT37FO]

i also have the same socks and check out my thread on the kamakazi/peecock/porkypine

http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a192/sooperlaxjlo/?action=view&current=CIMG0680.flv

[red9535]

yo serioulsy awesome tutorial man...but i got a question?
i dont know if you were fully set in your stance but in your 2nd picture where it shows you lining up and set in your stance...your knee is in the neutral zone.Im not tryiing to be annoying but like last week i had to change my stance because mine was exactly like that and i had gotten so much better at face offs until two games in a row the Zebras told me my knee was in the neutral zone and now im stuck trying to get a whole new stance and get comfortable. Point is i was just wondering if that was how you line up and if you could give me some tips on my stance.


Get as close to the ball as you can. If the ref tells you your in the neutral zone, just say 'thank you sir' and back out of it. Unless he says something though, dont worry about it.

The most important part of your stance is to keep your balance. The lower you get, the better off you will be once you are fighting for the ball. Keep your balance, though. You should be able to lift your hands off of the ground while your set in your stance, and not fall over. Don't lean on your hands while your setting up. If you put weight on your hands, you have to take the weight off on the whistle before you can do anything, which will just make you slower on the draw. I dont like going on a knee either, becuase i think that that step you take is very important towards getting more power and momentum into whatever move you decide to do, and if your already down on a knee, you are just making yourself slower and less powerful. Why put yousrelf at a disadvantage if you dont need to?

[snell31]

i also have the same socks and check out my thread on the kamakazi/peecock/porkypine

http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a192/sooperlaxjlo/?action=view&current=CIMG0680.flv

thats awesome!! you ever done that in a game?

[BigKLaxer]

I think the kamakazie is more of a handstand instead of a roll. Otherwise, anyone would be able to do it.

[valleywarrior44]

Get as close to the ball as you can. If the ref tells you your in the neutral zone, just say 'thank you sir' and back out of it. Unless he says something though, dont worry about it.

The most important part of your stance is to keep your balance. The lower you get, the better off you will be once you are fighting for the ball. Keep your balance, though. You should be able to lift your hands off of the ground while your set in your stance, and not fall over. Don't lean on your hands while your setting up. If you put weight on your hands, you have to take the weight off on the whistle before you can do anything, which will just make you slower on the draw. I dont like going on a knee either, becuase i think that that step you take is very important towards getting more power and momentum into whatever move you decide to do, and if your already down on a knee, you are just making yourself slower and less powerful. Why put yousrelf at a disadvantage if you dont need to?




thanks alot man for the advice...def true about the one knee i dont like it at all. im gonna work on my stance and i got a question have you ever been called for that or do you just back out of your stance right when the ref lets you know. Also have you heard anything about the T-Fog or sumn faceoff trainer?

[cbhslacrossemid]

Actually, i've only lost a couple times all season.

First off, stance is all preference. I like to get low like that, but i also maintain great balance. Whatever works for you. And if your clamp is faster then the other guys, you dont need to extend your bottom hand to get power. You just clamp and rake before he can do anything. If your getting beat or tying on the clamp, just clamp/punch, or do a jump. If you notice how i wrote in the part about positioning, that the closer your hands are together, the faster you'll be, but the farther apart they are, the more power you'll get. I just found the happy medium where i like it, and it works fine.

Ive actually broken a few records as a sophmore so... I know its all prefrence but that doesnt mean you should go out there and make it harder for yourself.

[red9535]

thanks alot man for the advice...def true about the one knee i dont like it at all. im gonna work on my stance and i got a question have you ever been called for that or do you just back out of your stance right when the ref lets you know. Also have you heard anything about the T-Fog or sumn faceoff trainer?

You wont get a penalty for it, or lose posession, if thats what you mean. Worst case scenario, the ref will tell you whatever your doing wrong (in the neutral zone, hand on the plastic, etc), and he will let you fix it. Like i said, just say 'thank you sir' and fix whatever you were doing wrong, and you wont have any problems.

Never heard anything about the T-Fog. What is it?

[MaKiMaKi13]

how about adding the Plunger and Lazer those are semi-beginner type moves but can also be effevtive

o yea and someone asked about the plunger earlier and i dont have any pictures but its basically a clamp and then you lift your buttend up and the ball gets stick in the back of your head and you can flip it to your wing man

[RIT37FO]

i did the kamakazi today in practice
you have to get up really quick in order for it to work well

[Captain Cool]

i did the kamakazi today in practice
you have to get up really quick in order for it to work well

I did it today in box, but i raked it out in mid summersault... worked like a charm.

[Lax1228]

great job...some mod should merge these pictures with georgiamid's tutorial.

[fogolax03]

i run a summer face off camp on long island,
fogolax.com
check it out

[Laxmann019]

do u know any drills u can do to increase ur reaction time? without a buddy

[mrguyname]

Great pictures and explaining. Last season all I ever did was clamp or rake. Got called a few times for grabbing the throat lol.

[red9535]

do u know any drills u can do to increase ur reaction time? without a buddy


Record a minute long thing on your computer where you say 'go' or blow a whistle once every 10 or 15 seconds. Put it on repeat.

Set yourself up, and play it. Every go or whistle, do your move. Set yourself back up and wait for the next one. Repeat as much as you want.

[Laxmann019]

what about the rake? I cant figure that out without pics really

[RIT37FO]

http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=45406

i call it the lazer
u can call it the rake

[Laxmann019]

thats not the rake I'm talking about

[mpls-lacrosse]

thats not the rake I'm talking about

check this out: http://tv.insidelacrosse.com/index.cfm?video=146